The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-05-10

stBut," said I "do you know any
hing about his history He may
ave some all absorbing end to ac-
which is the cause of his
lntiring assiduity. You should
nave q little charity for the fellow
md taking Crockett's motto, be
sure you are all right before yougo
ahead"
ssNo, we know nothing Of him,
and If circumstances are as you
it will be his own fault If
they are discovered too late, for we
have tried often enough to scrape
an acquaintance with him. You
had better not take up on his side
If you do not want to incur the dis
pleasure of the whole Office. Good
night" J
Ihad some charity for the fellow,
and was resolved to see him right
ed should he get into difficulty
I soon saw that he was very unpop-
ular, and that L a. I felt rather dis
posed to make allowances for him,
was considered his friend. Many
were the jokes cracked at our ex-
pense. Whenever the Quaker
corner" as the place occupied by
us had been dubbed was mention
ed, universal litter ran around the
Office. These little things irritated
me some, but as I was not the prin
'cipal object at whom these arrows
were aimed, I resolved to forbear
and let him be the first to speak.
81 say fellows" said rowdy
looking customer who went by the
name of Zeke, ssdo Quakers ever
have camp meetings!'
Eyes, answered another, ssthey.
have camp meeting over there in
Quaker corner every night. That
fellow camps out upon the floor ev-
cry nap he takes"
"Well, said another, s.Tve heard
of boarding at the market house
and sleeping on the bridge, but I
never saw an illustration of it be-
fore"
"Wonder, If they wouldn't take
in boardersi" I" said the first speak
er. .'In see if they don't want the
rules and regulations of the house
printed II they do I'll board out
the bill"
I glanced at my neighbor to see
how he bore this ridicule. His
face was flushed and his lips firmly
compressed, as if to choke down
the rising Indignation. But he said
not q word. I fancied, however,
that he picked up the type faster
than ever.
Things could not go this way
much longer, for as godlike a quail
ity as forbearance is, it cannot hold
out against everything. I saw that
q storm was gathering, and pre-
pared to act my part as a man when
It burst forth.
It was Saturday afternoon; the
hands were ranged around the
s'stone,' with their bills in thei,
hands waiting to be Paid off,
"Quaker" happened to be at on.
end of the stone and immediatel,
opposite him stood s.Zeke." Al
usual Quaker was the observed o
all observers, and sly whispers
which were answered by a litter O
q nudge ofthe elbow, passed arount
the group. As the foreman pait
'Quaker" the amount due him, b,
gave him q new quarter dollar t,
make out the change. This did no
escape ssZeke's' eye, and he said j,
! a tone loud enough to be heard b,
all-"If that eagle on that quarte
had life and I was State priso1
convict I wouldn t trade places wit
! it, for my confinement would be ia
more preferable to being squeeze,
to death"
II This was the hair that broke tn
camels back. With the exclama
! tion, "You scoundrel!" he made on
bound and with q stunning blow
brought stZeke" to the floor. The
, jerking off his coat and placing hin
, self in . fighting attitude he turn
! ed to the astonished group will
"come on now, cowardly ruf6an,
: If you can not let me alone peace,
8 bly, I will make you do it by fore
3 i have borne your insults Ion
2 enough, ard If you have any mo,
to offer come on with them"
, This challenge was sufficient
: Coats came off and sleeves wei
4 rolled in q minute. / saw that N
! friend would be apt to get the wor,
!, of the fight, and forcing him into
9 corner / exclaimed:
III Gentlemen, one word if 70
9 please! It would be cowardly +.
q you all to attack this man; 1 wi
9 not see it done. And if you vi
0 attempt it I have something he1
q tapping my breast significant,
: that will stop it. Heis not to blam
he has only resented an insult whis
Z any OF you would have done. "
have all insulted him because he b
/ conducted himself strangely;
him explain his conduct, and pe
, haps we can make up our QUAR-,
. He owes you an explanation-if n
: to you he certainly does to me-.
" And now, sir" said / turning
him, 81 demand it of you as
. right"
u He hesitated . moment. stCor
= my friend > said ], s.let us have
le whatever it is, and at once put
a end to this quarrel"
70 "Well, gentlemen" he said,
% am not disposed to lay my priva
y affairs open to public gaze. buf