SEEING FAIR IN A DOMESTIC DIFFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3996, 15 December 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

SEEING FAIR IN A DOMESTIC DIFFERENCE.

(From the VkMmrg IIoral<l.)

A gentleman residing in this city had occasion a few days aince to make a journey down the ri/er, and several miles back from it, using a saddlehorse. Darkness overtaking him in a sparsely-settled district, and as the road was in a had condition, and the evening looked threatening, he halted before a forlorn-looking hut, and asked if he could lind lodgings. " I reckon ye mought," replied the long-haired, sor-rowful-eyed squatter, after hesitating fof a moment. The Vicksburgerfound little to eat, and the horse found still less. The squatter and his wife were all alone, and they had but few words for the stranger, and scarcely spoko to each other. When the evening grew old the traveller camped down on the floor on a blanket, and, being very tired, he fell asleep, while the host and hostess were smoking their black clay pipes at the other end of the room, lie had slept about two hours, when the squatter shook him by the shoulder and said, " Stranger, I'm powerful sorry to disturb you, but I want to ax a favor." " Yes— yes—what is it ?" inquired tlio Vicksburger, as \m rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Ye like to see fa'r.play, don't you, stranger V l! Yes; oi' course." "Wall, me'n the old woman can't agree, somehow she's cross and tetchy, and I guess I'm a trifle ugly. Leastwise, we dou't hug up worthVle boots. We've fit and lit; I'm old and she's chuck full o' grit, and it's an even thing !" " Well, I'm sorry," put in the Vicksburger, as the squatter hesitated. " We've been a balkin' since ye cum, stranger, and we've made up to ask ye to hold the candle and let us go in for an old rouser of a fight—a reg'W old sockdolager, which shall settle onv fuss ' If I lick, she'll go; if shelicks, I'll travel'." *' I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and I .; hope you won't fight," * " We've got to | do it, .stranger," replied the woman, '• I i wont live with a man who kin lick me | and he's just as high born. Sam's as J good mm tl.e rw. o' men. b u t h.y s lazy and s<o.,i,y ; aud Wimis io v.uui Lm ma on I his ear." " She's right, stranger," said

the squatter; "and this cabin can't hold both of us any longer ! It's to be a squar' fight—no kicking or clubing : and we won't go back on yer 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. " Suke, 1 am going to wallop ye right smart in just four hoots and a holler said the squatter as he pushed up his sleeves. " Sam, ye don't weigh 'nuff into three tons !" she replied in a grim voicf, 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 he was betting even. The wife was like a wild cat, springing, dodging, 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. " I can whip the boots off'n ye, Sam !" she replied, and the battle grew fiercer. One of the woman's sharp nails struck the husband's eye and blinded him for an instant. As he threw up his arms she seized 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 a fair fought ]" " I guess it was!" "Then I travel!" He entered the hut, put on his coat and hat, took up his rifle, and, as he came out, he reached his httnd to his wife, and said, " Good-bye, Suke ! We agreed fa'r and squar', and here Igo !" Then, turning to the traveller, he added, " Much obleeged, stranger ; ye held the candle plumb fa'r, 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," mused his wife, as she gazetl after him, " but his fighting weight's cl'ar run down to nuthin'!"