The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-08-11
VAN wINKLE, w1rn AvAnINtON.

!. A gentleman residing in ds city
! had occasion,a few days since, ) take a
e Journey down the river sevlal and
' miles back from it,using sadge-horse.
Darkness overlook him in asparsely
I settled district, and as the reds were
IN bad condition, and th evening
looked thEeetnnig, ne halted before a
forlorn looking hut and asked if he
could find lodging.
Il reckon ye mought," replied the
the long-haired, sorrowful eyed squat
ter, after hesitating a moment.
The Vicksburger found little 10 eat.
fand his horse found less. The squat.
ter and his wife were all alone, and
they had but few words for the
stranger, and scarcely spoke to each
other. Whom 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 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 favor"
"Yes--yes-what is itY inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes
and sat up.
Eye like to see far play, don't ye,
strangerH'
Eyes, of course"
"Wall, men the old woman cant
agree; somehow, she's cross aud tetchy,
and guess I'm trife 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-talkin' since ye cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask
ye to hold candle an to let us go in
for an old rouser of fight Ia reg'lar
sockdologer-wbich shall settle our
| fuss. If l lick, she'll go; if she licks,
I'll travel"
"Pm sorry if there's any trouble,
and hope you won't fight"
sWe've 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
the wants to wear his hat ON his ear ~
"She's right, stranger. said the SQUAT
ter, "and this cabin can't hold both Of
Us any longer. It's to be squar'
ight--no kicking or clubbing, aud we
wont GO back on yer decision"
fne 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 hoots and holler I"
said the squatter, as he pushed up his
sleeves.
"Sam, ye don't weigh 'nuf' into three
tonsP she replied in a grim voice, and
the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twen-
ty 20 one on the man at the start, but
in two minutes he had reduced the
odds to ten, and intwo minutes more
he was betting even The wife was
like q wildcat, springing, lodging,
striking and clawing and pretty soon
her husband bad to stand ON the de.
fensive.
/ "Look out for the Bengal tiger,
Sukep' he warned as he clawed the
air. aa 4
II can whip the boots ofP'n ye,
Sam p 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
bis arms she seized both her hands in
to his hair, yanked him down, and in
another moment had the "gouge" on
him.
Sam. do ye cave ?" she asked, as
they lay quiet
"Thats the dead wood, Suke, and
I'm licked mani" he mournfnlly an.
swered.
She let him up, and he turned to the
Vieksburger, and inquired:
STRANGER, was it a far fight?"
81 guess it was"
"fhen / travel p
He entered the hut, put on his coat
and hat, took up his rifle, and as he
came out he reached his hand out to
his wife, and said:
"Good.by, Suke? We agreed far
and squar', and here l GO" Then
turning TO the traveller, he added
"Much obleeged, stranger; ye held
the candle plumb far, and ye didn't
holler for either one of us p
And he walked down to the fence,
leaped over, and was soon lost TO
sight.
.Cood 'npff on tba shoot - r,,,.od