Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-02-09
MISCELLANY a
How Two Households became One,

Mrs Bcnonl benson was fat, fair and forty
four, when her husband a soap. boiler in yer,
coed circumstances, was called from his life
task OF contributing to the general publication
of mankind. Mrs. Benson took refuge from,
her grief in pretty cottage situated on the
principal street in the town of c.
At first she is inconsolablc as she used to
say, with solemn emphasis which carried
conviction to tho hearts of hearers, that moth
ing but the thoughts of her daughter Flor
encc, would have prevented her from tcrmi-
mating her existence by the intervention of
poison.
, Mrs. Benson was in no small measure in
debted to her daughtcr-sinco 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 marriagcable She was quite pretty,
and tolcrably well accomplished, so that her
wishes in that respect were very soon likely to
be fulfilled.
Just over the way lived Squire Markham,
the village lawyer, just vergin,, upon fifty,
with his son Charles, who was about half his
age. Being young man of agreeable exte-
rior, the latter was quite favorite among the
young ladies in the neighborhood, and consid
II.
AS yet. however, his affections had never bee,
seriously entangled, and might have remained
30, had it not been for the sudden apparition
one morning, of Florence Benson riding b,
on horse back.
1t struck him Mt once that she was remark
ably graceful, and really quite pretty There
upon he cultivated her acquaintance with in
creased assduity, and after awhile asked tn
fatal question.
Florence answered in the affirmative; an,
instead ofreferring him dutfully to her moth
or, limited (bcing a romantic young lndy) hoy
charming it would be to steal away to the mex
town, and get married without anybody bcin.
the wiser
Charles Markham caught at this hint, whicl
ohimed with his own temperament, and re
solved to adopt it.
In order that it might be carried out wit
perfect success, it was resolved to seem nhi'
tcrent to each other, until the day fixed, i
order to ward off any suspicion which Nigh
otherwise be aroused.
So we'll were all these arrangements carrie
ont, that Mrs. Benson had no suspicion O
what was going on.
Not so with Squire Markham. lie had oh
tanned clue to the affair in some manner, $
that he had not only discovered the fact O
the elopement, but even tho very day on whic
1t was to occur
"Sly dog, that Charles" thought he t.
himself as he sat before the fire in his dress
ing gown and smoking cap, lcsurcly putting
away at choice Havana. I" But don
wonder at it; he only takes after me- Still
owe him something for keeping it so secret
ly from me- 1t would be n good Joke if
were little younger, to cut him out and mar
ry her in spite Of him"
Squire Markham, who was one of those 10
vial widowers who take life as it comes, muse,
more and moro on this idea, struck out b.
chance as it were. till he really began to thin
it worth something.
After ALL" shouted he I am not so OF
onght to-bc good Judges in such matters.
have been bachelor good While and ouob
to have found out before this how much nor
comfortable it would be to have pretty vii
to welcome me home and do the honors of m
table and to help me keep that rascal Charle
in order Egad, I've half mind to do it.
Squire Markham took two moro whiffs an
exclaimed:
"1 vow I'll do itp'
What this mysterious yr was, we will leay
the reader to INFER from his very next NOV
ment. Ringing the bell he inquired of tn
servant
sis Charles at honor"
"No sir" was the reply, " he went out th
morning and will be gone all day"
&c Hump That'll do. So much the bette
for my purpose" thought he when left alon
" Now shall have the ground left to myscl
Let mesee. The Rascal intends running ava
nextnhursday evening; and to-day is Nor
day. Nothing like striking while the iron