The Van Buren press., 1872-08-06
A Kentucky Anecdote.

1t was customary in former days Tor
all the ladies' of the best families TO at.
tend the prominent barbecues and this
was especially the case in the contest be
twee Mr. Breckinrido and Gen Combs, in
1910. Gu, Of these affairs grew the au-
thentic story of the incest widow in the
blue grass region Not far from the
Forks OF Elkhorn lived the pretty little
widow Fauntleroy, and one OF her near,
est neighbors was General Peyton, The
General hsd looked upon the little widow
very much as he looked upon his blood.
ed horse Powhattan---" The finest horse,
sir. in the blue grass region. y
The pretty Mrs Fauntleroy had been
a widow more than a year, while the
General, having great regard for eti
quette, had waited patiently for tha, time
to clapsc, in order to declare himself
| But the widow, with her woman's art.
kept her lover at bay, and yet kept him
| in her train.
lie had escorted her to this barbecue.
and when returning had expressed his
satisfaction at the prospects of General
! Combs, and the success Of the Wing par
| ~.
| The widow took sides with the Demo
crac,, and offered to wager her bloodsd
saddle horse. Gipscy, or anything else
on her place. against Powhattan, or any.
thing else she might fancy on the Gener.
ais place
The Generals gallsntry would not al
low him te resn.s thr sSsgaG whicA g
promptly accepted. b, this time they
had reached the north Fork of L khorn,
and were abont to ford 1t (bridges were
not plenty in those days when John
Peyton, the Generals only son and heir,
came up at sharp gai, behind them.
The widow turned and bowed t. John.
and rode on into The stream, but littl
behind her companion. The east bank
was very steep, and required the horses
to put forth nearly all their strength to |
reach the top with their loads.
AS luck would have it, good or i'll, tho
widows girth broke when just at the com.
nencement Of the steep part. The lady.
s'll seated on her sad lie. slid swiftly
back into the water while her horse went
up tUe bank Ike al arrow
John Peyton leaped from his horse,
and in an instant caught the floating lady
aud saddle and, before the General had
recovered from his astonshment was at
the top Of the bank with his burden The
little widow was equal to the occasion.
for she begged the General to ride on
and stop her horse, which had now be.
gun to understand his part in the mis-.
rap, and was beginning to increase his
gait toward home
The General did as he was bid. and
'oon returned with the horse. In the
meantime John Peyton had secured his
,wn horse, AMI when the General came
Jack with the widows horse she and 9
'ohn were laughing merrily over the ri. {
iculous accident, but whs. further pass
d between them is only known to them 9
elves
John Peyton repaired the broken i
.irth, fastened the saddle again on the Il
orse, placed the lady in her seat, babe n
or good evening, mounted his horse. q
nd taking another road down the Elk b
orn, rode repidly home, leaving the h
'H'i"i W 'otoit luc WiuDW. IL
1t is not necessary to relate how he [,
ntertained his fair companion with BON. n
erous anecdotes Of Mr. Clay and other n
mous public men; but when he reach n
the Fanntlaroy place. he accepted the G
dy's invitation to dismount aud take Q,
a with her. A.
After having changed her wet clothing, c,
Ie pretty widow entertained her guest "
it'll her brightest smiles. and some new Il
'ngs. Tho general was delighted, and N
'pressed his delight as Kentucky gen. CO
,mcn of that day would do You III
e the finest song,trsss, madam, in the I'll
ue.giass region. fr
When lie bid her good nigh. and shook Il
nds with her on the porch, the wicked til
tic widow gave his hand y little squeeze,
Iva little. but it thrilled like an elec =,
c shock through his great ponderous p'
me. while she laughingly reminded le.
n OF his wager. That night in his GU
cams. the little Widow Fauntleroy was IN
Ieated so often. and in 30 many BE-. M
lching forms that he resolved to pro -
se 10 her at their first meeting. nor did 'e'
dream that he could be refused
The next morning Il letter from his to. wv
,cp factor called General PcytDn to ~
uisyille, AMI before his return the po- ~; '
cal contest In the Ashland district was -, ~
'r; and, wonderful to relate, John c. :"
'ckenrdge, the young Democrat, was ;,,,
;tcd to Congress. ."'
icnnral Peyton was both astonished pd
Indignant " Mr. Clay's district, sir ara
finest Congressional district in blue. bnt
- Ieg'""' "as o'sgraceo 'tsei'' sir. pot
almost his 6rst remark to his neigh cha
Colonel Beaufort and
. hi, son, John, he communicated you