The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-16

fallible, and Pitt was an exception to-
the general rule. He was a strange
anomaly--a singular contradiction OF good
and bad qualities not often seen In
any. one man; generous as 81 n prince
at one time, nc others as niserly as any
Shylock,; kind hearted and bad-tempered,
sympathetic and selfish, tender and cruel,
staunch and false; he was everything by
turns, and nothing long. He moved in full
pace with his uncurbed impulses. The
single thing he was constant in was sport
ing. he was great ladies' man, and there
wasn't belle in the county that p lit hadn't
taken shy at, and his handsome face, DASH.
ing manner, and Fra Diayolo style made
him everywhere successful. He was very
fond Of playing practical Jokes, and sone OF
them were objectionable. ne once abb
stracted Parson Weems's bandana, wrapped
in it pack OF cards, and slyly slipped 1t
back into his pocket. Imagine his Reyer-.
ence's confusion when, in the midst
of an impassioned discourse, he pulled
out his handkerchief to wipe his
heated brow, and the cards spread like
stream over the pulpit and fell like autumn
leaves over the chance1. He used to per-
form the most foolish and desperate feats
out Of mere bravado. Once, when return
ing from party, he leaped the Cedar Run
creek on his pet horse, jumping from one
high bank to another, when a misstep or
stumble would have been certain death.
The next morning his friends found the dis
tance to be twenty-seven feet.
Frolics of all kinds delighted him. He
once took four horses out of wagon, and
mounting one, he persuaded his friends to
back the others, and away they went on
scrub-race, the loser to pay dozen of Lis
bon port. BY q preconcerted plan Pitt
placed the wagon on q ground where there
was descent, with orders to cry "whoho ("
Mt given signal when he passed by. The
WAGNER, heavily bribed, did so, and the
horses, remembering the well-known tones,
and being, besides, half-blown, stopped as
suddenly as il they were shot, and away
went the riders high over their horses
heads. OF course, Pitt won the wine and
had the laugh on his sidc-two things in the
world he would rather have than anything
else.
On the occasion Of the "meet" " he blazed
| like jewel among his more oberly-dressed
companions. His costume was got up by
himself in Paris, and surpassed anything
| ing coat was Of sky-blue, beautifully en-
broidered with silver threads and adorned
with gold buttons. He wore corduroy
breeches of spotless white, which were met
| by pair OF PeePs patent-leathers, on the
heels OF which were spurs of solid silver,
with diamond set in each rivet-head. His
saddle was of embossed Russian leather,
with holsters at the pieces. Had any one
else made this apparent display he would
have been laughed at, but all knew that be-
meath this dandified foppishness there was
daring soul. His entry the day before at
Cedar Grove had created great sensation.
He appeared in chariot-phaeton, which
was a splendor in itself. It was Of pur-
| pie and gold, with his coat-of-arms
on each panel. The hubs were of solid sill
yer, and the inside was elaborately finished.
This vehicle was drawn by four black
horses, ridden by two servants in livery.
On the box was the coachman, holding the
reins Of these dainty thoroughbreds, whilst
the footmen swung behind. Two outriders,
one before and one behind the chariot, COM
pleted this dashing turnout. Such was Pitt
Chichester-a man you would like to have
with you when riding with the hounds, or
at dinner at Cash's tavern. or as q second
for q duel at Johnnes's crossroads; but not
man with whom you would like to have
horse trade or trust your sweetheart with.
Pitt was not married, as remarked be-
| fore. At this time, like Count Ferdinand,
he would give the fair sex all he had ex-
cept his name. He was OF course we'll
mounted on an English barb, which he had
brought from England with him.
There was very elegantly gotten up gen.
tleman on the ground named Champ Con-
way. He was comparatively young man,
and enormously wealthy. His costume con-
sisted OF hunting coat Of deep red, with
mother-of-pearl buttons, white buckskin
pants, and immaculate top-boots that were
polished until they shone like q mirror.
Mr.. Conway was very tall, with 1.-the and
sineWy figure, and his age was about thirty.
He had been educated in Germany, and was
noted for being the best fencer OF his day.
He had been the principal in several affairs
Of honor, one of which was ended in very
curious manner, and in way that proba-
bly, no duel before or since was ever termi-
mated. He had received challenge from
Major Randolph, Of Fauquier, for some
real or fancied injury OF affront, and Of
course accepted it, and chose the favorite
smal-sWord as bis weapon. The place Of
meeting was a sweet piece Of ground
for such work; just such q spot as
Sir Lucious O'Twigger would delight
in for such purpose-being an open
glade in forest. Attended by the seconds
and a surgeon, the parties met early one
morning, and after courteously saluting
each other fell back while their friends set
tied the preliminaries. The Sc were soon
finished, and placing the rapiers in the
hands Of the principals they were ordered
to set to. Both were accomplished swords
men, and it must have been fine sight to
see those two gladiators, stripped to the
waist and in their bare feet, contendlng
point to point, breast to breast, In that
Silent forest glade. From the first Conway
acted on the defensive, and slowly backed
under the Major's fierce onset. The keen
rapiers cleaned and flashed as they cut
through the morning air in the vicious
lunge or guarded parry. The seconds
soon perceived that Conway was wind
ing his antagonist, who was already breath
ing hard, and they saw, too, that
as soon as he was out OF breath
Conway would pink him in any spot
he chose. The end was near. A furious
rush of Randolph's caused the willy swords
man to retreat, parrying at the same time
the Iunges Of his foe; but as he was press
| ed back he felt a singing sensation on his
ankle, and glancing down saw copper
head snake, coiled and in the act of sinking
his tangs into him for the second time.
With d cry OF horror he threw down his
sword and leaped sideways. The situation
was understood at glance. In tWinkllng
the surgeon had him on tho grass cutting
away the flesh from the punctured spot and
dosing him with whiskey, and none work
ed over him more heartily than the man