Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-01-25
Loves Lunacy.
4nu sior,r WIDOW IN THE rtvr on,s. nruiou.

looked upon t0e WiUOW very muCn as ne
had upon his blooded horse Powbattan
---"the finest horse, sir, in the Blue
Grass region"
The pretty Mrs. Fauntleroy had been
a widow more than a year, while the
General having great regard for cti-
quette, had waited patiently for that
time to elapse in order TO declare him
self. But the widow, with her womsn's
art, kept her lover at bay and yet kept
him in her train.
He had escorted her TO the barbecue,
and when returning had expressed his
satisfaction nt the prospects Of General
Combs and the success OF the Whig tick
ct.
The widow took sides with the De.
mocracy, and offered to wager her blood
ed saddle horse 'Gipsey,' or any thing
else on her place against Powhattan, or
anything else she might fancy on the
Generals place.
The Generals gallantry would not al
low him to rescue the wager, which he
promptly accepted. BY this time they
had reached the North Ford of the Elk
horn, 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 a little
behind her companion. The east bank
was very steep, and required the horses
to put forth all their strength to reach
| he top with their loads.
AS luck would have it, good or i'll, the
widows girth broke just at the CON-
mencement of the steep bank. The lady
still seated on her saddle, slid swiftly
back into the water, while her horse
went up the bank like an arrow.
John Peyton leaped from his horse,
and in an instant caught the floating la
| dy and saddle, and before the General
had recovered from his astonishment,
was at the top with his burden. The
little widow was equal to the occasion,
ior she begged the General TO ride on
and stop her horse, who had now began
to understand his part in the mishap and
was beginning to increase his gait toward
| home.
The General did as he was bid, and
|
meantime John Peyton had secured his
own horse, and when the General came
back with the widows horse, she and
John were laughihg merrily over the
ridiculous accident, but what passed fnr-
ther between them is known only to
themselves.
John Peyton repaired the broken gifth
fastened the saddle again on the horse,
placed the lady in her seat, bade her
good evening, mounted his horse and TAX
ing another road down the Elkhorn,
rode rapidly home, leaving the General
To escort the widow.
1t is not necessary to relate how he
entertained his fair companion with pom
derous anecdotes of Mr.. Clay and Other
famous public men but when he reached
the Fauntleruy place he accepted the la
dy's invitation to dismount and take tea
with her.
After haying changed her wet cloth
ing, the pretty widow entertained her
guest with the brightest smiles and
some new songs. The General was de-
lighted, and expressed his delight al
Kentucky gentlemen of that day would
have duhe. 'Yon are the finest songs
trcss, madam, in the bluegrass region.
When he bid her good night anC
shook hands with her on the porch, tn,
wicked little widow gave his hand ;
squeese-only a little-but it thrilled
like an electric shock through his grea
ponderous frame, while she laughingl
reminded him of his wager. That nigh
in his dreams, the little widow Fauntle
roy was repeated SO often, and in 81
many bewitching forms that he resolved
: to propose to her at their first meeting
nor did he dream that he could be re
fused
The next morning letter from hi
tobacco factor called General Peyton I
political contest in the Ashland Distric
!, was over and wonderful TO relate, Joh
G. Beckeuridge, the young Democrat
was elected to Congress.
General Peyton was both astonishe
+ and Indignant. Mr.. Clay's district,
5, the Blue grass region, had disgraced i
II self, sir,' was almost his first remark to
e ighber, Colonel Beaufort.
n To his son John he communicated h
IS intention of bringing Mrs. Fauntleroy
adorn the head OF the table.
~ Sir, she is the finest lady in the Blu
4r grass region, and hope, sir, you will
ways respect your future mother
,. John with quiet smile, assured hi
:, that he was pleased with his choice
~ ~ This pleased the General highly, for
- - had been afraid John would object TO
= stepmother younger than himself.
!. The next morning the General order
a Pc whattan brought out and led over
20 Mrs. Faunlleroy's. Calling John, he
is is quested him to call upon Mrs. Faunt
r. roy. =.
;s in Mr. Clay's district, sir, and l am COZ
90 20 PEELED TO part with the finenst blood
., horse in the State to pay my wager wi
or that lady sir
81 81 The black boy had led Powhattan
III the hitching rail in front of Mrs. Fan'
i, leroy's yard, and having tied him h
~ gone into the quarters TO tell his bro'
M ~, ers and sisters of their mistress gre
70 20 good luck in having won the tamo
u. horse Powhattan.
oe When General Peytou and John arr
=" - ed they found the pretty widow aid t.
re young lady friends in the yard admirl
| PnWhaftau