The Calumet news., 1911-11-08

pened at an unlucky moment Just
as the masked man was making one
of his awkward thrusts Arbuckle's
foot caught in creeping vine. and he
fell forward on the point Of his adver-
sary's sword, which, entering his right
side just below the arm pit. inflicted
n flesh wound.
A cry came from the champion. Not
a masculine cry; It was like womans
shrek. 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 n
few moments without speaking; then
Arbuckle. seiZing Margaret's hand,
kissed it respectfully, exclaiming:
Forgive mel"
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 its place. Then she
told Jim to go for assistance and bring
a conveyance to take the wounded man
to- -t-c house. But Arbuckle demurred.
"fhe affair must be kept secret" he
said, because | 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 I'm 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 we part" he said,
"am l forgivenY
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 disrespectfully.
The Swamp Fox" kept Tarleton and
his men busy for some time. during
which Arbuckle did not appear at the
Ringold manor. Then he was taken
i'll. From 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 inn
portance to himself. re 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 hkd 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
Arbuckle returned with the British
forces i'm America to England. There
the South Carolinian was welcomed
by her husbands relatives, and she at
once assumed prominent position in
society. But she always maintained
that had not the colonies won their
independence she would not have left
her American home.