Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-11-05

4 seem lndiueTent9 10 ieacn Olneh unIll, the
day fixed. in order to ward of any suspi-
cion that might otherwise be reused.
So we'll were these arrangements car.
ried out. that even Mrs. Benson had no
suspicion Of what was going on.
No: SO with Squire Markham. He had
obtained a clue 20 the affair in some. IN an.
uer. so that he not only. discovered the
fact Of the elopement. but even the very
day on which i, was TO occur.
h'Sly dog. that Charles thought he to
himself. as he sat down before the Ere in
his dressing gown aud smoking cap. leis.
urely putting away q choice Hsvsna.-
Bat don't wonder at it he only takes
after me. Sill owe him something for
keeping II a secret from me! II would
be good joke. ifsIWere little younger
to out him. out and marry her in spite Of
him.
Squire Markham who was one Of those
Ijovial widoWers who take life as it comes.
unused mofe and more on this idea. stuck
out by chance ss it were. till he really
began to think it was worth something.
AFTER ALL shouted be, L am not so
old, either. or at least the ladies say So
and they ought to be good judges in such
matters. ought to have been a bach
elor good while. and ought to have
found out before this how much more
comfortable il would be to have pretty
wife to welcome me home. and do the
honors Of my table. and to help me keep
that rascally Charles in order. Egad |
I've half mind to do it,
Squire Markham took two more whiffs
and exclaimed
i VOW I'll do it,
leave the reader to infer from his very
next movement. Ringing the bell he in
quired of the servant:
is Charles at home 2
No. sir; be went out this morning, and
will be gone all day.
'Hurrah that's all. So much the bet
ter for my 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 stri.
king while the iron is hot. I'll write to
her in his name. telling her that have
altered my mind. and will go just al dark
tomorrow night. She won't expect any
thing till the knot is tied, aud then what
laugh we shall have.
Squire Markham did not consider that
it might make little difference with the
bride expectan,. He considered it a cap
ital joke on his son. but looked no fur.
ther. He accordingly drew his writing
materials towards him and indited the
| following epistle:
'DEAREsr FLoRENoE 81 End the day
fixed for our elopement on some accounts
objectionable. and would like. with your
consent, TO substitute to- morrow evening.
II hear nothing in return from you, |
shall infer that you assent to this arrange
ment. l shalt have a carriage in readi.
ness under the old oak tree at half.past
eight o'clock. You can walk there with
out attracting suspicion. and as there will
be no moon. we shall be able to carry out
our plaus without fear Of discovery. |
am happy to say that the Governor does
not suspect 10 the least that q daughter
in-Iaw is in store for him. Won't he be
ashamed Your devoted
CH1RLEr'.
'Esad ] said Squire Markham. laugh.
ing heartily. that isn't bad, especially
about humbugging me. Charley could
not have done any better himself
So saying he sealed it up and sent it
over by little Irish boy in his employ.
meus. having FIRST marked private in the
corner.
BE careful. Mike. to give il to Miss
Benson. aud let no one else see it : was
the parting injunction.
Mrs. Benson was sitting in her quiet
parlor casting her eyes over late num-
Der Of the Atlantic Monthly Florence
being absent on shopping excursion. she
was left alone. The ringing of the bell
she saw Mike, Squire Markham's boy Of
all work.
Please Ma'sm.' said he. holding out
the missive. "a letter for Miss Benson,
an it's very particular that no one else
should sec it,
The air of mystery conveyed in this
characteristic address aroused Mrs. Ben
sons curiosity. especially when she OBJ,
served that it was addressed 10 her daugh>
ter. and not to herself. as she supposed
She returned TO the psrlor-not TO read
the Magazine. that had lost its attrac>
| tions.
What in the world can it be p she
thought. that they could be so secret
about? Can Florence be carrying on
clandestine correspondence 1t may be
something that l ought to know
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity.
Mrs. Benson speedily concluded that she
would be false to her responsibilities as a
parent. if she did not unravel this mys>
terry.
Here's pretty doing = she exclaimed.
as soon as she could recover breath
SO Florence was going to run away and