The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-02-17


was Mount Vernon, beautiful roman
tic site in Fairfax county, Va, on the
right bank Of the Potomac, and within
fifteen miles Of Washington, D. c.
It was a place Of no historic interest
on this charming afternoon. when a
youthful cavaiier-bestriding one horse
and Leading another-csntered Up the
avenue OF one Of the groves which
were frequent there in those days The
sunpter horse carried Iady's side
saddle ana was high-spirited animal
STEADY there. Queen Bess. Whoa
YOU Jade, Mistress Lydia. Is it your
pleasure 20 ride with NE? I do beseech
YOU TO honor me with your company
for a Eallop this afternoon. Peace,
Bess. or I viii larrup you, girl Mis-
tresS lydia viii you have me for a
gallant 70 command me at your sweet
wilI?'
As there was no other person in sight
axceps this OvergrOwn youth in the
stately hunting suit Of the day, this
m0nologue was N the nature Of per
souaI confession. Great then were the
surprise and chagrin Of the rider, when
a merry hooking laugh snote his ear,
and a youth. in kEickerbockers and a
roundabout jumped up under the very
heels Of the horses
Marry now. sweet Mistress Lydia.
viii you ride with ne, or may ride
with you, or viii you ride along at
your own sweet viii. ha, hs. no, ho.''
The rascal lodged ! blow which
would not have hurt him had it fallen.
and laughed wickedly at the discom-
future Of the youthful equestrian. Then,
shifting from one foot to the other, he
said:
Marry. good sir, if it be my sister,
Lydia Gerrish, you would ask to ride
with you, she Is watching you now
from the turret window yon- If you
promise to tell no tales. I VIII run and
speak her fair, but tell her not made
free with her name, for the wench has
a temper"
Go, bOy-get you Gone-and II she
VIII ride Queen Bess she VIII be car
ried as fair a. though she sat in a chaise
with four horses aud Outriders."
oh no, my sister Lydia rides the
roam colt that my father dare not
mount for his life And she has q
habit that came from England in three
ships. and Is finer than 4 soldiers coat
on parade day
speak fair for ne, Oscar. and you
shall have one Of ny deer-hound pups
from the litter OF Lady Alice; It has d
royal pedigree"
Laughing and chatting the boy ran OF.
and soon after appeared at the door Of
the large manor house beyond the
grove By his motions and grimaces
the young rider understood himself to
be welcome
You are 70 come II and SIT IN the
sirawinc-room.- he said, as the youth
Is 10 hold your horses. and I VIII NY
self bestride them in turn BY your
leave
The lad vaulted into the saddle Just
vacated, as a waiting maid stood at the
door and with 4 low courtesy en-
lquired:
''YO- name. good sir?"
George Washington" stammered
the youth and have come ,to see
Mistress Lydia Gerrish # II be she viii
grant ne audience-"
The little maid showed him into the
Old colonial p2rlor. and ran TO her
mistress quite out Of breath
''Oh, Mistress Lydia, such Z hobble-
-de-toy. yet with q noble presence with
al-ard he comes on horse back with
second horse saddled for lady-te-he-
he.-
''Tush, girl hold your peace, and
1asten nv bracelet George Washing
ton? Methinks he Is rather too Young
to be calling on grown-up ladies.
But he Is a fine lad and VIII see
hin for ny mothers sake. She and
my mother were friends from their
youth up"
When she appeared IN the parlor she
bowed low with mock humility. but
the youth standing before her shook as
with an ague attack, while he made
known his Grand
She was very handsome, with saueE
dinples that Just twinl1led with mirth
and mischief, and she did not help her
bashful admirer in his stammering re-
@cital. and was quite sStonished appar-