The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-08-06
HOLDING THE CANDLE.

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A gentleman residing in this city had
occasion few days since to take jour.
! ney down the river and several miles back
from it, using a saddlc-hors Darkness
overlook him in sparsely.settled district,
and as The road were in bad condition,
and tho evening looked threatening, he
halted before iorlorn.looking hut and
asked if he could find lodging.
II reckon ye mought,' replied the long.
haired, sorrowfu!-eyed squatter, after
hesitating moment.
The Vicksburger found little to eat, and
his horse found still less, The sQuat:er
and his wife were all alone, and they had
but a few words for the stranger, and
scarcely spoke to each other. When the
evening grew old the travler camped down
on the floor on blanket. and being very
tired he fell asleep, while host and hostess
were smoking their black clay pipes at
the end Of the rcou. He had slept about
two hours, when the squatter shook him
by the shoulder, and said:
stranger, I'm pc xerful sorry 10 dis.
turb We, but want to ak favor
'Yes-yes what is it?' inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes and
sat up.
"You like to see far play, don't ye,
strangsr?'
Eyes of course
swell men the old woman can't agree ;
somehow she's cross and tetchey. and
guess I'm trifle ugly. Leastwise, We
don't hug up worth old boots. We've fit
and fit; I'm old and she 8 chuck full O.
grit. and its about an even thing
''Well. I'm sorry put in the Vicks.
burger, as the squatter hesitated.
"We've been a.barkin' since We cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye to
hold the candle and to let US 90 in for an
old rouser of fight-a lar sockdol.
oger-which shall settle our fuss! III
lick. she'll go; If she ticks, I'll travel!"
I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and
hope you won't fight"
"We've got to do it, stranger" replied
the woman. II won't live with a man
who kin lick me, and he's just 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!''
''She's right, stranger" said the squat.
ter, land this cabin can't hold both of US
any longer. It's to be squar' fight-no
kicking or clubbing, and we won't 60
back on your dicision.''
The Vicksburger protested, but the
woman placed lighted candle in his hand,
and posted him in the door, and man and
wife stepped out on the ground.
"Snke, I'm going to wallop ye right in
just four. boots and holler - said the
squatter, Is he pushed up his sleeves.
Sam, We don't weigh huff into three
tons !" she replied in a grim voice, and
the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twenty to
one on tho man in the start, but in two
minutes he had reduced the odds to ten,
aud in two minutes more he was betting
sven. The wife was like wildcat, spring.
Ing, lodging, striking and clawing, and
pretty soon her husband had to stand on
tho defensive. -, ..,I
, '.Look out for the Bengal tiger, sukev'
he warned, as he clawed the air.
Il can whip the boots Off ye, Sam -
she replied, and the battle grew fiercer.
=. One Of the womau's sharp nails struck
the husbands eye and blinded him for an
instant, As he threw up his arms she
seized both her hands into his hair, yank-
ed him down, and in another moment had
the .'gouge''on him.
Sam, do ye cavc!' she asked as they
lay quite, ?. p. ,,....
That's. the dead-word. Suke, andr m
: licked mani" he mournfully answered.
She let him up, and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired. H..
''Stranger, was it far Fought"
81 guess it was.''
'sThen I travel -
He entered the hut, put on his coat and
hat, took up his rifla, rs he came out he
reached his hand to his wife, and said: L
s.'(3ood by Suke! We agreed far and
squar' and here Co." Then turning to
the traveller he added. .... .~.. - 4.
Much, obleeged, stranger ye held the
candie plumb fa'r, and 70 didn't boiler
Tor either ono Of u - No. Hs:...