The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-04-26
And, pray, who are you, madam ?

continued the other.
our betters, madam was the reply.
Al this moment Billy Staliings stepped
in. Come said he, Nancy. let's be 90.
ing-it's getting late
Ia been gone half an hour ago. she
replied, If it hadn't a been for that i'm
pudent huzzy.'
Who do you call an impudent huzzy,
you nasty, good for.nothing, snasgle.
toothed gaub of fat, you" returned Mrs
Look here, woman said Billy, shave
you got husband here? If you have,
III hc1 him till he learns to teach you bet.
Ter manners, you sassy heifer you.'
AL this moment something was seen To
rush out OF the store as if ten thousand
hornets were singing it; crying, Take
care-let me gO-don't hold me-.where's a
Bob Durham? 1t was Ransy Sniflie.
VINO had been listening in breathless de.
light to all that had passed.
onder's Bob, setting on the Court.
house steps, cried one What's the mat.
ter?'
Don't talk to me-. said Ransy. Bob
Durham, you'd better go long yonde.,
and take care of your wife. they're
playing HI with her there, in Zeph
Atwater's store. bod eternally darn nv
soul. II any man was to talk to my wife
as Bill Stations is talking to yours, if
wouldn't drive blue blazes through him
i'll less than no Tine
Bob sprang to the store in n minute
followed by hundred friends for the
bully of the country never wants friends.
Bill Stations SAID Bob, as nc enter.
ed, what have you been saying to my
wife,?
is that your wife? inquired Billy, ob.
Vlously much surprised and little dis.
concerted.
Yes, she is, and no man shall abuse
her. don't care who he is
We'll, rejoined Billy. 1T ain't worth
while to go over it; I've said enough for
a Hight; and, if you'll step out, we'll set
tie it!'
fight"
Il am said Billy. I've heard much
of your manhood, and l believe Pm a
better man than you are. If you will 90
into ring with me, we can soon settle
the dispute
Choose your friends, said Bob; make
your ring, and I'll be in with mine rs
soon as you will
They both stepped out, and began to
strip very deliberately, each bst.alion
gathering round its champion, except
Ransy, who kept himself busy in most
honest endeavor to hear and SEQ all that
transpired in both groups at the same
time. He ran from one to the other in
quick succession peeped here and lis
tened there talked to this one, then to
tina! one, aud then to himself; gquatted
under ones legs and another's arms, and,
In the short interval between stripping
and stepping into the ring, managed to
get himself trod on by half Of both bat
talions. But Ransy was not the only one
interested upon this occasion; the most
intense interest prevailed everywhere.
Many were the conjectures, doubts,
oaths, and imprecations uttered while the
parties were preparing for the combat.
AL the knowing ones were consulted as
to the issue, and they all agreed to a man,
IN one or two opinions: either that Bob
would fog Billy or Billy would fog Bob.
We must be permitted, however, to dwell
for moment upon the opinion of Squire
Thomas Loggins; man who, it was
said, had never failed to predict the issue
of fight in all his life. Indeed, 70 un.
errlng had he always proved in this re-
gard, that it would have been counted
the most obstinate inideli.y 10 douh. fer
O moment after he had delivered himself.
Squire lIogglns was man who said but
little, was always delivered with the most
imposing solemnity of look and cadence.
lie always wore the aspect of profound
thought, and you could not look Mt him
without coming to the conclusion that he
was celebrating truth from its most intri.
cate combinations.
Uncle Tommy said Sam REYNOLDS,
You can tell us all about it if you will
how will the fight go?'
The question Immediately drew an
anxious group around the squire. He
raised his teeth slowly from the head of
his walking cane, on which they had been
resting, pressed his lips closely and
thoughtfully together; threw down his
eyebrows, dropped his chin, raised his
eyes TO an angle of twenty-three degrees,
paused about a minute, and replied,
Sammy. watch Robert Durham close 10
the beginning of the fight; take care of
William Stations in the middle OF it :;
and see who has the wind at the end
AS he uttered the last member of the
sentence, he looked slyly at Bob's friends.
and winked very significantly where
upon they rushed. with one accord, to
tell Bob what Uncle Tommy had said.
AS they retired, the squire turned to
Biily's friends, and said, with a smile,
Them boys think mean that Bob will
whip
Here the other party kindled into Joy,
and hastened to inform Billy how Bob's
friends had been deceived as to Uncle
Tommy's opinion. In the mean time the
principals and seconds were busily employ
ed in preparing themselves for the combat
The plan of attack and defence, the
manner of improving the various turns of
the conflict, the best mode Of saving
wind etc., etc., were all discussed and
settled. At length Billy announced
himself ready, and his crowd were seen
moving to the Courthouse Square; he
and his five seconds in the rear. At the
same time, Bob's party moved to the same
point, and in the same order. The ring
was now formed, and for moment the
silence of death reigned through both
battalions. 1t was soon interrupted,
however, by the cry of Clear the way =
from Billy's seconds; when the ring
opened in the center of the upper battal-
ion (for the order of march had arranged
the center of the two battalions on oppo.
site sides of the circIe,) and Billy step.
cd into the ring from the east, followed
by his friends. He was stripped to tbs
trousers, and exhibited an arm, breast,
and shoulders of the most tremendous
portent. His step was firm, daring, and
martial; and as he bore his fine form q
little in advance OF his friends, an involun-
tary burst of triumph broke from his
side of the ring; and, at the same mo-
ment, an uncomfortable thrill of awe ran