The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-11
a Virginia Romance.

There $ Il White House IN Virginia,
not many miles from Washington, ac
cording to Virginia department clerk
at the National Capital. There is
nothing in it's exterior to warrant
the name, he says. 1t does not.
in fact, get its name from its appear
ancc
''It never was whitc. continues the
Nirginian, within my recollection,
and I..havc known it for thirty five
years. I.rcckon the people who live
in it never thought to ask why it is
called thcl House. They are
not pcoplc1who would look up the rea-
son. This is the story, and know it
is true, but if it ever was prin ted, |
never heard Of it:
"T'hc house became the property of
young woman after the death Of her
people Ter lover and aflianccd hus-
band was student at the University
OF Virginia. 1t was his ambition to
be President, ard, as she believed he
was deserving Of the honor and be.
cause she had high social aspirations,
she encouraged him in his aspirations.
They had some sort Of vague idea that
if they were sincere in their wishes
and would pray for the honor they
would succeed. They did not under
stand politics as we do. They used to
come over to Washington and wander
about the Presidential mansion and
the grounds, and 60 up to the Capitol
and sit in the galleries, and OCCASION
ally attend the public receptions. |
have bccn'told that the young woman
confidcd her secret to President John
son, and that, doubtless to please her
fancy, he told her that her young man
had Presidential chances. 1t was
quite natural, too, that Mr.. Johnson
should have believed this.
"Whcn she returned TO her home in
Virginia she entertained after the
manner Of the President at his public
receptions. Her young man, Of course,
had the post of honor. do not know
whether the people who attended the
receptionssunderstood that this young
man and woman were rehearsiDg for
White House receptions or not. but
the young pair had that in mind.
They prayed for realization Of their
dream as earnestly, from all | have
heard, as old Stoncwall Jackson pray
cd for strength to whip the Yankees.
There was an old black servant in the
family who.prcachcd salvation to the
darkics on Sunday and stripped to-
bacco during the week His young
'missus had great faith in Ephraim 8
influence with the Almighty, and she
used to callshim in to cxhort in behalf
of her lovers ambition. Ephraim be-
came so imbucd with the idea that his
supplications would win, that he
got to ecalling the young man Mr..
President when he visited the planta-
ton.
Il reckon you have heard OF the
tournaments they used to have in the
South? This young President aspi-
rant was fearless and graceful horse
man. lie rode at tourney one day
for the last time. lie was confident
he would take the necessary number
of rings 10 1ntitle him to choose and
crown the queen, and, of course, there
was only one woman in the world upon
whom he would bestow the honor. She
saw him in the saddle, lance couchant,
start for the wire, before he reached
it his horse stumbled. There was the
usual shout Of horror, and the Knight
Of the White House, for that was his
title in the tourney, was carried from
the course dead. In the fall he had
broken his neck.
"The moment the young woman
realized what had occurred heI reason
fed, nor did it ever return, in spite Of
skillful care. Her hair whilened, but
her face remained young, so lam told.
Her arrangement never toook on vi
olcnt form. Instead she became mis-
tress Of the White House. She held
levces and receptions aud gave elabo-
rate dinners. Her servants were her
guests. y chair was reserved for the
President, who never came. In this
hallucination she died. That is why
the place was known as The White