The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-08-11


had occasional few days since, to take a
journey down the river several and
miles back from it,using saddle-horse.
Darkness overlook him in sparsely
settled district, and as the roads were
in bad condition, and the evening
looked threatening, he halted before
forlorn looking hut and asked if he
] seRld find lodging.
reckon ye mought," replied the
the long-haired, sorrowful eyed squat
ter, after hesitating moment.
The Vicksburger found little to eat,
and his horse found less. The squat
ter and bis wife were all alone, and
they had but few words for the
stranger, and scarcely spoke to each
other. When the evening grew old
the traveller camped down on the floor
on blanket, and being very tired he
iell asleep, while host and hostess were
smoking their black clay pipes at the
other end of the room. He bad slept
about two hours, when the squatter
shook him by the shoulder and said
Stranger, I'm powerful sorry to
disturb ye, but | want to AK favor"
"Yes-yes-what is it? inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes
and sat up.
aye like to see far play, don't ye,
stranger
"Yes, Of course"
"Wall, men the old woman cant
agree somehow, she's cross aud tetchy,
and l guess I'm triAe ugly. Least
wise, we don't hug up worth old boots.
We've fit and fit; I'm old, and she's
chuck full o grit, and it's about an
even thing"
"Well, I'm sorry" put in the Vicks.
burger, as the squatter hesitated.
"We've been a-tall1in' since ye cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask
ye to hold a candle an to let us go in
for an old rouser of fight "a reg'lar
sock dologer-which shall settle our
fuss. If lick, she'll go; if she licks,
Pll travel"
"I'm sorry if there's any trouble,
and hope you won't fight"
"We'ye got to do it, stranger" re-
piled the woman, 81 won't live with a
man who kin lick me, and he's as
high born. Sans as good as the run
O men, but he's lazy and sassy, and
he wants to wear his hat on his ear 7"
"She's right, stranger, said the squat
ter, "and this cabin can't hold both of
us any longer. It's to be a squar'
fght-no kicking or clubbing, aud we
won't go back on yer decision"
= The Vicksburger protested, but the
woman placed lighted candle in his
hand and posted him in the door, and
the man and wife stepped out on the
ground.
"Suke, I'm going to wallop ye right
smart in just four boots and holler !"
said the squatter, as he pushed up his
, sleeves.
. "Sam, ye don't weigh huff into three
tons p she replied in grim voice, and
the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twen-
ty to one on the man at the start, but
in two minutes he had reduced the
odds to ten, and in two minutes more
he was betting even. The wife was
! like wildcat, springing, dodging,
, striking and clawing and pretty soon
her husband had to stand on the de.
fensive.
Look out for the Bengal tiger
, SukeP he warned as he clawed the
: air.
II can whip the boots of'n ye
I Sam!" she replied, and the battle
grew fercer.
, One of the woman's sharp nail,
, struck the husbands eye and blinded
!, him for an instant AS he threw VI
! his arms she seized both her hands in
a to his hair, yanked him down, and il
| another moment had the "gouge" OIL
!. him.
Sam, do ye cave?" she asked, a
!. they lay quiet.
That's the dead-wood, Suke, anC
I'm licked msnp' he mournfully an
: swered.
She let him up, and he turned TO tn
=. Vicksburger, aud inquired;
stranger, was it far ight?"
Is 81 guess it WAS -
p "Then travel %
He entered the hut. put on his Goa
IS and hat, took up his rifle, and as h
r. came out he reached his hand out Il
q his wife, and said:
"Good.by, Suke? We agreed ia
Il and squar, and here | go" Thel
~ turning TO the traveller, he added:
"Much obleeged, stranger; ye he'll
the candle plumb far, and ye didn'
holer for either one of us !"
&c And he walked down to the fence
h leaped over, and was soon lost t
4 siuht.