The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-08-18
The Lone Cabin.
from the Vicksburp HeraI Id


A gentleman residing in this city
had occasion a few days since to make
a Journey down the river and several
miles back from it, using a saddle
horse. Darkness overlook him in
sparsely settled district, and as the
road was in bad condition and the
evening looked threatening, he halted
before a forlorn- looking hut, and ask
ed if he could find lodgings.
reckon ye mought," replied the
long haired, sorrowful-eyed squatter,
after hesitating for moment.
The Vicksburger found little to eat,
and his horse found still less. The
squatter and his 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
fell asleep while the host and hostess
were smoking their black pipes at the
other end of the room. He had 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 a favor"
"Yes-yes-what is it?' inquired
the Vicksburger, as he rubbed his
eyes and sat up.
"Ye like to see far play, don't ye,
stranger r?''
Yes. of course"
"Wall, men the old woman cant
agree; somehow she's cross and tetchy,
and l guess I'm a trifie ugly. Least
wise, we don't hug up worth ole boots.
We've ct and fit; I'm old and she's
chuck full o. grit, and it's an even
thing p
"Well, I'm SORRY" put in the
Vicksburger, as the squatter hesita.
ted.
We've been a talkin' since ye cum,
stranger, and we We made up to ask ye
to hold the candle and let us go in for
an old rouser of Gght-a reg lar ole
sockdolager, which shall settle our
fussl If lick she'll 60; if she licks
I'll travelr
I'm sorry If there's any trouble,
and hope you won't fight"
We've got to do it, stranger j. re-
piled the woman, Il won't live with a
man who kin lick me, and he's just as
high-b Sans as good as the run
O men, but he's lazy and sassy and
wants to wear his hat on his ears u
.'She's right, stranger" said the
sauatter, .'and this cabin can't hold
both of US any longer! It's to be a
sauar fight-no kicking or clubbing,
and we won't 90 back on yer de-
cision!"
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.
"Suke, I'm going to wallow We right
smart in just four boots and holler r
said the squatter, as he pushed up his
sleeves.
'sSam, ye don't weigh 'nuff into
three tonsl'' she replied, in a grim
voice, and the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet
twenty 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 better even. The wife
was like a wildcat, springing. dodg-
ing, striking and clawing, and pretty
soon her husband had to stand on the
defensive.
"Look out for the Bengal tiger,
Suke |" he warned as he clawed the
| air.
81 can whip the boots off'n ye,
she replied, and the battle grew
fercer.
One of the woman's sharp nails
struck the husbands eye and blinded
him for an instant. As he threw up
his arms she twisted both her hands
into his hair, yanked him down. and
| in another moment had the "gouge'
on him.
"Sam. do you cave ?" she asked as
they lay quiet.
That's the dead wood, Suke, and
I'm a licked man. he mournfully
answered.
She let him up, and he turned to
the Vicksburger and inquired:
Stranger, was it far fought ?''
II guess It was"
"Then | travell'
He entered the hut, put on his coat
and hat. took up his rifle, and as he
came out he reached his hand to his
wife, and said:
"Good- bye, Suke! We agreed fa'I
and squar', and here | go!" Then
turning to the traveller he added:
| Much obleeged, stranger-ye held
the candle plump far and ye didn't
holler for either one of us ~
| And he walked down to the fence,
leaped over, and was soon lost to
sight.
''Good 'nuff on. the shoot" unused
the wife as she gazed after him, but
his fighting weights clar run down to
nothin r.