Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-12-05


To wage war against widows gener-
ally would be cruel as well as unjust;
yet il is an acknowledged fact that they
form dangerous element of society
A beautiful widow Is 10 be regarded
with safety only at . distance.
Before our War Of Independence
there resided in Calvert county, Mary
land, lady noted for her charms Of
manner, her beauty Of face and form,
her dignity and high position. This
was Mrs. Rousby, of RouSby Hail.
Even in those stanch patriot-days it
seems that the mischief-dollar rather
enhanced the charms Of ''lovely wo-
man." for we are :oId by great grand
mothers that Mrs. Rousby, of Rcusby
Hall, was as famed for her wealth as for
her beauty. A man must be stoical,
indeed, who can in cold blood withhold
his love from real living and breath
ing personifcation OF the mythological
beauty seen through golden mist -
Rousby Hall, mansion and plantation,
overlooked the bright waters Of the Pa
tuxcnt river. In matters of spiritual
faith Mrs. Rousby was Roman Catho-
lie. In this particular land il is to be
hoped in no other) her husband differed
with her and ii is related by one OF the
descendants OF that lady that the preiu-
dices of her husband prevented him
from ever entering the doors of the
church she attended. With unchang-
ing devotion and courtesy he would
attend his beautiful wife to the entrance
OF that famous little chapel of St. Ma
rvs. The Patuxent had to be crossed
in a boat in order to reach the neigh
boring county. Mrs. Rousby would be
assisted 10 the shore and escorted by
her cavalier husband to the church por-
tai where he would Ieafe her, only,
perhaps, TO linger, like the loser Thack-
cray tells us-of, sabout- the place
lie would, when the services were
concluded, return and take has ''Po-
pish' wife to their home. One daugh-
ter, baby at the time Of her fathers
death, was the only chIld by this mar
riage. Mrs. Rousby became a widow
about the age Of 20. Her suitors were
many and persistent. IL is said that on
one occasion Colonel William Fitzhugh
rode up. reaching the door OF the man.
sion as il was gained at the same mo-
ment by another admirer of the fair
widow. Approaching Colonel Fltz-
hugh, the other gentleman exclaimed
rather warmly: ''You have come here
to court the Widow Rousby. l give
you one hour and il at the end of that
time you are not ready to leave will
haul you out by the collar" Whether
the threat was executed or not has not
been related, but that the SECURING"
terminated in fa-or of Colonel Fitzhugh
the "family records" prove. This most
remarkable man was from the northern
neck Of Virginia; he had been in early
life in the British army. serving under
Admiral Vernon in his attack on Garth
agena. He was at that time the friend
and associate OF Lawrence Washington
the elder brother of our first President.
His social position and fortune were
good. He stood in these particulars
among the leading men of the day in
the venerable city of Annapolis. His
character. so marked by eccentriciiy, is
best pictured 10 the mind in The follow
ing story handed down by those who
vouch for its truth: His addresses
having been rejected BY the lovely wi
dow at Rousby Hall he pressed his suit,
refusing 10 be cast of. She remained
infexible. He continued his visits,
feeling sure Of success. Upon one oc-
casion having paid visit to Mrs. Rous-
by, he was leaving the house TO take
his boat when negro nurse approached
bearing in her arms the infant heiress
OF Rousby Hall. Snatching the child
from the nurses arms and unheeiing
cries OF the baby the desperate soldier
lover sprang INTO his boat and pushed
from shore. Midway in the stream he
held the screaming child over the wa
ter threatening to drown IT II its mother
did not relent and agree TO become his
wife st once. In vain were all implor-
ing words; The lady, half frantic, stood
upon the river bank, while Ler mad
lover held the innocent baby between
sky and water. Believing that the
threat would be carried out, Mrs. Rous-
by yielded the Eyes" that sealed her
fate. Alter little parleYing the lady
promised to become his wife without
delay. Setting the child on shore be
with The widow entered carriage and
the two were driven 10 the house OF a
Protestant clergyman where the widow
RouSby became Mrs. Fitzhugh. Like
her first spouse be had no liking for
"Popish practices, and 50 the fair he
ro;ne of this sforv never again was