The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-10-03


fencer. He killed.
A suppressed exclamation of dissat
isfaction from the champion stopped
this attempt to brighten the captain
and the principals In the affair. ad-
vancing toward each other. began tc
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 q
cause
He was beginning to be amused al
the bungling thrusts and parties made
by his opponent when an accident hap
pened at an unlucky moment. Jusi
as the masked man was making on,
of his awkward thrusts Arbuckle's
foot caught in a creeping vine, and h'
fell forward on the point of his adver
sary's sword. which. entering his right
side just below the arm pit. inflicted
a flesh wound.
A cry came from the champion. No
a masculine cry: it was like woman'i
Shrek Throwing away his saber. h,
stopped and lifted his enemy in his
arms Arbuckle. more interested II
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; ther
Arbuckle, selling Margaret's hand
kissed it respectfully, exclaiming:
Forgive mel
Meanwhile Jim was hurrying for
ward. opening the box of materials fol
stanching blood Arbuckle assured
Margaret that his wound was of nc
Importance. threw off his coat, opened
his waistcoal and exposed his shirt
saturated with blood Margaret trem
blingly applied lint and wound band
age to hold it in its place Then she
told Jim to go for assistance and bring
a conveyance to take the wounded mar
to the house. But Arbuckle demurred
1.-THE affair must be kept secret" he
said. because am ashamed Of my
part in requiring woman to protect
herself against me. and. as for beinl
carried about with such a 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 am your cham
pion whenever you choose to have me
by accepting my services | will now
ride to camp. but ask that at the first
opportunity | 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. 1t was Arbuckle
'Tell me before W. part" he said
IAN | forgiven
She made no reply except with her
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 disrespectfully
The Swamp Fox kept Tarleton ant
his men busy for some time. during
which Arbuckle did not appear at the
Ringold manor Then he was taken
Ill. From a hospital he sent word to
Margaret that as soon as he had re
covered he 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 to 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 BIZ
permitted to pay his addresses to his
daughter The old Tory was much
pleased at the request. though he fell
that it would separate him from bis
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 Arbuckle. which
gave peculiar zest to the latter The
couple were married before Captain
Arbuckse returned with the British
forces in America to England There
the South Carolinian was welcomed
by her husbands relatives. and she at
once assumed a prominent position In
society. But she always maintained
that had not the colonies won their
independence she would not have left
her American home.