Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-07-23
TIE Rigbf Kind
Of a LOUer.
tOriginal.l

The lady from Virginia was speak
ing: wishing to be sure thatfhe man
l was to Macy loved me sufficiently
to make great sacrifices for me, | per
suaded friend of mine to grossly
insult him, then demanded of my fiance
that he should apologize to the man
who had insulted him. 1t was des-
perate mental struggle, but love for
me conquered. The apology demand
ed was made. l was absolutely GER
tain that my future husband loved
me, for any Virginia gentleman who
will apologize for having been insult
ed to please a woman must love her
desperately"
The lady from Massachusetts: "My
husbands family came over in the
Mayhower. My fance would neither
drink, swear nor gamble. l made him
do all three. l felt sure, ladies, that
a Puritan who would do that for me
could safely be trusted with my happi-
ness"
The lady from Kentucky: Colonel
Armsby courted me for long while,
during which l could not make up my
mind to accept him. The truth is I
preferred General Henderson, who
Both Of them then just out of the
civil war, suppose" interrupted the
lady from Wisconsin.
Certainly not" replied the lady
from Kentucky angrily. They were
not born when the civil war occurred.
Do you take me for an octogenarianW
beg pardon; the military titles mis-
led me-"
Both men were very fond OF horses,
as all Kentucky gentlemen are, and
Colonel Armsby owned stock farm
Bicycle, sired by Jacksonlan, out off,
"Are these details necessary asked
the lady from Connecticut icily.
BEG pardon, ladies; I'm fond of
horses myself. But to go on with my
story One day General Henderson
invited me to drive with him behind
his kadybird, sired by-beg pardon
supposed to be the fastest mare of her
time in Kentucky. l accepted the in
vitation. The general was then but
twenty-five years old and one Of the
most fascinating
Zone moment" interrupted the lady
from Connecticut. wasn't that pretty
young to win the title of general? 1t
usually can only be done SO young in
war"
'1A, ~ thing to do with my
story" rerorted the speaker sharply.
The lady from Connecticut subsidized,
and the story went on.
"As was saying, General Henderson
had all the charm Of manner Of the
most elegant Kentucky gentleman. He
was very proud of his Ladybird. In
deed, l didn't believe there was any
thing in the world he preferred ex-
cept me. He expatiated upon the good
points Of his mare for some time when
l artfully drew him to speak of
matter Of more moment to me. But l
was thinking all the while that l
would like to know whether he pre-
ferred me to his horse. Just then who
should come up behind us but Colonel
Armsby, driving his Kentucky Belle,
who was to be entered for the coming
races.
The colonel bowed politely to me
and scOwled at the general, being
pretty well aware that his rival had
been successful. Indeed, had told the
colonel so. The general tipped Lady
bird with his whip, and she began to
move her beautiful long legs more
rapidly. l knew at once that there
would be a desperate race between the
rivals and that neither would give up
to the other unless forced to do so.
If one had had a track for 1t, there
would have been no especial danger,
but for two men who were counting
the same woman to fight 1t out on an
ordinary road
Flight what out?" asked the lady
from Ohio.
why, which would get the lady, of
course"
ooh"
Il appreciated the danger, for knew
General Anderson would kill his $10,-
900 horse rather than be defeated, and
r feared he would kill me too Well,
as soon as we caught up with the
colonel both horses dashed forward as
If shot out of cannon. Both were Of
the best Kentucky stock. Ladybird
was perhaps half a hand higher than
Kentucky Belle, but the latter had a
trifle longer reach. The colonel got his
start few lengths behind us, but was
steadily gaining. Presently he came
up neck and neck, and it was not long
before he was full half length ahead.
Then, coming to a gully II the road,
rather than force US over it, he refined
IN for US to take the smooth passage
but his horse was so much better than
the generals that he soon regained his
loss. He was a length and half
ahead when we struck stone, lifting
our buggy into the air and lifting me
several feet higher than the buggy.
When came down, the buggy had
gone on, and sat in the road
Il was stunned, but kept my eyes on
the racers. Presently saw Colonel
Armsby slow up. General Henderson
went on. The colonel turned, drove
back and, alighting, knelt beside me,
with an agonlzed expression OF counte-
nance. Then he lifted me into his
buggy and drove me home. The gen..
eral, thinking his rival was still in the
race, drove on for a mile before dis
covering that he had gone back.
The test had been too much for the
man had chosen, but not too much
for the man l married. A Kentucky
gentleman who will lose a race for the
woman he loves is lover Of the good
old days Of chivalry. OSCAR cox. (