The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-07-20

Tooth and Nail.

A gentleman residing in Vicksburg
had occasion, few days since, to take
journey down the river and several
miles back from it, using a saddle horse,
Darkness overlook him in a sparsely
settled district, and as the roads were
in a bad condition, and the evening
looked threatening, he halted before q
forlorn looking hut and asked if he
could find lodging.
| reckon you mought," said sor-
rowful-eyed squatter, after hesitating a
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 cold the
traveller camped down on the floor on a
blanket, and being very tired he fell
aleep, while the host and hostess were
smoking their 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, Pm 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.
g e like to see fair play, don't ye,
strangerT'
Yes, of course"
:" Wall, men the old woman can't
agree; she's cross an techy, and guess
I'm a trihe ugly. Leastwise we don't
hang up worth old boots. We've fit and
fit; Pm old and she's chuck full of
grit, an it's about and even thing.
Well Pm sorry" put in the Vicks-
burger, as the squatter b, stated.
We've been balkin since we cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye
to hold the candle and to let's go in for
an old rouser of a ight-a regular old
sockdoager, which shall settle our
fuss If l ticks she'll GO; if she ticks
| 60"
g I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and
| hope you won't fight"
We've got to do it, stranger replied
the woman. " ! won't live with a man
who kin lick me, an he's just as high
born. Sans good rs the run of men.
but he's lazy and sassy and he wants to
wear the hat on his carp
"She's right, stranger" said the
squatter, "and this cabin can't hold
both of us any longer. It's to be
squar' fight, no kickin' or clubbin' and
we won't go back on your decision"
The Vicksburger protested, but the
woman placed a lighted candle in his
hand and posted him in the door, and
man and wife stepped out on the ground
together.
"Suke, Pm going to wallop We right
smart in just four boots and q hollerp
said the squatter as he pushed up his
sleeves.
Sam, we don't weigh enough into
three tonsP she replied in grim voice
and the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twenty
to one on the man, but in two minutes
he reduced the odds to ten, and in two
minutes more he was betting even. The
wi e was like wild cat, springing,
lodging, striking and clawing, and pretty
soon her husband was standing on the
defensive.
Suke," he warned as he clawed the air.
" kin lick the boots Off n you, Sam !"
she replied and the battlegr fiercer.
One of the woman's sharp nails
struck the husbands eye and blinded
him for an instant. As he threw up
his arms she planted 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 both lay quiet.
THAT'S the dead word, Suke, and
Pm licked manW he mournfully an
swered.
She let him up and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired:
Stranger, was it far fought%
guess it was "
"Then travelw
He en- cred the hut, put on his coat
and hat, and as he came out he reached
his hand to his wife and said
Goodbye, Suke, we agreed far and
squar' an here / goW Then turning to
the traveller he added:
" Much obleeged, stranger-ye held the
candle plum far, an we didn't holler
for either one of usp'
And he walked down to the fence,
leaped over, and was soon lost to sight.
GOOD huff on the shoot" m used
the wife, as The gazed after him, "but
his fighting weight is clar run down to
nuthin'p'