Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-08-23
Convinced
A Wife Proved the Perfidy
of Her Husbands
Friend
BY EDITH V. ROSS

the colonies were struggling FOR their
independence. when the swamp Fox. -
as General Francis Marion was called.
was contestins the possession Of South
Carolina with Colonel Tarlcton, com
mandcr Of British cavalry force.
something like that led by the Confcd
crate Colonel Moshy during the war hc
tween the states there lived Ia Bcrke
ley county OF that colony one Edward
Aihol aud his wife
Athol. though he had not been long
in America. was not rs might have
been expected OF a newcomer from
England. a Tory He was disposed 10
be neutral IN his sympathies. He had
married the daughter Of one who had
been born In America. and his bride
was In sympathy with the colonists.
but since her husband took sides with
neither She desired 10 live peacefully
on their plantation without being dis
turbcd 10y the kings men or those OF
the Continental congress.
This required tact, for one day along
would come riders wearing the blue
and the hun and the next those wear
ing the red Both sides expected sym
patty II not aid from the people Of the
country they travcrscd and were in
clined 20 be- severe with those from
whom they did not get II. This placed
the Athols In an unpleasant position.
for II they treated both sides rs friends
they would please neither But Mrs.
Athol was equal to the occasion. being
a woman ~ rare diplomatic ability.
There was man living on a neigh
boring plantation whom she feared.
He was bachelor. and his sympathies
We're with the rcdcoats. He and Ed.
ward Atho were bosom friends. and
Mrs Athol feared that the Tory might
get her husband into trouble One day
she said 10 Athol:
Edward. wish you would be care
ful Of what you say To Henry Pinckton.
You know he is a Tory and may at any
time consider it his duty TO sacrifice
his friend TO his king
THAT is just like 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. rinckton had
been Suitor for her hand while Athol
was counting her. Moreover. Il WON
ans perccptivc faculties are, when I'M
influenced. more delicate than n mans
The wife knew instinctively 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 We're free
he might persuade her TO marry him.
one day some British troopers camp
ed la the vicinity of the Athol planta-
tion. rinekt0n went 10 the commander
and told him that there was II man In
the neghborhood who was furnishing
information of the movements of the
British troops 10 General Marion. The
commander asked II the man could he
taken with documents on him 10 prove
that he was q spy. pinckion said that
he would keep u watch on the rebels
movements. and If he found am oppor-
tuniiy TO capture him carrying intor-
nation he would let the officer know.
Pmckton went away and concocted a
plan To entrap Athol. He wrote Athol
Il forged letter from a man IN Charles
ton asking Athol TO meet him IN that
town Immediately since he had linz
portant news for him Pinckton Went
10 see Athol just as he was setting out
on his journey and pretended 70 be
much surprised M his going. Athoi
bid his wife goodby. and the two men
rode away together, Mrs. Athol had
notice "a that l'inckton acted strangely
When Athul had said that he doubted
II the trip were worth while finckton
URGED him io 20 With woman's quick
insight for danger 20 one she loves.
Mrs. Athol suspected that her nus
bands pretended friend had laid a plan
10 get him ont of the way The two
men were Ia ride together on the road
10 Charleston till they came to the
branch road leading 10 Pinckton's plan.
iation when they would part. Pinckton
going home aud Athol continuing his
journey
Mrs Athol saddled a horse and fol
lowed them. intending 10 overtake her
husband after be- had left finckton
and persuade him 10 give np his jour
ney. She kept nj a distance behind
them. aud when they were about 10
part She saw Iinckton drop little
behind her husband aud drop some
thing into his coat pocket This con
frned h,l ia her opinion TINT some
wrong was intended Nevertheless
,he could nor M once follow her nus
baud without running the risk Of be-
lug seen Toy pIncsion who left the
Charleston road ~ an angle. Having
waited tin he had passed into u wood.
she started again. She was nearing
her husband when she SAW some red
coats spring from a thickei beside the
r.aH mud ,ttuie him a t,fisoupr