Bridgeton pioneer., 1913-09-18
Convinced
A Wife Proved the Perfidy
of Her Husbands
Friend
BY EDITH v. ROSS

Independence, when the Swamp Fox"
RS General Francis Marion was called,
was contesting the possession Of South
Carolina with Colonel Tarleton, COM
@rander 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-
aey county of that colony one Edward
--Atnol and his wife.
Athol. though he had not been long
IN America, was not, as might have
been expected of a newcomer from
England, Tory He was disposed to
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.
DG1 since her husband took sides with
neither she desired to live peacefully
En their plantation without being dis
9urbed by the kings men or those Of
the Continental congress.
This required tact, for one day along
wouid come riders wearing the blue
and the buff and the next those wear
ling the red. Both sides expected SYM
ypaxhy il not aid from the people Of the
country they traversed and were In
orhned to be severe with those from
whom they did not get it. This placed
the Athols in an unpleasant position,
fsr IL they treated both sides as friends
they would please neither. But Mrs.
EA1hol was equal to the occasion, being
n woman Of rare diplomatic ability.
There was man living on neigh
hcring plantation whom she feared.
HE was bachelor, and his sympathies
were with the redcoats. He and Ed
ward Athol were bosom friends, and
Mrs. Athol feared that the Tory might
sGHsf her husband into trouble. One day
zine said to Athol
Adward. wish you would be care
NH OF what you say to Henry Pinckton.
Eou know he is Tory and may at any
time consider it his duty to sacrifice
his friend to his king"
That is just like a woman replied
Ehe husband. "Your sex cannot rely
ON each others friendship; consequent
4y you do not realize that men will be
true to each other
Had Athol known what his wife
Anew he would have realized the in
7sstice of this thrust. Pinckton had
hssen suitor for her hand while Athol
WAS courting her. Moreover. wom-
ANS perceptive faculties are, when un-
slNauenced, more delicate than mans
The wife knew instinctively that Pinck-
4t1n had never forgiven her husband
4sr succeeding where he had himself
faaled. Moreover, she was not sure but
lffGat the unsuccessful lover would be
ESad OF an opportunity to get rid Of
hIs friend, hoping that if she were free
he might persuade her to marry him.
One day some British troopers camp
red in the vicinity of the Athol planta-
11cn. Pinckton went to the commander
:ssnd told him that there was man in
the neighborhood who was furnishing
determination of the movements Of the
British troops to General Marion. The
"scCmmander asked if the man could be
vfzKen with documents on him to prove
1Ehsat ne was a spy. Pipckton said that
iaAs would keep a watch on the rebels
z@OFements, and If he found an oppor-
1sEnity to capture him carrying infor-
&EEation he would let the officer know.
-Pinckton went away and concocted
plan to entrap Athol. He wrote Athol
III Eerged letter from a man in Charles
bon asking Athol to meet him in that
'nown Immediately since he had i'm
4ssrtant news for him. Pinckton went
mo see Athol just as he was setting out
asn mis- journey and pretended to be
gxE0ch surprised at his going. Athol
Bid his wife goodby. and the two men
mode away together. Mrs. Athol had
: EgFiced that Pinckton acted strangely.
When Athol had said that he doubted
: III the trip were worth while Pinckton
x Nnged him to CO. With woman's quick
s insight for danger to one she loves.
Mrs. Athol suspected that her hus-
fyand's pretended friend had laid plan
'aSe get him out of the way. The two
~zz&en were to ride together on the road
-sS Charleston till they came to the
aWanch road leading to PincktOn's plan
nation when they would part, Pinckton
;Ssyz1ag home and Athol continuing his
SGarney.
AIRS Athol saddled a horse and fol-
f8RSged them, intending to overtake her
t7nlsband after he had left Pinckton
szzd persuade him to give up his jour
T@eg. She kept at a distance behind
them, and when they were about to
czazEt she saw Pinckton drop a little
asehind her husband and drop some
: Gllng into his coat pocket. This con-
SzEzzaed her in her opinion that some
wrong was intended. Nevertheless
gk6ae ecould not at once follow her hus-
hand without running the risk of be-
20g seen by Pinckton. who left the
Charleston road at an angle. Having
waited till he had passed into wood,
sdle started again. She was nearing
Aher husband when she saw some red
@saats spring from a thicket beside the
: zoad and make him prisoner.
Without wasting any time the SOL
g 4ziers took Athol to the British camp.
Mrs. Athol followed and saw her hus-
Y nrv1d 1n.7x DID ks-I~