Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-05

up Che letter. and thrus. Tin her pocket,
Florence and Charles did not meet during
the succeeding day. chiefly in pursuance
of the plan they agreed 90. in order &C
avoid suspicion. s.a' 's9 Rs4aaa 's
Squire Markham acted in an exceed
ingly strange manner to his sons think.
ing. Occssionlv he would burst into d
hearty laugh. which be. would endeaYor @
suppress, and pace up and down ths room
as il TO walk off some of his supefabund>
ant hilarity.. '-H''s"i7tA ''sf-aigls'tia' Is
What's in the wind 2 though, Charles
to himself. 1t can be tho Governors
getting crazy Something was the mat.
ter hey ond q doubt. But what is really
was he had not the faintest conjecture.
AZ the hour specified. she Squire had
his carriage drawn up at the appointed
rendezvous. He began to peer anxiously
in the dark for Florence. AT length a
female form. well muffled up. made its
appearance. Thanking her 10 very
low whisper. lest is might. be suspected
that he was the wrong person. he helped
her into the carriage, and drove off.
During part Of the journey. nothing
coucealing their identity. At length.
Squire Markham, considering that after
all he could not marry the lady withou,
her consent. aud that tue discovery must
be made before marriage. decided to re-.
veal himself. and then urge his own suit
as well as he could.
MY dear Miss Florence he continued
in his natural voice.
why + shrieked the lady, Il thought
it was Chsrles.'
'And L. said Squire Markham, recog.
nizing Mrs. Beuson's voice, Thought it
was Florence, t
WAS i. you sir. who was arranging to
eIope with my daughter 2
No. but conclude it was you. ma am ,
who was meaning to elope with my son. :
Indeed. Squire Markham. you are
wrong; the affair came incidentally TO my
knowledge, concluded to take her place
secretly, in order to Illustrate her plans
'Egad. the very idea had myself!' J.
said the Squire laughing; but the fact is.
ma'am. we have both been confoundedly
sold. and the mischief of it is. have left
letter for Charles, letting him know il ;
so undoubtedly he will take the opportu>
nifty to run away with Florence during
our absence, and plume himself. the
rascal. on the way in which 1 was taken
in.'
i confess that left note for Florence
to the same purpose. How she will
laugh at me. What An embarrassment /
I'll tell you what said the Squire. af,
ter mom.nt's pause, I'VE eau carry out
our plans after all. We each came out
with the intention of getting married.
Why not marry each other. and then you
know, we'll make them believs We had ii
in view ell along and only intended to
frighten them
Mrs. Benson assented with little urg-
ing. and in the course Of an hour the twain
we're made one. They Immediately re,
turned. but found as they anticipated
that Florence and Charles. discovering
their departure, had stepped off in dit.
ferent direction. with a similar intent.
They made their appearance the next
morning. prepared to laugh heartily at the
frustrated plan Of their parents. but learn
ed to their astoninhment that they had
struck up a bargain for themselyes.-
Squire Markham and his new wife bad
the address TO convince them that it. was
all premeditated plan. and TO this day
the younger pair ar. ignorant OF the plot
and counter plot which led 10 this double
union of the two households.