The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-07-22

/ day fixed for our elopemeDt on some &C.
counts Objectionable, and would like. with
your permission, to substitute tomorrow
evening. If bear nothing from you, |
shall infer that you assent to this arrange
ment l shall have a carriage in readi-
ness under the oak tree, at half-past ei ght
o'clock. You can walk there without at
tracing suspicion, aud, as there will be
20 moon. we shall be able to carry out
our plans without fear of discovery. |
am happy to say that the governor doesn't
suspect in the least that daughter.in.
law is in store for him. Won't be be a.
sbamed. Your devoted
CHARLEY"
"Egad!" said Squire Markham, laugh
ing heartily, ''that isn't bad, especially
about humbuggiug me. Charley couldn't
have doue better himself"
So saying, be sealed it up and sent it
over by little Irish boy in his employ
ment, having first marked "privato" in
the corner.
"Be careful, 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 Harpers Magazine. Florence be-
ing absent on a shopping excursion, she
was left alone. The ringing of the bell
brought her to the door. With surprise
she saw that the person who rang the bell
was Mike, Squire Markbams hoy of all
work"
"PIease, ma'am," said he, holding out
the missive, "a latter for Miss Benson, an
its very particular that nobody else should
see it,"
The air of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address, aroused Mrs.
Benson's curiosity, especially when she
daughter and not to herself, as she sup
posed. She returned to ker parlor not
to read Harper's Magazine, that had lost
its attractions.
"What 10 the world can it be-" she
thought, that they should be so secret a.
bout i'll Can Florence be carrying Oh
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 of
parent if she did not uDravel the N ystery
Heres pretty doing!" she exclaimed. &.
as soon as she could recover breath. $50
Florence was going to run away and get
married to that Charles Markham. with
out so much as limiting a word to me-"
She leaned her head upon her hand,
and began to consider. She was natur-
ally 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.
"Am | always to remain thus solitary,
she thought. i've half a mind not to
show the letter to Florence, but t o run a.
way with Charles tomorrow night on my
own account. It's odd if l cant per-
suade him that the mother is as good as
the daug ghter," aud glanced complacently
at the still attractive face and form re.
6ected 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 bad
agreed to, in order to avoid suspicion.
Squire Markham acted in an exceed
ingly strange manper, to his sons think
ing. Occasionally be would burst into a
hearty laugh, which be would endeavor
to suppress, and pace up and down the
room, as if to walk of some of his super
abundant hlarity.
whats in the wind!" thought Charles
to himself. ut can't be the governors
getting crazy" Something was the mat
ter, beyond doubt But what it really
was be had not the faintest conjecture.
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. we'll muffled up, made its
appearance. Thanking her 10 very low
whisper. less it might be suspected that
he was the wrong person, helped ber into
the carriage, and drove of. Their des-
tiuation was the house of the Justice of
the Peace, residing at a distance Of eight.
miles.
During tho FIRST part of the journey
nothing was said Both parties we're de-
sirous Of concealng their identity. At
length, Squire Markham, considering
that after all he could not marry the la
dy without her consent, and that the dis
covery must be made before the marriage
decided to reveal himself, and then urge
bis own suit as well as be might.
"My dear Miss Flcrence," he contInu-
ed in bis natural voice.
"Why!" shrieked the LADY," | thought
it was Chsrles."
"And I" said Squire Markham, recog-
nizing Mrs. Benson's voice with astonish-
ment, Thought it vas Florence
"Was it you, sir. who was arranging to
elope with my daugtberl"
II .