Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-27
The INCEST Widow in tho Blue Grass
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Not far from the forks of Elkhorn lived the
pretty little widow Fauntleroy, and one of her
| nearest neighbors was General Peyton. The
| general had looked upon the little widow very
| much as he did upon his blooded horse Powhat-
tan-''the finest horse, sir, in the Blue Grass
region"
The pretty Mrs. Fauntleroy had been widow
more than year, while the general, having
great regard for etiquette, had waited patiently
for that time to elapse, in order to declare him
self. But the widow, with her woman's art,
kept her lover at bay, and yet kept him in her
train.
He had escorted her to this barbecue, and
when returning had expressed his satisfaction at
the prospect of Gen. Combs and the success of
the whig party.
The widow took sides with the democracy, and
offered to wager her blooded saddle horse, Gyp-
sey, or anything else on her place, against Pow
haitian, or anything else she might fancy on the
generals place.
The generals gallantry would not allow him
to refuse the wager which he promptly accepted.
BY this time they had reached the north fork of
Ekhorn, and were about to ford it bridges were
not plentiful in those days., when John Peyton,
the generals only son and heir, came up at
sharp gait behind them.
The widow turned and bowed to John and
rode on into the stream, but a little behind her
companion. The east bank was very steep, and
required the horses to put forth all their strength
to reach the top with their loads.
AS luNh NOultl HdNS IL, SOOl III, Lut hIuOW
girth broke Just at the commencement of the
steep part The lady, still seated on her saddle,
slid swiftly back into the water while her horse
went up the bank like an arrow.
John Peyton leaped from his horse and in an
instant caught the floating lady and saddle and
before the general had recovered from his aston
ishment, was at the top Of the bank with his
burden. The little widow was equal to the &C.
casion, for she begged the general to ride on
and stop her horse, which had now begun to
10 n~F In gIa,VA
beginning to increase his gait toward home.
The general did as he was bid, and soon re-
turned with the horse In the mean time John
Peyton had secured his own horse, and when
the general came back with the widows horse,
she ana John were laughing merrily over the
ridiculous accident, but what further passed be-
tween them is only known to themselves.
John PeytOn repaired the broken girth fas-
tened the saddle again on the horse, placed the
lady in her seat, babe her good evening, mount
ed his horse, and taking another road down the
Elkhorn, rode rapidly home, leaving the general
to escort the widow.
1t is not necessary to relate how he entertained
his fair companion with ponderous anecdotes of
MIR. Clay and other famous public men; but
when he reached the Fauntleroy place, he ac-
cepted the ady's invitation to dismount and
take tea with her.
After having changed her wet clothing, the
pretty widow entertained her guest with her
brightest smiles and some new songs The gen.
GIdl WIS uGlSuNtOly itllu expressed MS delight
Kentucky gentlemen of that day would have
done. "You are the finest songstress, madam,
in the Blue Grass region"
When he bid her good night and shook hands
with her on the porch, the wicked little widow
gave his hand little Squeeze-only little-but
it thrilled like an electric shock through his
great, ponderous frame, while she laughingly
reminded him of his wager. That night, in his
dreams, the little widow Fauntleroy was repeat
ed SO often, and in so many bewitching forms,
that he resolved to propose to her at their first
meeting, nor did he dream that he could be re-
fused
The next morning a letter from his tobacco
factor called Gen. Peyton to Louisville, and be-
fore his return the political contest in the Ash
land district was over, and, wonderful to relate,
john T. Breeklnridge, the young democrat, was
elected to congress.
General Peyton was both astonished and in
dignant "Mr. Clay's district, Sir the finest
congressional district in the Blue Grass region,
has dlsgraced itself, SIR was almost his first re-
mark 10 his neighbor, Col. Beaufort.
To his son John he communicated his intention
of bringing Mrs, Fauntleroy to adorn the head
of his table.
"Sir, she is the finest lady in the Blue Grass
region, and hope, sir, you will always respect
your future mother"
John, with quiet SMILE assured him that he
was pleased with his choice. This pleased the
general highly, for he had been little afraid
John would object to a step-mother younger
than himself.
The next morning the general ordered Pow
haitian brought out and led over to Mrs.
tauntleroy's. Calling John he requested him
20 with him to call upon Mrs. FauItleroy,
"Ihe WING party has disgraoed itself in Mr..
Clays district, sir, and am compelled TO part
with the finest blooded horse in the state to pay
my wager with that lady, sir"
The black boy had led Powhattan TO the hitch
inc rail IN front of Mrs. Fauntleroy's yard, and,
| having tied him, had gone into the quarters to
till his brothers and sisters of their mistress
great good luck in having won the famous horse
Powhattan.
When Gen. Peyton and John arrived, they
found the pretty widow and two young lady
friends in the yard admriDg Powhattan.
The ladies were in high glee, and after the
usual salutations, the gentlemen were invited to
take seats on the porch, which they did.
Madam" said the general to Mrs Fauntle-
roy, Il have come here, like true Kentucky
| gentleman, to pay the wager have lost Pow
haitian, madam, is rightfully yours"
"But, genera" said she, 81 believe the wager
was conditional. 1t was the horse or ANYTHING
else on the place, was it not2"
Madam, he replied, "you are correct. But
there is nothing on my place One-half in value
oil PoWhattan: cannot permit you to select
an inferior animal"
The pretty widow blushed to the tins of her
fingers when she said: "You have another and
superior animal here-your son John; if he
would but use his tongue | think | shall choose
him"
There was a moment of dead silence, then a
laugh, in which the general did not join.
lie rose, and in his blandest manner babe the
ladies good morning, To John he said; "Sir
you will remainh
And that was the way John Peyton came to
marry the pretty widow Fauntleroy
Gen. Peyton never forgave his pretty daugh-
ter-in-law her practical joke. In after years he
used to say:
"Sir, she is the finest lady in the Blue Grass
region, but she lacks taste, Sir"