Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-07

, Inc afr III mystery conveyed in this charac-
tcristic address, aroused Mrs. Bcnsons curioSi-
ty. especially when she observed that it Was
addressed TO her daughter, and not to herself
as she first supposed. She returned TO the par
! lor-not to read IIarper's Magazine, that had
| lost its attractions.
"What in the world can it be-" she thought,
:: that they should bc so secret abou; it? Can
F.! Florence he CARRYING on clandestine correSpon-
tlcnce? 1t may he something that l ought TO
know"
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity, Mrs.
l,enson speedily concluded that she would he
false to the responsibilities Of a parent if she
did not unrayel the mystery.
81 Think" said she, "I will open it, and if
it shouldn't be anything particular, l can easily
rc-scal it, and Florence will still be none the
wiser"
This she accordingly did. What was her
establishment when the plan Of elopement was
discovered to her!
nlIere's pretty doingsm she exclaimed, as
soon rs she could recover breath. $50 Florence
was going to run away and get married to that
| Charlas Markham, without so much as limiting
Il word to me-"
She leaned her head upon her hand and began
to consider. She was naturally led to think Of
her own marriage with the late Mr.. Benson,
and the happncss of her welded life, and she
could not help leavng 4 sigh at the rccollcc-
ton.
Gam always to remain thus solitary?" she
thought. GIVE half mind not to show this
letter to Florence, but to run away with Charles
tomorrow night on my own account. It's odd
! if I can't persuade him that the mother is Us
7 L., IL, - opl cbn or1nopnl
Ulacently 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, i'll order to avoid sus-
picion.
Squire Markham acted in an exceedingly
strange manner, to his sons thinking. Occa-
sionaly lie would burst into hearty laugh,
which he would cndeavor to repress, and pace
ND and down the room, as il to walk off some
OF his superabundant hilarity.
.Whats 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, hc had not the
Gintcst conjecture.
At the hour specified, the Squire had his car
riage drawn up at the appointed rendezvous.
lie Lc.an to peer anXiously in the dark for
Florence At length female form. well mullled
up, made its appearance. Thanking her in a
very low whisper, lest it might be suspected
that he was the wrong person, he helped her
into the carriage and drove off. Their destina-
ton was the house of the Justice of the Peace,
residing at the distance of some eight miles.
Daring the first part # the journey nothing
was said Both parties were dcsirous of con-
cealing their identity. At length, Squire Mark
ham, considering that after all he could not
marry tue lady without her consent, and that
the discovery must be made before the mar
riacc, decided to reveal himself, and then urge
his own suit as well as lie might.
"AIy dear Miss Florence" lie continued, in
his natural voice.
aWhy" shrickcd the lady, "I thought it
was Charles!' %
And II said Squire Markham, recognizing
Mrs. Benson's voice with astonishment, thought
it was Florence!"
"Was it you, sir, who was arranging to elope
with my daughter 2"