The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-17

course with his daughter. The future
president had will of his own and on
his personal motion the episode would
not have ended thus vigorously. He
would have arranged an elopement and
doubtless carried it off successfully, too,
but the girl lacked the courage and in
dependence TO take so radical step and
Washington was compelled to submit
to a fate he could not overcome. 1t was
not until he had exhausted every hon.
orable means to possess his sweetheart,
that Washington rode away and sought
to efface her memory in difficult and dan
gerous enterprises. 1t is related that on
his departure, the girl fell i'll and well
nigh died of grief and modification.
THE WOMAN WHO WAS.
Those were busy days and time fled
apace. The major was colonel a mem
Der of the House of Burgesses and sur
veyor general of Virginia.
There was too, d sweet and stately
woman, who day by day in the fashion
able season, passed many pleasant hour
upon the rustic seat beneath the yew
was a widow, now, and her children were
sleeping by her husbands side in the
churchyard. But she was still young with
q grace and charm which made her the
first lady of the land by her right not less
through the exalted position which fate
was preparing for her.
Perhaps the very words which gave
mistress TO the nation and made George
Washington a happy husband were
whispered beneath the yew, which had
been SO discreet a witness to certain
other courtship not so very far away.
WASHINGTON RETURN TO WILL
IAMSBURG.
Time brought its changes to the people
in the cottage too, and they were not
happy ones. For the gallants from over
seas came and 1irted and rode away. At
last, however, there came another suitor
who was in earnest. He was not lord,
nor a son of a lord, but a Nirg1nlan. Ihls
time the stern parent interpoSed no OBJ
jectionS and they were married. And this
was the worst mistake of all; for the man
was a registering, gaming, drinking blade,
who made ducks and brakes of his wlfe'S
money and then abused her because the
supply was exhausted. 1t appears that the
only good thing he did was TO die before
he had quite killed the girl and ruined the
family.
At last there came day the remem-
brance of which still awakes a thrill of
enthusiastic pride in war-worn Williams
burg. CORVALLIS had surrendered at
Nori7t own, the American arms were ev-
erywhere victorious and the whilom Major
" ashngton was hailed of all men as
king ana Savior of his country. The al
lied armies returned to Williamsburg to
pass the winter and were given a recep-
ton commensurate with their deeds and
the means at hand. The city was en- fete
and wild with patriotic enthusiasm.
On this occasion Washington did not
ride a white horse, but a beautiful thor
oughbred chestnut worthy of his master.
He was surrounded by a staff of French
and American officers glittering with
gold lace and decorations. Rochambeau
and La Fayette rode on his either hand.
He rode bare headed through the city,
bowling gravely and proudly to the wildly
cheering people. AS the head of the pro-
cession passed down Tazewell avenue on
the way to Duke of Gloucester street and
the Palace" a pale slender woman came
TO the door of the cottage and stood with
her hands pressed close above her bosom
and her tears blurring the wistful eyes
bent so eagerly upon the noble, barehead-
dancing chestnut. Washington saw and
knew her in one keen glance above the
heads of the shouting crowds and, check
ing his impatient animal, he bowed till
his powdered hair mingled with his
horses name. The woman attempted a
courtesy, but nature could bear no more,
and with a gasping sigh she tainted and
was borne within, a hopeless, nervous
wreck; while the man whom her father
to his great destiny, his victorious army
at his back, the cheering multitude at his
feet.
There is little more to tell. The former
Miss Smith died soon after Washington's
election to the presidency. Her family
removed to Missouri. Here, in later years,
a famous ,irginian, Nathaniel Beverly
Tucker visited them and brought back to
Williamsburg as his bride, Lucy Ann.
A, who my informant believes, was a
nephew of the woman who did not marry
George Washington.
JOHN STUART BONNER.