The Washington herald., 1913-01-18

of the Richest Planters in Virgins
Copyright. isss. By HsIper BrOsher'' All rights
Copyright, rel3. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicateJ
No. IL.
This was not washington's first adven-
ture in love, but IL was his last. and gave
him a quiet Joy which stood him in stead
whole lifetime.
No young virginian could live twenty
six years amidst fair women in that hale
and socisble colony without being touched
again and again by the quick passion;
and this man had the blood of a lover
beyond his fellows.
Despite the shyness OF a raw lad who
lived much in the open, he had relished
the company of lively women from the
first, meeting their gay sallies some
times with a look from his frank blue
eyes that revealed more than he knew.
Love had first found him out in earnest
six years ago, when he was but just
turned of twenty; and Il had taken all the
long while since to forget his repulse at
the hands Of a fair young beauty in that
day of passion.
An Earlier Love AFFAIR.
Mary PhIllipse had but taken his fancy
for a moment because he could not pass
such a woman by and deem himself still
true Virginian. 1t was more serious
that he had been much in the company,
these last years, OF a fair neighbor of
the vivacious house OF Cary, whose wit
and beauty had haunted him in the very
thick OF campaigns upon the frontier,
and who still mastered his heart now
and again, with a sort of imperiOus
charm, in the midst Of this very happy
sea son when he knew Martha Custis his
veritable hearts mistress for the future.
It may well have made him glad of mis-
adventures in the past to know his heart
safe now.
The campaign dragged painfully. far
into the drear autu.n. December had
come before the captured post on the
Ohio could be left 10 the keeping Of
Colonel Mercer and little garrison of
provincials. But when at last he was
free again there was no reason why
Washington should wait longer TO be
happy, and he was married O. Martha
Gusts on the sth OF January. 17J9
Brilliant WeddIng.
The sun shone very bright that day.
and there was the fine glitter of gold.
the brave show of resplendsnt uniforms
in the little church where the marriage
was solemnized. Officers OF his majesty's S
service crowded there. in their gold lace
and scarlet coats. 10 see their comrade
welded: the new Governor. Francis
Fauquier. himself came. clad as befitted
his rank: and the bridegroom took the
sun not less gallantly than the rest. az
he rode. in blue and silver and scarlet.
beside the coach and six that bore his
bride homewsrd amidst the thronginS
friends Cf the country side. The young
soldiers love of gallant array and a
becoming ceremony was satisfied to the
fun. and he must have rejoiCcd 10 be so
brave a horseman on such a day.
For three months Of deep content he
lived with his bride at her own resi-
dence. the White House. by York River
side. where their troth had been plighted.
forgetting the fatigues Of the frontier.
and learning gratefully the new life of
quiet love and homely duty
These peaceful. healing months gone
by. he turned once more to public busi-
ness.
Six months before his marriage he
had been chosen a member OF the House
of BUrgesses for Frederick County-the
county which had been his scene of ad
venture in the old days of surveying in
the wilderness, and in which ever since
Braddock's fatal rout he had maintained
his headquarters striving TO keep the
border against the savages.
Leads the Poll.
Small wonder that he led the roil
taken there in Winchester. where through
90 many seasons men had seen him bear
himself like a capable man and n GAL
liant. indomitable soldier. Twas no un-
welcome duty either. to take his young
wife to Williamsburg in the season."
when all Virginia was in town in the
persons Of the Burgesses and the coun-
try gentry come to enjoy the festivities
and join in the business then sure to
be afOot.
The young soldier was unused to as
semblies however, and suffered n keen
embara ssment to find himself for
space too conspicuous amidst the novel
scene. He had hardly
taken his seat when the gracious and
stately Robinson. Speaker Of the House
and Treasurer of the colony these
twenty years. rose. at the bidding Of the /
Burgesses. TO thank him for the services J
Of which all were speaking.
Sp-cchIrss with Emotion.
This sudden praise. spoken with gener- !
Gus warmth there in a public place. was /
more then Washington knew how to |
meet He got to his feet when Mr.. !
Speaker was done, but he could not utter !
a syllable. He stood there, instead, hot I!
with bushes, stammering. all a-tremble |
from nead 10 IOot- Hit down. MT. NaSn- ]
ington." cried the Speaker: your mod /
esty Is equal to your valor. and that |
surpa asses the power Of any language that |
I possess.
Again and again. as the years passed. |
returned at each session to
to take his place in the /
Assembly; and with custom came famili- |
arity and the ease and firmness he at !
first had lacked upon the floor. His life !
broadened about him: all the uses II /
peace contributed to give him facility .
and knowledge and a wide comradeship |