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


Mrs Benoni Benson was fat, fair, and
forty -four, when her husband, soap
boiler in very good circumstances, was
called from his ife-task of contributing
to the general puri6cation of mapkind.-
Mrs. Benson took refuge from her grief
in a pretty cottage, situated on the prin-
cipal street in the town OF c..
At first she was iuconsolable, as she
used to say with solemn emphasis, which
carried conviction TO the hearts OF her
bearers. that nothing but the thoughts Of
her daughter Florence would have pre-
vented her from terminating her exist
ence by the Intervention of poison.
Ms. Benson was, 10 no small measure,
indebted to her daus shter-siDce 10 less
than three months, she threw aside her
mourning and became as lively as ever.
Touching Florence, she had now reach
ei the mature age of nineteen, and be-
gan to think herself marrisgeable, she
was quite pretty, and tolcrably well sc-
couplished, so that her wishes in that re-
spect were very likely to be fulfilled.
Ju-t over the way lived Squire Mark
ham, the village lawyer, just verging u
pom ffty, with his son Charles, who was
about half bis age. Being young man
of agreeable exterior, the latter wa quite
fayorite with the young ladies in the
ghborhood, and considered III common
parlance, quite ''catsh."
AS vet, however, his affections bad new
er been seriously eptang!ed, aDd might
have rem aimed so bud it not been for the
.udden apparition, one morning, of Flor
euce Benson, riding bg on horseback.
1t struck him at once that she was re-
markably graceful and really quite pretty
Tbercupon he cultivated her ac9ualu-
tance with increased assiduity, and after
while asked the fatal question.
Florence answered in the affirmative,
and instead of referring bin dutifuIly to
her mother, limited (being a rom aDtc
young LADY, how charming it would be
to steal away to the next town and get
married, without anybody being the wis
er.
Charles Markham caught at this hint,
which chimed with his own temperament,
and be resolved to adopt it.
In order that it might be carried out
with perfect success, it was resolved to
seem iudi fcrent to each other until the
day Fixed, in order to ward off any sus-
picion which might otherwise be aroused.
So we'll were these arrangements car
r.d out, that Mrs. Benson had 10 suspi-
cion of what was going on.
Not SO with Squire Markham. He
had ottsined clue to the affair in some
manner, SO that be had not only discov-
cred the fact Of the elopement, but even
the very day Oh which it was to occur.
"Sly dog. that Charles" thought be to
himself, as he sat down before the FIRE in
his dressing gown and smoking cap. leis-
urely puffiog away at choice Havana.
"But dout wonder at it; be only takes
after me. Still, owe him something for
keeping it 30 secretly from me. 1t would
be s good joke. if were little younger,
TO cut him out and marry her in spite of
him."
Squire Markham. who was one of these
joyial widowers who takes life as it comes
mused more and more on this idea. struck
out BIZ chance as it we're, till he really
began to think it worth something.
"Aftcr ALL" shouted be-" am not so
old neither-or at least the ladies say so
aud they ought to be good judges in
such matters. | have been a bachelor
good while, and ought to have found out
before this how much more comfortable
it would be to have a pretty wife to vel
come me home, and to do the bonors of
my table, and to help me keep that ras-
cal Charles 10 order. Egad! I've half
q mind to do it,"
Squire Markham took two more whiffs
and exclaimed:
IL VOW III do it,"
What this mysterious 1T was, We will
leave the reader to infer from his very
next movement. Ringing the bell be in
quired of the servant:
as Charles at homel'
'No sir" was the reply, she went out
this morning aud will be gone all day"
"Humph! tbat'll do. So much the bet
ter for my purposes" thought be when
left alone.
snow 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. I'll write
to her 10 his name, telling her that have
altered my mind and will just 60 at dark
to-uorrow night. She won't suspect any
thing until the knot is tied, and then what
q laugh we shall hayel"
Squire Markham did not consider that
it might make little difference with the
l.;l- a-.o.tant H. rnncidapod n a aan-