Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-08-07
Holding The Candle.

I ka0 occasion q 1cw Gays since
| take journey down the river an
several miles back from it, using
saddle.hOrse. Darkness overto0
him in sparsely.settled distric
and as the roads were in bad COL
dition, and the evening locke
threatening, he halted before a tol
lorn-looking hut and asked if Ii
could find lodging.
III reckon ye monght," replie'
the long-haired, sorrowful-eye'
squatter, after hcsitating Il moment
The Vicksburger found little t.
eat, and his horse found still less
The squattcr and his wife were al
alone, and they had but few word'
for the stranger, and scarcely spok'
to each other. When the evening
grew old the traveller camped dow
ON the floor on a blanket, and being
very tired he fell asleep, while hos
aud hostess were smoking thril
black clay pipes at the other end ol
the room. lie had slept about two
hours, when the squatter shook him
by the shoulder, and said:
"Stranger, Pm powerful sorry tC
disturb ye, but l want to ak a ia
vOr."
"Yes-yes-what is it y inquir'
I'd the Vicksburger, as he rubbed
his eyes aud sat up.
"You like to sec far play, don't
ye, stranger ?"
Eyes, of cOuse."
,'Wall, men the old woman can't
agree; somehow she's cross and
tetchy, and guess Pm a trifle ugly.
Leastwise, we don't hug up worth
old boots. We've fit and fit; Pm
old and she's chuck full O grit, and
it's about an even thing"
"Well, Pm sorry" put in the
Vicksburger, as the squatter hest.
tated.
"We've been balkin' since ye
cum, stranger, and we've made up
to ask ye to hold the candle and to
let us go in for an old rOuser of a
fight-a regular sockdoloSer-which
shall settle our fuss! If l lick,
she'll go; if she licks, I'll travel"
"Pm sorry if there's any trouble,
and l hope you won't fight"
"We've got to do 1t, stranger,"
replied the wOwan. 81 won't live
with a man who kin lick me, sud
he's just as high-born. Sans as
good as the run o. men, but he's la
~ and sassy, and he wants to wear
his hat on his earl"
"She's right, stronger" said the
squatter, "and this cabin can't hold
both of us any longer. It's to be a
squar' fght-no kicking or club
Oing, and we won't 60 back on yer
decision"
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, Pm going to wallop ye
right smart in just four boots and a
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
twenty to one on the man at the
start, but in two minutes he had re-
duced the odds to ten, and in two
minutes more he was betting even.
The wife was like a wildcat, spring
ing, lodging, striking and clawing,
and pretty soon the husband had
to stand on the defensive.
"Look out for the Bengal tiger,
Suke y he warned, as he clawed
the air.
81 can whip the boots off'n We,
Sam !" she replied, and the battle
grew iiercer.
One of the wOman's sharp nails
struck the husbands eye and blind.
ed him for an instant. AS he threw
up his arms she seized both her
hands into bis hair, yanked him
down, and in another moment had
the "gouge" on him.
"Sam, do ye cave!" she asked, as
they lay quiet.
"That's the dead word, Suke, and
Pm licked manw he mournfully
answered.
She let him up, and he turned to
the Vicksburger and inquired:
"Stranger, was it far fought y
IL guess it was"
s'Then l travelv
He entered the hut, put on his