The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-01-17
AN ACCIDENTAL MEETING.

more grateful and full Of rest
AN ACCIDENTAL MEETING.
On May day i'll 1888, as he spurred
upon the way to viii iamsburg, under
orders from the frontier, Washington
rode straight upon an adventure he had
not looked for.
He was within few hours ride OF
the little capital; old plantations lay
close upon the way; neighborly homes
horseman, riding uniformed and attend
ed, could not thereabouts go far unrec.
ognlzed. He was waylaid and haled
TO dinner, despite excuses and protests
of public business calling for dispatch.
There was q charming woman TO be
seen at the house, his friend told bin,
if a good dinner was not argument
enough-and his business could not
spoil for an hour stay In agreeable
constraint Of Firginiau hospitality, he
was hurried into the presence OF the
gracious young matron who was at
once, and as il OF right. 30 make his
heart safe against further quest or ad-
venture.
Martha Custis was but siS-and TWEEN
ty. To the charm of youth and beauty
were added that touch Of quiet sweet
ness and that winning grace of self
wived in her girlhood, and widowed
before age or care has checked the first
full tide Of life. AT seventeen she had
married John Parke Custis, man
more than twenty years her senior,
but eight years of quiet love and duty
as wife and mother had only made her
youth the more gracious IN that rural
land of leisure and good neighborhood:
aud years widowhood had been but
q 20 IL 7 nm al ~ N U
the charm of this stately Young soldier
who now came riding her way upon
the public business.
A WILLING CAPTIVE.
His age was her own: al the land
knew him and loved him for gallautry
and brave capacity; he carried himself
like prince--and he forgot his erraud
TO lnger in her company Dinner was
soon over, and his horses at the door;
there was the drilled and dutltul Bish-
op, trained servant that he wae. lead
ing his restless and impatient charge
back and forth within sight OF the
windows and Of the terrace where his
young colonel tarried, absorbed and for
getful; man and beast alike bad been
in the service Of the unhappy Brad
dock. and might seem to walk there
lively memorials of duty done and un-
dertaken.
But dusk came: the horses were put
up; and the next morning was well
advanced before the abstracted young
officer got at last to his saddle, and
spurred on beated TO Williamsburg
His business concerned the prepa ratious
then afoot for General Forbes s adj
vance upon Duouesue. 81 canr here at
this critical juncture, said Washing
ton to the president of the council,
s.bv the express order of Sir John st.
,n no t,1,
uer the posture of our affairs at Win
chester lack Of clothes, arms and
eouippage. lack Of money, lack OF wise
regulations touching rank and dis
ciplipe.
A VISIT AND A PLEDGE.
General Forbes had been in pbila
dclphia mouth already. awaiting the
formation of his army in Virginia, Sir
John ST. Clair, his quartermaster geu-
cral had como into the province to
see that proper plans We're made and
executed; it was necessary that matters
should be pressed forward Very dill
gently and Mt opce: and Washington.
when once Mt the seat OF government,
was not slack to urge and superiutend
official action.
But. the troublesome business once
IN proper course, he turned back TO
seek Mrs Gusts again, this time at
her own nome. Gre nc Went lhe lone
distance of the Frontier. The onset WAS
made with soldier 5 promptness and
audacity. He returned to his post,
nfter Il delay too slight to deserve any
reasonable man 5 remark. auSl yet with
pledge given and taken which made
him look forward 10 the end Of the
campaign with a new longing as to
the winning Of q rea bone and nm un-
wonted happiness.
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Tomorrow Thanked by the Bur