The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-10-06
i vow i'll do It.,

w" ~ w ~.
What mystery it was, we will leave
the reader to infer from his very mex,
movement. Ringing the bell, he inquired
ofithe servant: 2
is Charles at homer
No sir, he went out this morning, and
will be gone all day
Hump, that will DO. So much the
Deter for my purposes thought he when
alone. He-5 l.i-.s - 80
Nov Ishall have the ground left to my
SELF Let me see; the rascal intends run.
ming away next Thursday evening, and to.
day Is Monday, Nothing is like striking
while the iron is hot I'll write to her in
his name. telling her that I have altered
my mind and viii go just at da-k, to NOR.
row night. She won. suspect anything
until the knot Is tied, and then what q
laugh we shall havel' .I -, s,ss
Squire Markham did not consider that
it might make a little difference with bride
expeetant. He, considered it capital
joke on his son but looked no farther. He
accordingly drew his writing materials to-
ward him.. and indicted the following epis-
tle:--
DEAREST FLoRENcE:--I find the day
6xed for our elopement on some accounts
Objectionable, and would like, with your
permission, to substitute tomorrow even
ing. If ! hear nothing from you, shall
infer that you assent to this arrangement.
I shall have carriage in readiness under
the old oak trees, at half past eight o'clock.
Yeu can walk there without attracting
suspicion, and as there will be no moon,
We shall be able to carry out our plan with
out fear Of discovery. I am happy to say
that the governor don't suspect in the least
that daughter-in.law is in store for him.
Won't he be amazed? Your devoted
'd,.s-,a golwsissr basdsi CHARLEY
"Egadlp said Squire Markham, laugh
ing heartily, that isn't so bad, especially
about humbugging me. Charley couldn't
have done any better himself ~ ~
So saying, he sealed il mp and sent 1t
over by little irish boy in his employ,
having frst marked private on the cor
per anj 81 Ia @@'''fs
"Be careful Mike to give it to Miss
Benson, and don't let any one else see il, /"
was the parting Injunction. a.
Mrs. Benson was sitting ia her quiet
parlor, casting her eyes over late num-
ber of Harpsr's magazine. Florence
being absent on a shopping excursion, she
she was left alone. The ringing of the
bell brought her to the door, With sur
prise, she saw that the person who rang
the bell was Mike. Squire Markham's
boy of all work. 4fJ a
"Please ma'am," said he, holding out
the missive, "a letter for Miss Benson, ar
it's very particular that no one else should
see it" q anF $50
The air of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address aroused Mrs. Ben
sous curiosity, especially, when she OBJ.
served that it was addressed to her daugh,
ter and not to herself as she supposed
She had returned to the parlor-not to
read Hdrper's Magazine; that had lost it.
attractions. Ha' ~
"What in the world csn it be-" she
thought, that they should be SO secre
about itl Can Florence be carrying on Z
ciandestine correspondence? 1t may b
something that ought to know"
Stimulated By her feminine curiosity
Mrs. Benson speedily concluded that sh.
would be false to the responsibilities o
parent if she did not unravel the mys
terry. aE go 8 50 i'',' 4. s
| "Here's pretty doing" she exclaimed
as soon as she could recover breath. So
Florence was going to run away and ge
married to that Charles Markham, withou
SO much as even limiting word to me. ,
She leaned her head upon her hand
and began to consider She was na,u
rally led to think Of her own marriage
with the late Mr., Benson, and the happi
ness of her welded life, and she could moi
help heaving a sigh at the recollection.
"Am / always to remain thus solitary?'
she thought. "I've half q mind not te
show the letter to Florence, but to rur
away tomorrow night with Charles on my
OWu oCCOuuV. Ouu IL i Cdu7G puC
sande him that the mother is as good al
the daughter" and she glanced compla
Gently at the still attractive face and form
reflected from the mirror.
just then she heard the door open, ani
Florence entered. She quickly crumpl.t
up the letter and thrust it into her pocket
Florence and Charles did not meet durins
the succeeding day, chiefly in pursuance
of the plan they had agreed to, in ordel
to avoid suspicion. .visL fo dTT 40
Squire Markham acted in an exceed
Iingly strange manner, to his sons think
ing. Occasionally he would burst into
hearty laugh, which he woald endeavor I,
suppress and pace up and down the room
as if to'wotk off some of his superabun
dsnt hilarity. e. '''+ l1,. e ID
"What's in the wind!' thought Charlie
to himself ut can't be that the govern
or is going crazy" sso.f lo is Ikt4a.
Something was the matter beyond