The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-05-20

ture. 1t may well have made him
glad of misadventures in the past to
know his heart safe now
The campaign dragged painfully,
far into the dread autumn. December
had come before the captured post on
the Ohio could be left to the keeping
Of Colonel Mercer and little garri-
son Of provincials. But when at last
he was free again there was no rea-
son why Washington should wait
longer to be happy. and he was mar
ried to Martha Gusts on the 9th of
January, 1853.
A Brilliant Wedding.
The sun shone very bright that
day, and there was the fine glitter of
gold, the brave show of resplendent
uniforms, in the little church where
the marriage was solemnized. Officers
Of his majesty's service crowded
there, in their gold lace and scarlet
coats, to see their comratle welded;
the new governor, Francis Fauquier,
himself came, clad as befitted his
rank; and the bridegroom took the
u,
as he rode, in blue and silver and
scarlet, beside the coach and six that
bore his bride homeward amidst the
thronging friends of the countryside
The young soldiers love of a gallant
array and becoming ceremony was
satisfied to the full, and he must have
rejoiced to be so brave a horseman
on such day.
For three months of deep content
he lived with his bride at her own
residence, 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 pub
lie business
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 adventure in the old days
OF surveying in the wilderness, and in
which ever since Braddock's fatal
rout he had maintained his headquar-
tiers striving to keep the border
against the savages.
Leads the Poll.
Small wonder that he led the poll
taken there in Winchester, where
through so many seasons men had
seen him bear himself like capable
man and a gallant, indomitable SOL
der. Twas no unwelcome duty,
either. to take his young wife to
Williamsburg in 'tthe season." when
all Virginia was in town in the per-
sons Of the burgesses and the country
gentry come to enjoy the festivities
and join in the business then sure to
be afoot.
The young soldier was unused to
assemblies, however, and suffered a
keen embarrassment to find himself
for a space too conspicuous amidst
the novel parliamentary scene. He
had hardly taken his seat when the
gracious and stately Robinson, speak
er Of the house and treasurer of the
colony these twenty years, rose, at
the bidding of the burgesses, to thank
him for the services of which all
were speaking.
Speeches. With Emotion.
This sudden praise, spoken with
generous warmth there in a public
place, was more than Washington
knew how to meet. He got to his feet
when Mr.. Speaker was done, but he
could not utter syllable He stood
there, instead, hot with bushes, STAN
mering, all a-tremble from head to
foot. "Sit down, Mr.. Washington"
cried the speaker; your modesty is
equal to your valor and that sur
passes the power Of any language
that I possess"
Again and again, as the years pass
ed, Washington returned at each ses-
sion to Williamsburg to take his
place In the assembly; and with GUS
tom came familiarity and the ease
and firmness he at first had lacked
upon the floor. His life broadened |
about him; all the uses of peace con-
tributed to give him facility and
knowledge and a wide comradeship |
in affairs. Along with quiet days as
a citizen, neighbor, and a country !
gentleman, came maturity and the
wise lessons Of various experience.
Married a Fortune.
No man in Virginia lived more or
with greater zest henceforth than |
Colonel Washington. His marriage |
brought him great increase of wealth,
as well as increase of responsibility. |
Mr.. Gusts had left many thousand |
acres Of land. and forty-five thousand
pounds sterling in money, substan-
tial fortune to the young wife and the
two little children who survived him;
and Washington had become, by spe-
cial decree of the governor and
council in general court, trustee and
manager Of the whole. 1t needed ca
pacity and knowledge and patience
Of no mean order to get good farming
out Of slaves. and profitable prices
put of London merchants; to find
prompt and trustworthy ship-masters