Connecticut western news., 1872-12-06
A Kentucky Romance.

the little widow very much as he did upon his blooded horse .Powhattan - " the finest horse, sir, in the Blue Grass re- gion."
 The pretty little widow Fauntleroy had been widow more than year, while the General, having a great regard for eti- quette, had waited patiently for that time to elapse in order to declare himself. But the widow with her womans 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 expressed his satisfaction at the prospect of General Combs and the success of the Whig party.
 The widow took sides with the Democ-. racy, and offered to wager her blooded saddle horse, Gypsey, or anything else on the place, against Powhattan, or anything else she might fancy 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 Elkhsrn, and were about to ford it (bridges were not plentiful in those days) when John Peyton, the Generals 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 little behind her companion. The east bank was very steep, aud 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 ot the fsteep part. The lady, still seated on her saddle, slid swiftly back into the wa ter, while her horse went up the bank like an arrow.
 John Peytop leaped from his horse, and in an instant caught the floating lady and saddle, and, before the General had re- covered 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 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 over the ridiculous accident; but what further passed between them is only known to l 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 Elkhorn, rode rapidly home, leaving the General to es- cort the widow.
 It is not necessary to relate how he en- tertained his fair companion with ponder ous anecdotes of Mir. Clay and other famous public men; but when he reached the Fauntleroy place he accepted the lady's invitation to dismount and take tea with her. Alter changing her wet cloth ing the pretty widow entertained her guest with her brightest smiles and some new songs. The General was delighted, and expressed his delight, as Kentucky gentlemen of that day would have done. You are the finest songtress, madam, in the Blue Grass region"
 | When he bade her good night and shook hands with her on the porch, the wicked little widow gave his hand little squeeze only e little-but it thrilled like an electric shock through his great, ponder ous frame, while she laughingly reminded him of his wager That night, in his dreams, the little widow Fauntlesoy was repeated so often, and in so many be- witching forms, that he resolved to pro- pose to her at their first meeting, nor did he dream that he could be refused l The next morning letter from his to- bacco factor, called General Peyton to Louisville, and before his return the poli- tical contest in the Ashland district was over, and wonderful to relate, John O.. Breckinridge, the young Democrat was elected to Congress.
 General Peyton was both astonlshed and indignant. "Mr. Clay's district, sir, the finest Congressional district in the
 Blue Grass region, has disgraced itself,
 sir" was almost his first remark to his neighbor, Colonel Beaufort.
 To his son John he communicated his intention to bring Mrs. Fauntlsroy to
 adorn the head of his table.
 "Sir. she is the finest lady in the Blue
 Grass region, and hope, sir, you will
 always respect your future mother" John, with a 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 o1 1dered
 Powhattan brought out and led over to
 Mrs. Fauntleroy's. Calling John he re-
 quested him to go with him to call upon
 Mrs. Fauntleroy. {. E,-s "The Whig party has disgraced itself
 in MT. Clay's district, sir, and l am com
 pelled to part with the finest blooded horse in the State to pay my wager with
 that lady, sir" .t- ..t..r F The black boy had led Powhattan to the hitching rsil in front of Mrs. Fauntle- .roy's yard, and, having tied him, had gone
 into the quarters to tell his brothers and
 sisters of their mistress's good luck in
 having won the famous horse Powhattan When General Payton and John arrived they found the pretty widow and two .. young lady friends ia the yard admiring , Powhattan. The ladies were in high glee
 and after the usual salutations the gentle
 men were invited to take seats on the 5 porch, which they did.
 7 Madam" said the General to Mrs , Famtleroy, "I have come here like true Kentucky gentleman, to pay the wager have lost Powhattan, madam, is right t fully yours."
 "But, General" said she, "I believe the wager was conditional. It was tn, horse or anything else on the place, wal , it not?"
 Madam" he replied, "you are correct [ But there is nothing on my place one t half in value to Powhattan. I canne f permit you to select an inferior animal"
 The pretty widow blushed to the tip
 of her fingers when she said: You hay, F another and superior animal here-you 2 son John; if he would but use his tongue
 I think l shall choose him." e There was moment of silence, then p laugh, in which the General did not join D He rose, and in the blandest manner bad, - the ladies good night. To John he said f ''Sir, you will remain"
 And %bot bo ryav Tohp Dauho1