The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-11-28
PAYING A WAGER.

PAYING A WAGER.
Andthe Way in which it was Paid.
Not far from the forks Of Elkhorn
lived the pretty little widow Faunt-
leroy, and one Of her nearest neigh
bors was General Peyton. The gen
eral had looked upon the little wild
ow very much as he did upon his
blooded horse Powhattan-the finest |
horse, sir, in the Blue GLASS reg ion.
The pretty Mrs, Fauntleroy had
been Il widow more than q year,
while the general, having a great re-
gard for etiquette, had waited pa
tiently for that time to elapse IN or
der to declare himself. But the
widow, with her woman's art, kept |
her lover at bay, and yet kept hlm
in her train.
He had escorted her to this barb9-
cue, and, when returning, had ex-
pressed his satisfaction at the pros
pect of General Combs and the sue
cess of the Wing party.
The widow took sides with the
Democracy, and offered to wager her
blooded saddle-horse Gypsey, or
anything else on her place, against
Powhattan, or anything else she
might fancy on the general's'p
The generals gallantry would not
allow him to refuse, which he
promptly accepted, BY this time
, they had reached the north fork OF
Elkhorn, and we're about to ford 1t
bridges were not plentiful in those
days,) when John Peyton, the gene
RAILS only son and heir, came up at q
sharp gait behind them.
3 The widow turned and bowed to
John, and rode on into the stream,
, but q little behind her companion,
, The east bank was very steep, and
, required the horses to put forth al
their strength to reach the top with
, their loads.
As luck would have it, good Oh ILL,
:; the widows girth broke Just at the
commencement of the steep part
II The lady, still seated on her saddle
= slid swiftly back into the water
e while her horse went up the bani
Il like an arrow.
le - John Peyton leapod from hi
e. horse, and in an instant caught the
er aoating lady and saddle, and before
4. the general had recovered from hi
astonishment, WAS at the top OF th
bank with his burden. The httl
widow was equal to the occasion, 10
es she begged the general to ride O.
i'll and stop her horse, which had nov
ne begun to understand his part IN tn
mishap, and was beginning to IL
ut crease his gait towards home.
tn The general did as he was BIC
ia, and soon returned with the hors'
ar. In the meantime John Peyton ha
in secured his own horse, and when til
lip general came back with the widow
ar horse, she and John were lauShlI
eet merrily over the ridiculous acclden
but what further passed betwet
,ss them is only known to themselve
,th John Poyton repaired the b-oke
md girth, fastened the saddle again
;na m the horse, placed the lady in h
ns s seat, bade her good evening, noun
'n ed his horse, and taking anoth
road down the Elkhorn, rode rapl
'fy ly home, leaving the general to
'eu cort the widow.
out Tt is not necessary to relate he
sur he entertained his fair conpanl'
re- with ponderous anecdotes OF N
lco' Clay and other famous pubic me
the but when he reached the fauntler
, of place, he accepted the lady's in
api- tation to dismount and take
with her
and After having changed her v
clothing, the pretty widow enterta
leva ed her guest with her bright
,py smiles and some new songs. 1
e of General was delighted, and expire
ed his delight as Kentucky gent
that men of that day would nave wv
in. "You are the finest songstress, m
are an, in the Blue Grass region.
,na. When he bid her good night
'pe ara shook hands with her on tho POI
Vi w. the wicked little widow gave
hand little squeeze-oniy a lCti
. but it thrilled like an electric sh
'nJo,' u,hn through bis great ponderous ira
Mno M, while she laughingly reminded /
e ine of his wage.. That night, IN
nrm dreams, the little widow Fauntle
irlsts w,s repeated SO often, and IN
ectea many bewitching forms, that he ,,
very solved to propose to her at t
Left first meeting, nor did he dream
Re- he could be refused.
The next morning, letter /
have his tobacco factor called Gen
sen. Peyton to louisville. and before
ne to retu,n the political contest IN
D six Ashland district was over
three wonderful to relate, John Z. bl
trans. inridge, the young Democrat,
elected to Congress.