The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-08-24
A Kentucky Anecdote.

attend the prominent barbecues; and
this was especially the case in the con-
test between Mr Breckenridge and
aGihneral Combs, in 1910. Out of these
affairs grew TIL e authentic story of the
nicest widow in the blue, grass region.
fNot far from the Forks of Elkhorn lived
the pretty little widow Fauntleroy, and
one of her nearest noighbors was
General, Peyton. The general, had
looked upon his blooded horse Pow
hattan-"The finest horse, sir, in the
blue grass region"
The pretty Mrs. Fauntleroy had been
II widow more than year while the
general, having great regard for
etiquette, had waited patiently for that
time to elapse, to declar. himself. But
the widow, with her woman's art, kept
her lover at bay, aud yet kept him in
her train.
He had escorted her to this barbe cue.
when returning had expressed his
satisfaction ut the prospects of General
Combs, aud the success of the Wing
party.
The widow took sides with the
Democracy, aud offered to wager her
blooded saddle horse, Gipsey, or any
thing else OH her place, against Pow
haitian, 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 reach cd the north Fork of Elk horn,
and were about to ford it bridges were
not plenty in those days,j when John
Peyton. the generals only son and heir,
came up at sharp gait behind them.
The widow turned aud bowed tu
John, and rode on into the stream, but
little behind her companion. The
east bank was very steep, aud required
the horses to put iorth nearly all their
strength to reach the top with their
loads.
AS luck would have it, good or i'll,
the widows girth broke when just at
the commencement of the steep part.
The lady, still seated on her s.dlle, slid
swiftly back into the water, while her
horse went up the bank like an arrow.
John Peyton leapcd 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 aud stop her horse, which
had now begun to understand his part
i" 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 Pcyton had secured his
own horse, and when the general came
buck with the widows horse she aad
John were laughing merrily over the
ridiculous accident but what further
passed between them is only known to
themselves.
John Peyton repaired the broken
glrth, 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 tho widow.
1t is not necessary to relate how lie
entertained his fair companion with
pondorons 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 aud take tea With her.
Alter having changed her wet cloth
ing the pretty widow cntertuncd her
guest with her brightest smiles, aud
some new songs. The general was
deiightcd, AID expressed his delight as
Kentucky gentlemen Of that day would
do. You arc the finest songstress,
madam, in the blue grass region"
When he bid her good night and
shook bards 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 she
llushlngly reminded him of his wager.
That night in his dreams, the little
Widow Fauntleroy was repeated so often,
and in SO muny bewitching forms, that
he resolved to propose to her at their
first meeting, nor did he dream that ho
l. III L.