Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-02-17

A 25-year-old Virginia militia colo
nel-tall. bony and heavy Of build
was carrying dispatches one day In
1853 to his British commander. The
ride was long and the dinner hour
was near. There was mol particular
haste about the delivery Of his dis
patches, SO he turned aside to dine at
the house OF a friend. For Virginia
planters in those days kept open
house" to all their passing friends.
and It was no uncommon thing to see
a dozen guests gathered around such
mans table. The young colonel
found. that day. among other diners
ut his friends home. pretty, plump
young widow, Martha Curtis.
Mrs. Curtis husband had died
year earlier. leaving her one OF the
wealthiest women In America and
mistress Of fine old mansion, which.
strangely enough, was known as the
White House." Mrs. Curtis was as
attractive as she was rich. The young
militia colonel, too, was somewhat Of
celebrity, even in that early time. He
was George Washington, owner Of the
Mount Vernon plantation and hero Of
a series Of daring Indian campaigns.
Indeed. his majesty, George Ill, had
The Colonel and not Drawer.
th. wIao,. more capable mi
litia OF Ger in all
his American colonies.
Thus 1t was not unnatural that
Washington and Mrs. Curtis should oft
en- have heard of each other. They
fell into talk at the dinner table, and
so expressing did the colonel find the
pretty widows conversation that,
when 1t was time for him to start
once more on his ride, he could not
summon the courage to leave her. His
horse was brought to the door at the
hour he had appointed. The negro
groom walked the animal up and
down for an hour or two; then took
1t back to the stable. And still Wash.
ington and Mrs. Curtis talked on. 1t
is the only known occasion when the
future Father of His Country turned
his back on duty and let a woman's
smiles lure him away from his mill
tary labOrR.
Yet Washington, II all reports be
true, had. up to that time, been more
or less of a ladies man." For in
stance. as a mere lad. he had fallen
madly in love with the daughter Of
neighboring planter - Mary Bland,
whom he used to call the "Lowland
Beauty" But he was then poor and
with scant prospects, and had, more
over, a mother to support. So his
suit came to nothing. Next he 10 said
to have paid violent court to a Miss
Sally Carey. He begged her to marry
him, but she had other ideas, and the
future president was rejected.
After his afternoon and evening
with Mrs. Curtis Washington belated'
Iy delivered his dispatches, then rode
back with all speed to the widows
own home to renew his wooing. So
successful was he that before the end
Of the first call he won her promise
to be his wife. It was "whirlwind
courtship." and the fair widows heart
was fairly carried by storm. The
wedding was delayed for some months.
as Washington was obliged to go
north on a campaign against the
French and Indians. During his alb,
sence he wrote Mrs. Curtis a letter.
saying: 81 embrace this opportunity
to send a few words to one whose life
is now inseparable from mine. Since
that happy hour when we made our
pledges to each other my thoughts
have been continually going to you as
to another self"
In January, 1859, the two were mar
ried. Washington was a month less