Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-30
LOVES LUNACY.

: lie had escorted her to this baTbe-
cue, aud when returning had eX-
pressed HIS SatiEfaction At The pF0s-
pecis OF General Combs aud the
success Of the Wing party.
The widow took sides with the
Democracy, and offered 10 wager
her bloodsd saddle horBe, Gypsy, or
anything else on her place against
Powhatan, or anything else 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 Elkhorn, and were
about to ford il, bridges were not
plentiful in those days., when John
Peyton, the Generals son and heir,
came up at q rapid rate behind them.
The widow turned and bowed TO
John, and rode on into the stream,
but little behind her companion
| The east bank was very steep, and
required tho horses to put. forth all
their strength 20 reach the top with
| their load. @
AS luck would have Il, good or
i'll, the widows girth broke, just at
the commencement Of the steep
| part. The lady still seated in her
saddle, slid swiftly back into the
water, whilst her horse went Gp the
bank like an arrow.
! John Peyton leaped from the
horse, and in an instant caught the
floating lady and saddle, and before
the General had recovered from his
astonishmeRt, was at the top Of the
bank with his burden. The little
widow was equal 10 the occasion,
for she begged the General 10 ride
on and stop. her horse, which had
now begun to understand HE part
in the mishap, and was beginning
to Increase his gait toward 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 ever the ridicu-
lous accident, but what further
passed between them is only known
TO themselves. 1.
John Peyton repaired the broken
| girth, fastened the saddle again or
the horse, placed the lady in her
seat, bade her good evening, mount
ed his horse, and taking another
road down the ElkhOrn, rode rapid
ly home, leaving the General TO os-
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 Flauntle-
roy place, he accepted the lady's in
vitation O dismOunt and take tea
with her.
After having changed her clothing,
the pretty widow entertained her
/ guest with her brightest smiles and
some new songs. The General was
delighted, and expressed delight as
a Kentucky gentleman of that day
would have done: "YOu are the
finest songstress 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 a little qEeeZe-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 Flauntle-
roy 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 a letter from
This tobacco factor called General
IPevton TO Louisville, and before his
] r.anfHfnal ~ -.
] Ashland district was over; and won
derful to relate, John c. Breckin-
ridge, the young Democrat, was
elected to Congress.
General Peyton was both aston
ished and indignant. "Ar. Clay's
district, sir, the finest congressional
district in the Blue Grass region,
has disgracedi itself, air." was almost
his first remark to his neighbor,
Colonel Beaufort.
To his son John he communicated
his intention OF bringing Mrs.
Flaunilenoy 20 adorA the head Of
This table. oJ
8Sir, 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 q little
afraid John would object to q step
mother younger than himself.
The next morning the General or
dered PoWhatan to be brought out,
and led ever to Mrs. Flauntleroy's.
Calling John he requested him to 20
with him to call upon Mrs. Flauni-
leroy. .r.l .--.-
"The Whig party has disgraced
itself in Mr.. Clay's district sir, and
am compelled to part with the
finest blOoded horse in the State TO
pay nv wager with that lady, sir. f"
The black boy had led PoWhatan
to the hitching rail in front OF Mrs.
FlauntleFoy's yard, and, having tied
him, had gone into the quarters TO
tell his brothers and sisters of their
mistress good luck in having won
the famous horse Powhatan.
When General Psyton and John
arrived tney found the pretty Wild
ow and two young lady friends in
the yard admiriAg Powhatan.
The ladies were in high glee, and
I a4LEA NAAE u1G9A NNAA NAAACA4f AlO ACAA-
tlemen were invited TO take seats
on the porch, which they did.
MADAM" said the General to Mrs
Flauntleroy, Il have come, like 6
true Kentucky gentleman, to pay
the wager have lost. Powhatan
, madam, IS rightfully yours"
"But, General" said she, II be,
lieve the wager was conditional. II
was the horse or anything else OF
. the place, was it not?"
Madam" he replied, ''yeu are
, | correct. But there is nothing OF
the place one-half the valued Pow
hatan. cannot allow You 10 selec
, an inferior animal.
The pretty widow blushed to tn,
, tips of her fingers when she said
"You have another and superior an
, | imal her0-your son John; IL h,
would use his tongue, 1 think i shal
choose him"
3 There was a moment of silence
4 | then q laugh in which the Genera
= did not join.
He rose, and in the bla2dest man
4, ner bade the ladies good morning
: To his son John he said: "Sir, Vol
B, will remain"
And that was the way John Pey