Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-11
How iva Households Became
One Ns


boiler in very good circumstances, was
called from his life-task Of contribu-
ting to the general publication Of man
kind. Mrs. Benson took refuge from
her griefsin pretty cottage situated
on the principal street in the town of
AT first she was inct nsolable, and she
used to say, with solemn emphasis
which carried conviction to the hearts
Of her hearers, that nothing but the
thoughts Of Florence would have pre-
vented her from terminating her exist
ence by intervention of poison.
Mrs. Benson was in no small degree
indebted to her daughter-since in less
than three months she threw aside her
mourning and became as lively as ever.
Touching Florence, she had now
reached the mature age of nineteen,
and began to think herself marriagea-
Bile. She was quite pretty, and tolera-
bly, we'll accomplished, so that her wish
es in That respect were very likely to be
fulfilled.
Just over the way lived Squire Mark
ham, the village lawyer, just verging
upon fifty, with his son Charles, who
was about half his age. Being young
man of agreeable exterior, the latter
was quite favorite with the young la
dies in the neighborhrod, and consid-
cred in common parlanee quite a
Catch
As yet, however, his affections had
never been seriously entangled, and
might have remainea' so, had it not
been for the sudden apparition, one
morning, of Florence Benson, riding on
horseback. -. .......-... ........
ltstruck him ut once that she was
remarkably graceful, and really quite
pretty. Therefore he cultivated her
acquaintance with increased assiduity,
and after while ash ed the fatal ques-
ton.
Florence answered in the affirmative,
and, Instead Of referring him dutifully
to her mother, limited being roman
tic young LADY, how charming it would
be to steal away to the next town and
get married, without anybody being the
wiser.
Charles Markham caught at this hint
which chilned with his own tempera-
ment, and he resolved to ADOPT 1t.
In order that it might be CARR ed out
with perfect success, it was resolved to
seem Indifferent to each other until the
day fixed, in order to ward off any sus
picion which otherwise might be arous-
ed. 'rs.
So well were these arrangements car
ried out that Mrs. Benson had no sus-
plcion Of what was going on.
Not SO with Squire Markham. lie
had obtained clue to the affair in some
manner, not only of the elopement but
even the day on which it was to occur.
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he
to himself, as he sat down by the fire
in hi: dressing gown and smoking-cap,
lcisurelv putting away at a choice Ha-
vana. "But don't wonder at it; he
only takes after me. Still, l owe him
something for keeping it so secret from
me. 1t would be good joke, if I were
little" younger, to cut him out and
marry her in spite Of him."
Sqaire Markham, who was one of
those ioyill widowers who take life as
it comes, unused more and more this
idea, struck out by chance as it were,
till he really began to think it were
worth acting out. :
CATER all" shouted he, I am not
old either, or at least the ladies say so
and they ought to be good judges in
the mat err. have been bachelor a
good while and ought to have found out
before this how much more comfortable
it would be to have a pretty wife to
welcome me home, and to do the hon
ors at my table, and to help me keep
that rascal Charles in order. Egad
I've mind to do it,"
Squire Markham took two more
whifS and exclaimed
II vow I'll do it,
What the mysterious resolution was,
we will leave the reader to infer from
his very next movement. Ringing the
bell, he inquired of the servant
''Is Charles at home %
''No, sir" was the reply, "hc went
out this morning, and will be gone all
day.
s'Humph. that'll'do. So much the
better for my purpose" thought he,
when alone. o.9t
''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 when the iron is hot. I'll
write to her in his name, telling her l
have altered my mind, and will go just
at dark to- morrow night. She won't
suspect anything until the knot is tied,
and then what a laugh we shall have?"
Squire Markham did not consider that
it night make a little difference with
the bride expectant. He considered it
capital joke on his son but looked no
further. He accordingly drew his wri :
ting materials towards him, and indited
the Following epistle
''DE.R FLoRENoE find the day fixed for
our elopement on some accounts objcctiona
bic. andswould like, with your perm ssi on,
to substitute to morrow evening. If hear
nothing from you, shall have a carriage in
readiness under the old oak tree at half past
eight o'clock. You can wax there without
exciting suspicion, and as there, will be no
moon, we shall be able to carry out our plans
without fear Of discovery. ! am happy to
say that the Governor doesn't suspect in the