Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-08-26

IL
at dark tomorrow night She won't
suspect anything until the knot is tied,
and then what laugh we shall have!''
Squire Markham did not consider that
it might make little difference with the
bride expectant. He considered it a
capital joke on his son, but looked no
further. He accordingly drew his wri-
ting materials toward him, and inditej
the following epistle:- t.a4
. Dearest F7oreaace:-I find the day
fixed for our elopement on some accounts
Objectionable, and would like, with youl
permission, to substitute tomorrow evl
ening. If hear nothing from you, ]
shall infer that you assent to this ar
rangement. shall have carriage in
readiness under the old oak tree at hall
past eight o'clock. You can walk there
without attracting suspicion, and as
there will be no moon, we shall be able
to carry out our plans without fear Of
discovery. l am happy to say that the
Governor doesn't suspect in the least
that daughter-in-law is in store fol
him. Won't he be ashamed?
"Your devoted CHARLEY."
"Egad!'' said Squire Markham, laugh
ing heartily, shat isn't bad, especially
about humbugging me. Charley could
not have done any better himself
So saying, he sealed it up and sent il
over by little Irish boy in his employ
ment, having first marked "private" in
the corner. HHG
''Be caraful, Mike, to give it to Miss
Benson, and don't let any one else see
it," was the parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in her quiet
parlor, casting her eyes over late num-
Der of Hdrper's Magazine Florence be-
ing absent on shopping excursion, she
was left alone. The ringing of the bell
brought her to the door. With surprise
she saw that the person who wrang the
bell was Mike, Squire Markham's "boy
of all work"
"Please, Ma'am," said he, holding out
the missive, ga letter for Miss Benson,
and it's very particular that nobody else
should see it, soe fa~
The air of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address aroused Mrs.
|.Benson's curiosity, especially when she
observed that it was addressed to her
daughter, and not to herself, as she sup
posed. She returned to the parlor-not
to read Harper's Magazine; that Rad
lost its attractions.
"What in the world can it be-" she
thought, ''that they should be SO secret
about it? Can Florence be carrying on
a clandestine correspondence? 1t may
be something that ought to know
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity,
Mrs. Benson speedily concluded that
she would be false to the responsibilities
Fof parent if she did not unravel the
mystery. ...... l8r.
"Here's pretty doing!" she exclaimed,
as soon as she could recover breath
$50 Florence was going to run away
and get married to that Charles Mark
ham, without SO much as limiting word
to me-" sBa
She leaned her head upon her hand,
and began to consider. She was natu-
rally led to think of her own marriage
with the late Mr.. Benson, and the hap
piness Of her welded life, and she could
not help heaving sigh at the recollec-
ton. . .r.r,
Gam / always to remain thus solita-
ry?' she thought I've half mind not
to show the letter to Florence, but to
run away with Charles tomorrow night
on my own account. It's odd if / can't
persuade him that the mother amt as
good as the daughter" and she glanc-
complacently at the still attractive face
and form reflected from the mirror.
just then she heard the door open,
and Florence entered. She quickly
crumpled up the letter and thrust it into
her pocket. Florence and Charles did
not meet during the succeeding day,
chiefly in pursuance of the plan they
had agreed to, in order to avoid suspi-
cion. 81 .-ssl a6
Squire Markham acted in an exceed
ingly strange manner, to his sons think
ing. Occasionally he would burst into
a hearty laugh, which he would endeav-
or to. suppress, and pace up and down
the room, as if to walk off some of his
superabundant hilarity.
"What's in the wind?" thought
Charles to himself cit can't be the
Governors getting crazy" Something
was the matter beyond a doubt. But
what it really was, he had not the faint
est conjecture. Eag r.
AT the hour specified, the Squire had
his carriage drawn up at the appointed
rendezvous. He began to peer anxious
ly in the dark for Florence. AT length
a female form, well mufied up, made its
appearance. Thanking her in a very
low whisper, lest it might be suspected
that he was the wrong person, he help
ed her into the carriage, and drove off.
During the first part of the journey,
nothing was said. Both parties were
DESTROYS of concealing their identity.
Atlength, Squire Markham, considering
that after all he could not marry the la
dy without her consent, and that the
discovery must be made before the mar
riage, decided to reveal himself, and
then urge his own suit as well as he
might. arra 4 .sff j..
"My dear Miss Florence he contin-
ned, in his natural voice. q
"Whyl" shrieked the lady, ST thought
it was Charles"
Sand l." said Squire Markham, rec
ognizing Mrs. Benson's voice with as.
constituent, Thought it was Florence p
"Was it you, sir, who was arranging
to elope with my daughter?n
f'No, but l conclude it was you, ma
am, who was meaning to elope with my
SON." ~ :.
Indeed, Squire Markham, you are
wrong; the affair coming incidentally to
my knowledge, | concluded to take her
place secretly, in order to Illustrate her
plans" neT5