The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-09-26
By EDITH v. ROSS

~ CVJu Y. NUSS -
During that period in America when
the colonies struggling, for their
independence. when the Swamp Fox"
as General Francis Marion was called.
was contesting the possession OF South
Carolina with Colonel Tarleton. COM
mander of a British cavalry force.
something like that led by the Confed-
crate Colonel Mosby during the war be-
tween the states. there lived in Berke-
ley county Of that colony one Edward
Athol and his wife.
Athol, though he had not been long
In America. was not. as might have
been expected Of a newcomer from
England, a Tory. He was disposed to
be neutral in his sympathies. He had
married the daughter Of n who had
been born In America. and his bride
was in sympathy with the coionists.
but since her husband took sides with
neither she desired to live peacefully
on their plantation without being dis
turbed by the kings men or those of
the Continental congress.
This required tact. for one day along
would come riders wearing the blue
and the bun and the next those wear
ing the red. Both sides expected SYM
pathy IL not aid from the people of the
country they traversed and were in
clined to be severe with those from
whom they did not get 1t. This placed
the Athos In an unpleasant position.
for If they treated both sides as friends
they would please neither. But Mrs.
Athol was equal to the occasion. being
Z woman Of rare diplomatic ability.
There was a man living on q neigh
boring plantation whom she feared.
He vas a bachelor, and his sy mpathies
were with the redcoats. he and 3D.
ward Athol were bosom friends. and
Mrs. Athol feared that the Tory might
get her husband into trouble. One day
she said to Athol:
Edward. ! wish you would be care
ful Of what you say to Henry Pinckton
You know he IL a Tory and may at any
time consider It his duty to sacrifice
his friend to his king"
'That 10 Just like a woman replied
the husband. 'Your sex cannot rely
on each others friendship; consequent
" you do not realize that men will be
true to each other"
Had Athol known what his wife
knew he would have realized the in.
justice Of this thrust. Pinckton had
been q sutton for her h2nd while Athol
was counting her. Moreover. a WON.
ans percepive faculties are. when un-
Influenced, more delicate than a mans.
The wife knew tnstinctively that Pinck.
ton had never forgiven her husband
for succeeding where he had himself
failed. Moreover. she was not sure but
that the unsuccessful lover would be
glad Of an opportunity to get rid of
his friend. hoping that II she were free
be might persuade her to marry him.
One day some British troopers camp
ed in the vicinity Of the AthOl planta-
ton. Pinckton went to the commander
and told him that there was a man In
the neighborhood who vas furnishing
information of the movements OF the
British troops to General Marion. The
commander asked II the man could be
taken with documents on him to prove
that he was a spy. Pinckton said that
he would keep q watch on the rebels
movements, and II he found an Oppor-
tunity to capture him carrying infor-
nation he would let the officer know.
Pinckton went away and concocted a
plan to entrap Athol. He wrote Athol
1 forged letter from q man in Charles
/ ton asking Athol to meet him In that
town Immediately since he had i'm
portant news for him Pinckton went
to zee Athol just az he was setting out
on his journey and pretended to be
much surprised at his going. Athol
bid his wife goodby. and the two men
rode away together. Mrs. Athol had
noticed that Pinckton acted strangely
When Athol had said that be doubted
III the trip were worth while Pinckton
urged him to 80. with woman's quick
Insight for danger to one she loves.
Mn. Athol suspected that her hus.
hands pretended friend had laid Q plan
TO ct him out Of the way. The two
men were - ride together on the road
20 Charieston I'm they came to the
branch road leading 10 Ptnckton's plan
tauon when they would part. PtncktoD
going homo ana AthQI continuing his
journey. .ss&ss n
Nm, Atbol sa1dls1aa 8asfel.
lowed them. intending % 0sSrt1ke lner
husband after be had isff Pincktols
and persuade him 70 ktve up his joufs
my. She kept at . distance behind
chem. and when they were shout e
pArt she saw PincktOn drop y iitsse
hehind her husband and drop rome
thing into bis cost pocket, This con
Grmed her "A her opinion THAT some
! wrong was intended. Nevertheless
/ ~ ronld not u once follow her hus-
band without running the vtsk Of be-