The Hickman courier., 1872-11-23
PAYING A WAGER.
And the way in which ;, was Paid.

PAYING A WAGER.
And the Way In which It was Paid
Not far from the forks of Elkhorn
lived the pretty little widow Faunt-
leroy, aud one of her nearest neigh
7 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 Grass region.
The pretty Mrs. Fauntleroy had
been a widow more than a 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 him
in her train.
He had escorted her to this barbe-
cue, and, when returning, had ex-
/ pressed his satisfaction at the pros
pect of General Combs and the sue
cess of the Whig party.
The widow took sides with the
Democracy, and offered TO wager her
blooded saddle-h horse Gypsey, or
anything else on her place, against
Powhattan, or anything else she
might fancy on the generals place
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 were about to ford it
(bridges were not plentiful in those
days,J when John Peyton, the gene
rails 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 luck would have it, good or i'll,
the widows girth broke Just at the
commencement of the steep part
The lady, still seated on her saddle,
-.lieI s,,fItIy 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
astOnishment, 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
begun to understand his part in the
mishap, and WAS beginning to in
crease his gait towards home.
The general did as he was bid,
and soon returned with the horse.
In the meantime John Peyton had
secured his own horse, and when the
general came back with the widows
horse, she and John were laughing
merrily over the ridiculous accident,
but what further passed between
them is only known to themselves
John PeytoD repaired the broken
girth, fastened 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 Eikhorn, rode rapid
ly home, leaving the general to eS-
cort the widow.
1t is not necessary to relate how
he entertained his fair companion
with ponderous anecdotes of Mr.
Clay and other famous public men;
but when he reached the Fauntleroy
place, he accepted the lady's invi-
tation to dismount and take tea
with her.
After having changed her wet
clothing, the pretty widow entertain
ed her guest with her brightest
smiles and some new songs. The
general was delighted, and express
ed MS delight as Kentucky gentle
men of that day would have done
You are the finest songstress, mad
an, 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 a little
but it thrilled like an electric shock
Though his great ponderous frame,
while she laughingly reminded him
of his wager. That night, In his
dreams, the little widow Fauntleroy
was repeated so often, and in so
many bewitching forms, that he re-
solved to propose to her at their
first meeting, nor did he dream that
he could be refused.
The next morning, letter from
his tobacco factor called General
Peyton to Louisville, and before his
return the political contest in the
Ashland district was over, and,
wonderful to relate, John G. Breck-
inridge, the young Democrat, was
elected to Congress.
General Peyton was both astonish-
ed and indignant. Mr.. CLAWS dis
trict, sir, the finest Congressional
district III the Blue Grass region,
has disgraced itself, sir" was almost
his first remark to his neighbor, Col.
Beaufort.
To his son John he communicated
his intention of bringing Mrs. Faun-
tleroy to adorn the head of his table.
Sir, she is the finest lady in the
Blue Grass region, and I 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
nightly, for he had been a little
afraid John would object to step
mother younger than himself.
The next morning the general or
dered Powhattan brought out and
led over to Mrs. Fauntleroy's. Call
ing John, he requested him to call
upon Mrs. Fauntleroy.
The Wing party has disgraced
itself in Mr.. Clay's district, sir, and
/ am compelled to part with the