The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-10

linn that he must 'be up. as IL WAS uino
doloh spnroached the bed with a iarse
howl Of strong coffee and brandy, anu
said to his friend: "Drink TINS, ~" a.,
IL will open your eyes, brace you s iot
rue. and give you an appetite ior uIH's sin-
While the Senator was DRESSING u'u ~ -
ping the coffee and brandy, "onnpye al
preached and adjusted huge par "a ~ ~
English spurs OF me pules' ,he sours
great age and artistic design; ne ,rs
on. the senator was admonisned ina ,ss
horses were ready at the UyUVi IA az
paving and champing OF the DIS, ui" -
HE same time Mr.. Randolph, III that ~
culiar voice like the notes Oh 81.
trumpet said. CRAWFORD, an cc.oraiap
lets ride" The distinguished 49, ~
approached the door, ana, ~ tnc Tire.
ni,fnerous nine torches, he saw tn,v ,
horses in readiness. MI. hah"Vif,, Even
ing to an immense black stll.'Oht.. ia ~
champing, paving, ana snoi ,,'nniEi. "Craw.
two stalwart negro fellows salu: '-.,ar1
ford mount that horse; MI. -, nan
beng a very large and corDuieht ma
SAID: MIR. Randolph, can Ii"v ,o,'wt
horse" Mount MIN. Crawford, M
him" was the repiy Mr. Cta" io,u no.
monstrated by saying that ne Wa ,d r..
accustomed to horseback eAerIise' an amt
doubted MS ability 10 RIDE tndt ILL.,,
pointing to the restless BACK sum,
Mr. Randolph seemed irritated, ana r.,
Piled sharply: Mount sir! mount Nun;
Mr. Crawford saw That no excuse NVu4'
DO. and be finally consehtsssd 10 ~, n'o "tai.
Ion neighing. panting. paving. and rear
Ing. but the negroes held him securely tiit
the ponderous Georgian got larry a,u
sQuarely I'm the saddle, wei III tns s,n
rtus and the reins well IN mana. pr
| Randolph then mounted large pay SUI,
! Hon OF high mettle and then came i1i ~ ~
| Juba the trusty body servant, dressed N
full livery, with cooked hat and trumpet
| Juba mounted the thorouehbred mare
| Tribe Mr. Randolph then said in a cie4r'
Il ,11oc nod Nft4 a
| stallion. Juba brought one long loud
blast on his trumpet, and the horses iot
| q moment stood as II poised IN iniuail,
and then, with n tremendous plunge '"ey
| started.
Juba led the way. followed next by Mr..
| Randolph and the bay stallion, theh Mr;
! Crawford last, on the lmyetuous allu
| hard-mOuthed black stud. The weathe,
| being cold and dry, and the roads haIu
| frozen, the morning air smotc the lace
| as with a shower OF needles, anu tIe
| Gathering Of hOOfs OF those thorouShDFeds
| upon the hard, frozen ground IN the Sun
| less OF the winter morn soon resOun1ed
! through those old Virginia hills Ike tho
| roar OF cavalry charge Mr CRAWFORD
| being a man OF great muscular power
| made several efforts 10 stop the henu-
| long career Of his stalwart charger. Dut
the more he pulled the faster ne ran.
| he hallooed finally 10 Mr.. Randolph 10
! "StOp-stop that he could not stand ~,
| but TO all of his entrcaties Nr. Randolph
| turned q deaf ear and the only response
! he could get would be the bugie-blast OF
| Juba, far In the van, mounted on tho
| mare Trifle, who flew through the air like
| an arrow. Every time Juba blew the
| trumpet the black stud ran faster and
| faster. until the corDulent Georgian ielt
| that all was lost. But on they sped. until
| nearing the fiat lands OF Stanton river
| when the cry Of hounds was heard. And
| 10 the lett Mr.. Crawford cast mis- eye.
| beheid an immense pack streaming around
| the hills toward the Christmas riders. on
| came the hounds, and on went the horse
| men. Soon the Stanton river came IN
| full view, which for the moment promised
1 great relief 10 Mr.. Crawford, or Georgia.
