The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-04-21

II
ments were sumptuous, and nothing
was too extravagant for him.
There was little distinction shown
by the American officers between the
Tory and Wing maidens. The same
ones who had graced the Meschianza
with their presence were invited to the
balls given by the new masters of
Philadelphia, and again pretty Peggy
was the center of attraction. Arnold,
although twice her age and . widower
with three sons, was Immediately
smitten by her charms.
The piquant young creature was no
doubt Aattered BY the attentions of the
seasoned soldier, and her girlish imag-
ination was stirred by the splendor Of
Arnold's position and military sur
roundings. When he was not with
her to plead his suit in person his i'm.
passioned love letters kept her from
forgetting him.
All objections to the match being
overruled, on the 18th of April, 1879,
the brilliant Peggy became his bride.
Part of the marriage settlement he
made her was the estate now in Fair
mount Park, known as Mount Pleas
ant, which was confiscated by the state
when his treason was discovered.
After the marriage there was no dim
mutton in their ostentatious style of
living, and she was congratulated on
all sides for having won hero.
The first son was born March 10,
1880, and on the Sd of August Arnold
was given command of West Point.
He had been in communication with
the British commander for a month
past, and had laid all his plans for
betraying his country. Mrs. Arnold
did not join him at West Point until
the 18th of September. She was over.
joyed at being once more with the man
she loved, and little dreamed that in
few short days she would be travelling
home again a disgraced and saddened
woman.
On the morning of the 18th Arnold
was surprised by the arrival of Hamil-
ton with word that Washington would
visit him in a few hours. Most un.
welcome news, for this was the day set
upon for his delivering the fort into
the hands of the enemy. In the midst
Of his quandry letter was brought to
him, telling of the capture of Andre
with his reasonable papers. Excus-
ing himself, he went to his wife's room,
briefly informed her of what he had
done and fled to the English forces in
New York. This was the first intelli.
gence she had of the plot, and the
news so overwhelmed her that she fell
in a swoon. All day she remained in
a frantic condition, "all the sweetness
of beauty, all the loveliness of inno-
! cence, all the tenderness of wife and
all the fondness of mother showed
themselves in her appearance and
conduct"
Washington was deeply touched,
and at the same time convinced that
she had no share in her husbands
guilt. She was given the choice of
either returning to her father or going
to her husband, and she preferred the
former.
When the news of Arnold's treason
reached Philadelphia his papers were
seized. Among them was found one
Andre to Margaret, offering to pur-
chase "cape wire, needles, gauge, etc"
for her in New York. This obviously
innocent note was thought to cover
deeper designs, and on October q she
was requested by the executive auth
tiles to leave Philadelphia.
On the way to New York to Join
her husband she was treated with every
mark of respect, all exhibition of pop
ular indignation being omitted on: Of
pity for her humiliation. When they
first went to England she attracted
much attention. The king and queen
were attentive, and she was spoken of
as the "handsomest woman in Eng
land" but she does not seem to have
cared to live her old life of fashion,
her time being devoted to the care of
her five children and her husband,
who lived to loathe and repent his
deed.
In 1870 Peggy paid a visit to her
father, and was lovingly welcomed by
her family and friends, though there
were some who treated her coldly.
This was her last and only visit home.
Old associations were too painful to
renew, and the rest of her life was
-