Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-24
Matrimonial Stratagem;
or HOW TWO HOUSEHOLDS BECAME o,

Mrs. Benoni Benson was fat, fair and forty
four. when her husband, soap-bOiler in very
good circumstances, was called from his life
task Of contributing to the general purihcatiOn
of mankind. Mrs. benson took refuge frUm her
grief in pretty cottage, situated on the prin
cipal street in the town OF c.
at first she was inconsolable, and she used to
say with a solemn emphasis, which carried con-
yiction to the hearts Of her hearers, that nothing
but the thoughts of her daughter Florence
would have prevented her from terminating her
existence by the intervention Of poison.
Mrs. Benson was, in no small degree, in
debted TO her daughter-sinee in less than
three months, she threw aside her mourning
and became as lively as ever
Touching Florence, she had new reached the
mature age Of nineteen, and began TO think her
self marriageable. She was quite pretty, and
tOlerably well accomplished, so that her wishes
in that respect were very likely to be fulfilled.
Just over the way lived Squire Markham, the
village lawyer, just verging upon fifty, with his
son Charles, who was about half his age. Be
ing young man of agreeable exterior, the lat
ter was quite a fayorite with the young ladies
in the neighborhoOd, and considered in common
parlanee, quite catch"
As yet, however, his affections had never
been seriously entangled, and might have re-
manned so had it not been for the sudden ap-
partition, one morning, of Florence Benson,
riding by on horseback
It struck him at once that she was remarka-
bly, graceful and really quite pretty. Thcreup-
on lie cultivated her acquaintance with in
creased assiduity, and after ! while asked the
fatal question.
Florence answered in The Affirmative, and in
stead of referring him dutifullY to her mother,
limited (being n romantic Young lady) how
charming it would be to steal away to the next
town and get married, without any body being
the wisr
Charles Markham caught at this hint, which
chimed with his own temperament, and he re-
solved to adopt it.
In order that it might be carried out with
perfect success, it was resolved 10 seem indif-
ferent to each other until the day fixed, in order
to ward off any suspicion which might other
wise be aroused.
SO well were these arrangements carried out,
that Mrs. Benson had no suspicion Of what was
going on.
Not so with Squire Markham He had OBJ
tanned a clue to the afflir in some manner, 50
that he not only discovered the fact of the
eloPement, but even the very day on which it
was to occur.
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he to him
self, as he sat down before the FIRE in his dress
iEg-gown and smOking-cap leisurcly putting
away at a choice Havana. "But l don't won
der at it; he only takes after me. Still, owe
him something for keeping it so secretly from
me. 1t would be good joke if | were little
younger, to cut him out and marry her in spite
of him..
Squire Markham, who was one Of those 10
vial widOwers who take life as it comes, mused
more and more on this idea, stuck out by
chance as it were, till he really began 10 think
it worth something.
after ALL" shouted he, al am no, so old
either, OF at least the ladies say sO-and they
ought to be good judges in such matters /
have been bachelor good while, and ought
to have found out before this how much more
comfortable it would be to have a pretty wife
70 welcome me homo, and do the hOnors o. my
in order Egad I've hall mIuu
Squire Markham took two more whiils and
exclaimed;
@Ivow, I'll do it."
What this mysterious IT was, we viii leave
the reader to infer from his very next movement
Ringing the bell, he inquired Of the servant
''1s Charles at homei"
'.No sir" was the reply, ''hc went out tins
morning and will be gone all day"
"Humph that'll do. So much the better
formy purposes, thought he when alone.
"Now shall have the ground left to myself
Let me see; the rascal intends running away
next Thursday evening, and to-day is Monday.
Nothing like striking while the iron is hot
IN write to her in his name, telling her that
have altered my mind and will 60 Just 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 lutte difference with the BRIDE
expectant He considered it a capital joke
on his son, but looked no farther He accord
ingly drew his writing materials towards him
and indited the following epistle:
"Dearesf Florence IL find the day fixed for
our elopemeut on some accounts Objectionable,
and would like, with your permission, to sub
S iiute TO morrow evening. If l bear nothing
from you, shall infer that you assent to this
arrangement-I shall have carriage in Teadl-
ness under the old oak tree, at half-past eight
o o'clock You can walk there without attract
ing suspicion, and as there will be no moon, We
shall be able to carry out-Our plans without feaI
of discovery. / am happy to say that the COVER
nor doesn't suspect in the least that daugh-
term law is in store for him Won't he be
ashamed
Your devoted CHARLEY"
"EgAdl" said Squire Markham, laughing
heartily, ''that isn't bad, especially about hum
bugging me- Charley couldn't have done any
better himself'
SO saying, he sealed it up and sent it over BY
little Irish boy in his employment, having frs
marked "priyate" in the corner.
sBe careful, Mike, To give il to Miss Benson
and don't let any one else see II" was tn
parting injunction