| Consequently he watched Juba ana TIE
| mare, considerably IN advance. as they
| neared the turbid ana fOaming river. But
| as Tuba and the mare struck the river
| bank, 10 the great mortihcatlon and DIS
| gust OF Mr.. Crawford In they went; then
| followed Mr.. Randolph on the melted bay
| stallion. and finally Mr. Crawford telt
| that all hope was now gone, and with
| secret reservation TO make one more des-
| perate effort TO check the wild career or
| his mighty charger he pulled with all the
| power OF giant against the bit; but II
J was not OF the slightest consequence, lor
| the first plunge the black stud made lie
| was swimming I'm water
BY this time Mr. RandolDh's full pack
| Of hounds had caught the party. and were
| swimming and yeiping as though they
| were within fifty yards of a wounded stag
| or red fox. Tho current OF the river
| was rapid. and the water intensely cold.
| and while swimming and drifting to the
! other bank the thought and hope struck
| Mr.. Crawford that when safely across the
| ride Tor the balance OF the trip would be
| at their leisure Hence IL was that Mr..
| Crawford watched again with no little
| anxiety Juba ana the mare. stll nearing
| the opposite bank. v hen. TO his horror. a.
| the mare assembled the bank, Juba again
| brought a blast or TWO On his trumpet.
| the mare switched the water from her
| haxen tail. and on she went-9lr. Ran
| d0lDh second, and Mr.. Crawford aud tho
| n.alr afH Al - huK Inc IN
| even start from the south side OF the
| river. now kept no with the Christmas
| party. and In full cry. as though they were
| on the Warmest trail. Soon second
| pack Joined tho first pack, and so on
| Tor every few miles a new pack would
! join the chorus. and on they went Final
| ly Juba and the mare quit The road and
| struck out through the fields, followed
| by Mr.. Randolph and Mr.. Crawford.
| across gullies, bitches, over fences.
| through brlars. ponds. creeks. and every
| thing that INSTRUCTED straight line. At
| last ~clIet came, for the party reached
| Judge Leighs about | o'clock. Mr.. Caw-
| ford was greatly exhausted, and his pants
| having slipped above his knees, his legs
| were scratched by briars. bruised by
| fence-rails. and saDlings. and chated no
| little by the stirrup-leathers
| The premises were thrOnged with some
| half-dOZen packs OF hounds that had Join
| ed the Christmas party on the route. The
ulstlug uished guests were received with
| much satisfaction and great consideration.
! The old-fashioned Virginia gentry were
| present in full force. The first thing that
| greeted the visitors on their entrance into
| the mansion, after the usual salutations
| and intrOductiOns. was an immense silver
! bowl full TO overlooking with hot apple
| tOddy. While Mr. Crawford enjoyed the
| warm tOddy, yet he was suffering greatly
] from the terrible morning ride; sti.l
/ neither Mr. Randolph nor any OF the party
| made any allusiOn TO il. Dinner being
| announced. Mr.. Crawford found much diff
| ncuty I'm getting to the table. still there
| was no allusion made 10 the morning
| ride.
| After being seated around the table for
| several hours, and after having eat and
| drank through a truly Christmas course
| and undergoing the excitements OF the
| rich food ana ylands. discussions and
| speech making. in addition 10 his cor.
| pOreal suffering from the ride, suddenly
| the distinguished Georgian wished to be
excused. He informed Judge Leigh that
| he would be glad to retire. But little
| sleeping was done, as the phantom of the
| Georgian who awoke himself more than
| once by hallOoing "Whoa-whoa. SIR"
| and holding to the bed-Dost. About II
| o'clock on the next day Mr.. Randolph
| went 10 the room of his friend and SAID:
| Crawford II you go to Georgia next win
| ter call and see me; good bye. old fellow"
| No allus.On was made TO the ride.
| Senator Crawford did not get away from
| Judge Legh's tor several weeks. and IN
| his last Illness, whenever asked by his
| friends what was the matter with him
he always answered: That morning ride
with Jack Randolph, it sDrained my
! spine"
The distance from Randolph's to Judge
| Leigh's was about thirty-hve miles. Such