Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-11-07
5Lo.Tla.4 Virginia ROMANCE

son i,.- presidcnt'' Nnee sweet.
ltaH -. re@s II =. hite EIe sas- -
aese IS i ME Fl ousc ia Virginia,
Eotlsany aile- fFo.a Washington, ac-
cord1ua 10 virginia department clerk
ut the national capital Thsfe is moth
ing ia its exterior to warrant the name,
he says. il does not, ia fact, get Its
name from Its appearance
''It never was white" continues the
yirgiEian. within my recollection, and
have known 1t for th.rty-fiye years.
The house becnne the property of
young woman after the death Of her
people Her lover and atfianced hus-
band was student at the University
If Virginia Il was bis ambition to be
President, and as she believed he was
deserving Of the honor and because he
had high social aspirations, she encour-
aged him In his aspiration. They had
some sort of vague idea that If they
We're sincere In their wishes and would
pray for the honor they would succeed.
They did not understand politics as we
do. They used To come over to Wash
ington and wander about the Presiden-
tial mansion and the grounds, and go
up TO the capitol and sit in the CALLER
lea. and occasionally attend the public
exceptions, | have been told that the
Young woman coniided her secret TO
President Johnson. and that, doubtless
TO please her fancy. be told her that
her young man lad Presidential
chances. 1t was qIlte natural, too,
that Mr.. Johnson al Juld have believed
this.
When she returned to her home Ia
Virginia she entertained after the man
ner OF the President Mt his public re-
ceptiuns. Her young nan. of course,
had the post of honor. do not know
whether the people who attended the
receptions understood that this young
man and woman were rehearslng for
White House receptions or nor, but the
young pair had that In mind. They
prayed for a realization of their dream
as earnestly, from all have heard. as
old Stonewall Jackson prayed for
strength to whip the Yankees. There
was an old black servant In the fam
ly who preached salvation to the
darkies on Sunday and stripped tobac-
co during the week His young mis-
sus had great faith In Ephralm's infiu-
enee with the Almighty, and she used
to cali him In to exhort In behalf of her
lovers ambition. Ephrain became so
imbued with the idea that his suppli-
cations would win that he got to calling
the young man Mr.. President when he
visited the plantation.
Il reckon you have heard of the tour
naments they used to have In the
South? This young Presidential aspi-
rant was fearless and graceful horse
man. He rode at tourney one day
would take the necessary number Of
rings TO entltla him 10 choose and
crown the queen. and Of course there
NSs only one woman In the world upca
whom he would bestow the honor. She
saw him In hls saddle. lance couclRrt.
start for the wire Before he reached
IL his horse stumbled There vas the
usual Shout Of horror The Knight Of
tlse White House, for that Was his title
ia the tourney, was carried from the
course dead. In the fan he broke his
neck.
The moment the young woman re-
allied what had occurred her reason
fed, nor did It ever return, in spite Of
skillful care. Her hair whitened. but
her face remained young SO am told
Her arrangement never took on vio-
lent form. Instead she became the mis-
trcss of the White House. She heli
Itvees and receptions and gave elabor-
ate dinners. Her servants were her
guests. \ chair was reserved for the
President who never came. In this
Authorization she died. That is why
che place is known as the White
uo.tsa