El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-21

T may be questioned whether 1t is
proper to include the love story of
4 Benedict Arnold among those Of
famous Americans. There was a time
when Arnold was famous. 1t was not
Tor long. Then he took the cloak of in
fanny and history ranks him second
only to Judas. Today, but for his love
of a woman. he might be included
among the great and glorious figures
of the war of Independence.
A pretty face and graceful form
always had powerful attraction for
Benedict Arnold Better men than he
have been known to have had the same
weakness. He was vain and master
full. I Women admired him and rat
tered him. There was a reason Tor TINS
admiration. He was handsome, gen
erous and when in the company Oh
those whs were cOngeniab a dehgnI-
ful companion. There was about MN,
too, the glamOr Of force AS Sol
der he had a spark of genius Fny-
sically, he was the oraYesJ OF the
brave.
Picture him then one day as he ap-
peared in June in 1873 when at the
head of the American army ne en-
tered the city of Philadelphia He was
So The nation rang with his praise.
At Saratoga less than a year before
ne had won, under the most dramatic
conditions, battle that Cressy classes
among the Is decisive engagements OF
the world. FlOuted, 1nsulUed ana re
lieved of his command by the lncOIn-
petent Gates. he had been unable TO
sit idly by while the batue rageu.
Jumping on his horses back ne hao
raced to where the fighting was nero
est. The Americans were giving way.
be rallied first one regiment ana Lnen
another. His presence was an 1nSplra-
ton The tide turned with ms coming
senger. sent by Gates to arrest Arnold,
Overtake him. The messenger found
Arnold desperately wounded snol
through the same leg in which the
British had crippled him IN the VaIor-
Gus assault at Quebec.
Pretty Peggy shipper.
Arnold loved applause. He got plenty
of it that day in June, 177S, IN Phlla-
delpbia town. The crutch and the cane
he had TO use to get about only added
to his distinction. The people were
only too happy to do honor to him
There was great banquet that night
and there Arnold met Margaret Ship
pen. For the remainder OF that even
ing he had eyes only for Pretty Peggy.
OF all the girls Of Philadelphia in
that day there was none TO compare
with Peggy Shipper Her father, Ed
ward Shipper, was one Of the rich
men Of a city noted for the beauty Of
its women. She was just IS. To Ar
mold, who for more than three years
had known all the hardships of war,
she was a revelation. She was brilliant
in conversation, had q complexion that
was wonderful, and her manner with
men was rOguish and tantalizing. Ar
mold fell in love with her at first
sight She may have loved him later
Certainly she did not love him at first
A man Of IS, no matter how dis
tinguished, is not the one to strike at
sight the spark of love in a maid Of
is, especially if that maid is at heart
a Bit of a flirt, and has rather tender
I'd rafr
man Girls Of is think men OF 50 are
old, and they may respect but they
are likely to balk at lovers who are
lame
Poor Peggy Whatever her feelings
toward Arnold then, it was necessary
that she should not offend him He
had been appointed military governor
Of Philadelphia, and the Shippens, who
had been open sympathizers with the
British, would be saved from such en-
barrassment if they had his friend
ship. The home of the Shippens had
been the meeting point Of all the
bright and gay young officers during