Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-02-09

any thing until the knot is tied, and then
what laugh we shall have"
Squire Markham did not consider that It
might make a little difference with the bride
expcctant lie considered it n capital Joke on
his son, and looked no further. lie accor-
dinghy drew his writing materials towards him,
and nditcd tie following cpistle:
DEAREST FLORENCE: | find the day fixed
for our clopcmcnt, on some accounts objection
able, and would like, with your permission, to
substitute tomorrow evening. If hear moth
ing from you, shall infer that YOU assent to
tliis arrangement shall have carriage in
readiness under the old oal. tree, at hal past
eight o'clock. You can walk there without
attracting suspicion, and, as there will be no
moon, we shall be able to carry dut oar plans
without fear of discovery. l am happy to say
that the governor doesn't suspect in the least
that dnughtcr-n-law is in store for him
Won't he be slammed? T? Your devoted
CHARLEY.
Esad" said Squire Markham, laughing
heartily, that isn't bad especially about
humhugging me. Charley couldn't have done
it better himself"
So saying he scaled it up and sent it over
ny little lrlSl, bay in his employment, hay
ing llrst marked private in the corner.
BE careful Mike, to give it to Miss Ben
son, and don't let any one else sec it," was the
parting injunction.
Mrs. BcnSon was sitting in her quiet par
lor, casting her eyes over late number Of
Harpcr's Magazine. Florence being absent
on shopping excursion she was left alone.
The ringing Of the bell brought her to the
door, With Some surprise she saw that the
person who rung the bell was Mike, Squire
NIarkham's 6" boy of all work"
Please, ma'a am" said he, holding out the
missive, "a letter for Miss Benson, an its
very partickcr that nobody else should sec it," |
The air of mystery conveyed in this char
acterstic address, aroused Mrs. Bcnson's Gu
riosity, especially when she observed that it
was addressed to her daughter anu not to her
self as she first supposed. She returned to
the parlor, nos to read Ilarper's Magazinc-
that had lost It's attractions
"Whnt in the world can il be" she thought, |
g that they should be so secret about it p
Can Florence be carrying on clantlvstinc
correspondence? 1t may be something that
ouaht to know"
Stimulated by her feminine curiosity, Mrs.
Is. speedily concluded that shc would be false
to the responsibilities Of a parent, if She did
not unravcl the mystery
think" said she, 81 will open it, and
if it shouldn't be anything pnrticular, | can
easily rc-seal it, and Florcnce will still be none
the wiser"
This she accordingly did. What was her
astonishment when the plan of clopcmcnt was
discovered to her
Heres pretty doings" she cxcl!i;ncd, as
soon as she could recover breath $50 Flor
encc was going to run away and &C. married
to that Charles Markham, without so much
as limiting word to me-"
She leaned her head nron her hand and
began To consider. She was naturally lc,, 10
think of her own marriage with the late Alr.
Benson, ana the happiness Of her welded life,
and she could not help heaving a sigh at the
recollection.
Am always to remain thus soitaryY"
she thought. "l'vc half mind not to show
this letter to Florence, but to runaway with
Charles tomorrow night on my own account.
It's odd ii | can't persuade him thai the mo.
thcr ls as good as the daughter" and she
glanced complaccnty at the still attractive
tacc and form reflected from the mirror
just then she heard tl!c door open, and
Florence entered. She quickly cumlpled up
the letter aud thrust it into her pocket.
Florence and Charles did not meet during
the succeeding day, chiefly in pursuance of
the plan they had agreed to, in order to avoid
suspicion
Squire Markham acted in an exceedingly
strange manner, to his sons thinking. Occa-
slonally he would burst into a hearty laugh.
which he would cndcavor to rcpress, and pace
up and down the room, as if to walk off some
of his supcrabundant hilarty.
What's in the wind 7" thought Charles
to himself 1t can't be the governors get
ting crazy! Something was the matter be-
yond doubt" But what it really was, he
had not the faintcst conjecture
at the hour specified, the Squire had his
carriage drawn up at the appointed rendcz-
yous lie began to peer anxiousy in the dark
for Florence. At length female form, well
muflied UP, made its appearance. Thanking
her IN very low whisper, lest it might be