Putnam patriot., 1911-11-10
THE PUTNAM pATkIoT November 10 rors

l handed Arbuckle a saber, and the lat i ter advanced to the spot where his enemy was standing. But before put l ting himself in a posture for defense
 he said to Jim:
 Tn case l am denied an opportunity I to crave your mistress pardon by be- Ing killed in this light l desire you to assure her that bad lived would have done so.
 "I'll do dat. sah," said Jim. "fo' reckon yo' gwine fo' to get killed De man wid de udder sword mighty fine | fencer. He killef'-
 A suppressed exclamation of dissat- isfaction from the champion stopped this attempt to frighten the captain. and the principals in the affair. ad- , yancing toward each other. began to fence. Notwithstanding Jim's enco- miums the unknown at once proved himself no match for his opponent. Arbuckle. perceiving this. stood strict ly on the defensive. not desiring that blood should be spilled in such cause.
 He was beginning to be amused at the bungling thrusts and parties made by his opponent when an accident hap pened at an unlueky moment Just as the masked man was making one of his awkward thrusts Arbuckle's foot caught In a creeping vine, and he fell forward on the point of his adyer- sary's sword. which. entering his right side just below the arm pit. inflicted a flesh wound
 A cry came from the champion. Not a masculine cry; 1t was like woman's shriek. Throwing away his saber. he stopped and lifted his enemy In his arms Arbuckle. more interested in the champions identity than his
 wound. pulled off the mask and ex- posed the features of Margaret Rim gold
 The two looked at each other for few moments without speaking; then
 Arbuckle. seizing Margaret's hand. kissed it respectfully. exclaiming:
 Forgive me-
 Meanwhile Jim was hurrying for
 ward. opening the box of materials for
 stanching blood Arbuckle assured Margaret that his wound was of no importance. threw off his coat. opened
 his waistcoat and exposed his shirt saturated with blood. Margaret trem- blingly applied lint and wound band
 age to hold it in it's place. Then she told Jim to go for assistance and bring a conveyance to take the wounded man to the house. But Arbuckle demurred
 "The affair must be kept secret he said, because 1 am ashamed of my part in requiring a woman to protect herself against me. and as for being
 carried about with such pin prick as this. my comrades would despise me Go to your home. Miss Ringold. You have vanquished me in more ways
 than one Henceforth I am your cham
 pion whenever you choose to have me by accepting my services. l will now ride to camp but ask that at the first opportunity l may be permitted to pay my duty to you
 Margaret turned and walked away. but she heard footsteps behind her and felt her hand clasped. It was Arbuckle-
 "Tell me before we part" he said, am 1 forgiven?"
 She made no reply except with her
 eyes. but the man was satisfied. He
 watched her. attended by Jim. till she
 reached the house. when she turned and. putting her fingers to her lips. threw him what she had fought him for taking dsrespectfully.
 The Swamp Fox" kept Tarieton and
 his men busy for some time. during
 which Arbuckle did not appear at the
 Ringold manor. Then he was taken ill From hospital he sent word to
 Margaret that as soon as he had re
 covered be would see her and make
 all possible amends for his treatment
 of her. But he was obliged to wait
 till the war had ended before being
 able 10 visit her When he came he
 asked to see her father. saying that
 he had called on matter of vital i'm
 portance to himself He asked to be
 permitted to pay his addresses to his
 daughter The old Tory was much
 pleased at the request. though he felt
 that it would separate him from his
 child and having granted 1t. informed
 Margaret that Arbuckle had come and
 had asked for her hand
 There was great contrast between
 this and the first meeting Margaret
 had with Captain Arhucllle, which
 gave a peuliar zeSt to the latter. The
 couple wore married before Captain
 Arbuckle returned with the British
 forces in America to England. There
 the South Carolinian was welcomed
 ny her husbands relatives. and she al
 once assumed q prominent position tn
 society But she always maintained
 that had not the colonies won Their
 independence she would not have left
 her American home.