The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1858-04-21
How Two Households became One

ces, was called from his life-task G
contributing to the general purifica
ton OF mankind, Mrs. Benson too
refuge from her grief in a pretty cot
tage, situated on the principal stree
IN the town OF C..
At first, she was inconsolable, as sh
used to say, with a solemn emphasi.
Switch carried conviction to the heart
of her hearers, that nothing but th'
/ thoughts of her daughter Florenc
would have prevented her from ter
minating her existence by the inter
ventlon of poison.
Mrs. Benson was in no small meas
ure, indebted to her daughter--incC
in less than three months, she threw
aside her mourning, ana became a
lively as ever.
Touching Florence, she had now
reached the mature age of nineteen
and began to think herself marriagea
BILE. She was quite pretty, and toiera
bly, well accomplished, so that hel
wishes in that respect were very soon
likely to be filled.
Just over the way lived Squire Mark
ham, the village lawyer, just verging
upon fifty, with his son Charles, who
was about half his age. Being a
young man of agreeable exterior, the
latter was quite "A iavorte among the
young ladies in the neighborhood, and
considered, quite catch As yet,
however, his affections had never been
seriously entangled, and might have
remained so, had it not been for the
sudden apparition, one morning, OF
Florence Benson riding by on horse
back.
1t struck him at once that she was
remarkably graceful, and really quite
pretty. Thereupon he cultivated her
acquaintance with increased assldui-
ty, and after while asked the fatal
question.
Florence answered in the allirma-
tive: and instead of referring him du-
tiluliy to her mother, limited (being Il
romantic young LADY, how charming
it would be to steal away to the next
town, and get married without any
body being the wiser.
Charles Markham caught at this
hint, which chimed with his own tenn
perament, and he resolved to adopt it.
In order that it might be carried out
with perfect success, it was resolved
to seem is different to each other, until
the day fixed, in order to ward off any
suspicion which might otherwise be
aroused.
SO well were their arrangements
carried out, tha. Mrs. Benson had no
suspicion of what was going on.
Not so with Squire Markham. lie
had obtained clue TO the affair IN
some manner, 80 that he had not only
the fact of the elopement,
but even the very day Oh which it was
to occur.
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he
to hims II, as he set before the fire il
his dressing gown and smoking cap,
leisurely pulling away at choice lla-
vana. But | don't wonder at it, he
only takes after me. Still, | owe him
for keeping it so secretly
from me. 1t would be a good joke if
were a little younger, to cut him out
and marry her in spite of him.
Squire Markham, who was one Of
those jovial widowers who takes life
as it comes, unused more and more on
this idea, struck out by chance as it
were, till he really began to think it
worth something.
after ALL" shouted he, 81 am not
so old either-or at least the ladies say
.o-and they ought to be good judges
n such matters. have been bache
or a good while, and ought to have
round out before this, how much more
it would be for me to have
a pretty wife to welcome me home,
and do the honors of my table, and to
lelp me keep that rascal, Charles, in
order. Egad! Eve half mind to do
C."
Squire Markham took two more
xhids, and exclaimed:
II vow I'll do it"
What this mysterious IT was, we
will leave the reader to infer from his
,ery next movement. Ringing the
,ell, he inquired of the servant:
as Charles at home?'
"No, sir was the reply. "he went
,ut this morning, and will be gone all
lay"
"Humphl That'll do. So much
he better for my purpose" thought
le, when left alone. Now ! shall
lave the ground left to myself. Let
ne see; the rascal intends running a
way next Thursday evening, and to-
Law is Monday. Nothing like striking
While the iron is hot III write to her
n his name, telling her that have al
cred my mind and will go just at
ark to- morrow night She won't
uspicicn anything until the knot is
led, and then what a laugh we shall
ave!'
Squire Markham did not consider
hat it might make little difference
With the bride expectant. He con-
idered it a capital joke on bis son,
nd looked no further. He according
= drew his writing materials towards
i'm and indited the following epistle:
DEAREST FLORENCE: find the day
xed for our elopement on some ac-
cunts Objectionable, and would like,
nth your permission, to substitute to-
borrow evening. If | hear nothing
,om you. | shall infer that you assent
, this arrangement. shall have
..I,n.-. ,,nIar tl.., al