Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-12


Her slave, Jim. who bore her messages
would be present as witness.
To the masking Arbuckle declined to
assent unless assured that her cham
pion was not blood relative. and
when thus assured he agreed to be on
hand at the appointed hour.
He found his enemy waiting for him.
The man was tall and slender. being
dressed in citizens costume Of the day
a broad tailed cutaway coat ana
bree hes. buff waistcoat, white stock
ings. large shoe buckles and pow
dered peruke. His mask was OF BLACK
velvet. with lace at and below his
mouth.
Jim, the colored slave. stood near
with a saber under an arm and d
small box containing articles to stop
the flow of blood in the other. He
handed Arbuckle saber. and the lat
ter advanced to the spot where his
enemy was standing. But before put
ting himself In a posture for defense
he said to Jim:
I'm case | am denied an opportunity
to crave your mistress pardon by be-
ing killed in this fight l desire you TO
assure her that had | lived | would
have done so.
"I'll do dat. sah." said Jim, 40 l
reckon yo' gwine TO- to get killed. De
man wild de udder sword mighty fine
fencer. He killed.
A suppressed exclamation Of dissat.
isfaction from the champion stopped
this attempt to frighten the captain,
and the principals In the affair. adj
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 Il
cause.
He was beginning to be amused at
the bungling thrusts and parties made
by his opponent when an accident nap
pened at an unlucky moment. Jusl
as the masked man was making ont
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 lust below the arm pit. inflicted
flesh wound.
A cry came from the champion. MOI
O masculine cry; it was like Woman''
shrek. Throwing away his saber. be
stooped and lifted his enemy In us
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 0
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 FOL
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 Il band
age to hold it in its place. Then she
told Jim to 60 for assistance and bring
a conveyance to take the wounded man
to the house. But Arbuckle demurred
THE affair must be kept secret. ht
said. because | am ashamed or my
part in requiring a woman to protect
herself against me. and. as for being
carried about with such Il 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 he 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 | 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 a 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 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 be
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 his
child and. having granted it. Informed
Margaret that Arbuckle had come and
had asked for her hand.
There was q 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 in America to England There
the South CarOlinian YaS welcomeG