Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-10-25

came back with the widows horse she
and John were laughing merrily over
the ridiculous accident, but what fur
ther passed between them is only known
to themselves.
John Peyton repaired the broken
girth, fastened the saddle again on the
horse, placed the lady in her seat, bade
her good evening, mounted his horse,
and taking another road down the Elk
horn, rode rapidly home, leaving the
General to escort the widow home.
It is not necessary to relate how he
entertained his fair companion with
his ponderous anecdotes of Mr.. Clay
and other famous public men; but
when he reached the Fauntleroy place
he accepted the lady's invitation to dis
mount and take tea with her.
After having changed her wet cloth
ing the pretty widow entertained her
guest with her brightest smiles, and
some new songs. The General was de-
lighted, and expressed his delight as
Kentucky gentlemen of that day would
do.
"You are the finest songstress, mad
am, in the bluegrass region"
When he bade her goodnight, 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 it
laughingly reminded him of his wager.
That night in his dreams, the little
widow Fauntleroy was repeated so Of
ten, 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 refused.
The next morning a letter from his
tobacco factor, called General Peyton
to Louisville, and before his return the
political contest in the Ashland dis
trict was over, and, wonderful to relate,
John G. Breckenridge, the young De-
mocrat was elected to Congress.
General Peyton was both astonished
and indignant. "Mr. Clay's district,
sir, the finest Congressional district in
the bluegrass region, has disgraced it
self, sir" was almost the first remark
to his neighbor, Col. Beaufort.
To his son, John, he communicated
his intention of bringing Mrs. Faunt-
leroy to adorn the head of his table.
.Sir, she is the finest ladyin the blue
grass region, and hope, sir, you will
always respect your future mother
John, witha 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 step-mother younger than
himself.
The next morning the General or
dered Powhatan brought out, and led
over to Mrs. Fauntleroy's. Calling
John, he requested him to call upon
Mrs. FauntIeroy.
"The Whig party has disgraced it.
self in Mr.. Clay's district, sir, and [ am
compelled to part with the finest blood
ed horse in the State to pay wager
with that lady, sir"
The black boy had led PoWhatan to
the hitching rail in frontof Mrs. Faunt-
leroy's yard, and having tied him, had
gone into the quarters to tell his color
ed brothers and sisters Of their mis-
tress' good luck in having won the fam
Gus horse PoWhatan. ..
When General Peyton and John az
rived they found the pretty widow and
two young lady friends in the yard ad-
miring Powhatan.
MADAM" said the General, to Mrs.
Fauntleroy, 81 have come like a true
Kentucky gentleman, to pay the wager
[ have lost. Powhatan, madam, is
rightfully yours"
''But, General, [ believe the wager
was conditional. It was the horse or
anything else on the place, was it not?'
"Madam, you are correct, but can
not permit you to select an inferior
animal"
"You have another and superior an
imal here" replied the widow, blush
ing. "Your son John, if he would but
use his tongue, think [ shall choose
him."
The General rose, and in his bland
est manner bade the ladies good morn
ing. To John he said:
"Sir, you will remain"
General Peyton never forgave his
daughter-in-law her practical joke
In after years he used to say:
''Sir, she is the finest lady in the
bluegrass region, but she lacks taste,
sir"
ExcERPTs.-Men spend their lives
in trying to understand each other,
and, at the close, are compelled to ac-
knowledge that they cannot even un-
derstand themselves.
The humble man requests a favor
as though he were unworthy to receive
it; bntsthe proud man asks for favor
in the same tone as he were granting
one.
Weigh others asyou would be weigh
ed yourselves, and the scales would
have a sinecure.
Often do we think when we ought
to act, and act when it behooves us to
reflect; hence, caution is frequently as
fatal as rashness.