Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-11-19
THE PRETTY WIDOW.
HOW JOHN BRECKENRIDGE ELECTION IN KEN
TUCKY FIXED UP MATCH.

HOW JOHN BRECKENRIDGE ELECTION IN KEN
TUCKY FIXED UP A MATCH.
1t was customary in former days for all the
ladies of the best families to attend the promi-
nent barbecues, and this was especially the case
in the contest between Mr.. Breckenridge and
General Coombs, In 1S49 Out of these affairs
grew the authentic story of the incest widow in
the bluegrass region. Not far from the Forks
of Eikhcrn lived the pretty little widow Faun-
teroy, and one of her nearest neighbors was
General Peyton. The General had looked up
on the little widow very much as be looked up
on his blooded horse Powhatan, the finest horse
in the bluegrass region.
| The pretty FauDtleroy had been a widow
more than year while the General, havicg
great regard for etiquette, had waited patient
| ly for that time to elapse, In order to declare
| himself Bat the widow, with her woman S
| art, kept her love at bay, and kept him in her
train.
| He had escorted her to this barbecue, and
when returning had expressed his satisfaction
at the prospects of General Coombs and the
success of the Whig party.
| The widow took sides with the Democracy,
| and offered to wager her blooded ssddle-horse
| Gipsey, or anything else on her place, against
| Powhatan. or anything else she might fancy on
the Generals place.
| to refuse the wager, which he promptly accept
| ed. By this time they had reached the north
| fork Of the Elkhorn, and were about toeford it
| bridges were not plenty in those days., when
| John Peytcn, tie Generals only son and heir,
| came up Of sharp gait heh;nd them.
| The widow turned and bowed to John, and
| rode into the stream, but 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 widow 6
girth broke when just at the commencement OF
the steep part. The lady, still seated On her
saddle, slid swiftly back into the water, while
| her horse went up the bank like an arrow,
John Peytou lesped from bis horse, and il
an instant caught the floating lady and saddle,
and before the general had recovered fros1 bis
astonishment was at the top of the bank with
his burden. The little widow was equal to the
| occasion, fer she begged :ke general to Iida On
and stop her horse, which had now begun to
understand his part in this mishap, and was
beginning to increase his gait toward home
ihe General did as be was bid, and soon re-
turned with the horse. In the meantime, John
Peyton had secured his cwn horse, and wher
the General came back with the widow horse
she and John we're laughing merriIy over the
ridiculous accident, but what further passed be-
| tWSSu ID VHiy hnOWu " tI-cuSciVSS.
John Peyton repaired the broken eirth
fastened the saddle again on the horse, placec
the lady 10 her seat, bade her good evening
mounted his horse, and taking another roae
down the Elkhorn, rode rapidly home, leayin:
the General to escort the widow.
1t is not necessary to relate how he entertain
ed his fair companion with his ponderou
anecdotes of Mr.. Clay and other famous public
men but when he reached the Fauntleroy
mount and take tea with her.
Alter having changed her wet clothing, the
pretty widow entertained her guest with he
brightest smiles and some new songs The
General was delighted and expressed his de
| light as Kentucky gentlemen of that day woulC
| do. You are the finest songstress, madam, IL
the blue grass region.
When he bade her good night, and shool
hands with her on the porch the wicked little
widow gave his hand little squeeze, only lit
tie, but it thrilled like eectIlc shock through
his great, ponderous frame, while she laugh
ingly reminded him of his wager. That nigh
in his dreams, the little widow Fauntleroy wa
repeated so often, and in so many bewitchins
forms, that he resolved to propose to her a.
their first meeting, nor did be dream that ht
could be refused.
The next morning letter from his tobacco
factor called General Peyton to Louisville, ane
before his return the political contest in the
Ashland district was over and, wonderful tt
relate. John g. Breckenridge, the young Demo
crat, was elected to Congress.