My Lady of Doubt

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My Lady of Doubt

The Project Gutenberg EBook of My Lady of Doubt, by Randall Parrish This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: My Lady of Doubt
Author: Randall Parrish
Illustrator: Alonzo Kimball
Release Date: June 20, 2006 [EBook #18633]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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MY LADY OF DOUBT
BY RANDALL PARRISH
AUTHOR OF "LOVE UNDER FIRE," "MY LADY OF THE NORTH," ETC., ETC.
WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS IN FULL COLOR BY ALONZO KIMBALL
CHICAGO A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1911
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Copyright A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1911
Published October, 1911
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England
PRESS OF THE VAIL COMPANY COSHOCTON, U. S. A.
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[Illustration: Claire]
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
A PERILOUS MISSION 9
CHAPTER II
WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES 18
CHAPTER III
THE FêTE OF THE AFTERNOON 27
CHAPTER IV
THE MISCHIANZA 38
CHAPTER V
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE 48
CHAPTER VI
THE THREAT OF SWORDS 59
CHAPTER VII
THE ONE HOPE 70
CHAPTER VIII
THE BLACKSMITH 80
CHAPTER IX
TANGLING THREADS 92
CHAPTER X
WITH MINUTE MEN 103
CHAPTER XI
THE CAPTURE OF THE WAGON TRAIN 113
CHAPTER XII
A CAPTURE 124
CHAPTER XIII
INTRODUCING PETER 134
CHAPTER XIV
I INTERVIEW PETER 144
CHAPTER XV
A NEW COMBINATION 154
CHAPTER XVI
AGAIN THE LADY 164
CHAPTER XVII
ENTOMBED 175
CHAPTER XVIII
THE REMAINS OF TRAGEDY 186
CHAPTER XIX
THE QUEEN'S RANGERS 196
CHAPTER XX
AT CROSS PURPOSES 207
CHAPTER XXI
AGAIN THE CELLAR-ROOM 219
CHAPTER XXII
THE LADY'S PLAN 230
CHAPTER XXIII
WORDS OF LOVE 241
CHAPTER XXIV
I UNCOVER CAPTAIN GRANT 250
CHAPTER XXV
BETWEEN LOVE AND DUTY 260
CHAPTER XXVI
FORCING CLINTON TO BATTLE 269
CHAPTER XXVII
THE FIGHT AT MONMOUTH 281
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE ROAD TO PHILADELPHIA 291
CHAPTER XXIX
THE ESCORT 301
CHAPTER XXX
BEFORE GENERAL ARNOLD 310
CHAPTER XXXI
I RUN ACROSS ERIC 320
CHAPTER XXXII
WE ATTAIN THE HOUSE 332
CHAPTER XXXIII
THEY SEND FOR CLAIRE 342
CHAPTER XXXIV
A THREATENED MARRIAGE 351
CHAPTER XXXV
THE FIGHT IN THE HALL 359
CHAPTER XXXVI
SEARCHING FOR CLAIRE 367
CHAPTER XXXVII
A CONFESSION OF LOVE 375
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ILLUSTRATIONS
Claire Frontispiece
"I studied the list a moment, bending down closer to the 16 nearest candle"
"You have not suspected?" she asked. "You did not know this 166 was my home?"
"Let me pass, sir! This is my father's house" 354
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MY LADY OF DOUBT
CHAPTER I
A PERILOUS MISSION
Several of us had remained rather late that evening about the cheerful fire in front of my hut,--for the nights were still chilly, although it was May, and the dreadful winter passed,--discussing the improved condition of our troops, the rigid discipline of Baron de Steuben, and speculating on what would probably be attempted now that Sir Henry Clinton had succeeded to the command of the forces opposing us. I remember Maxwell joined us, together with Knox of the artillery, each man with a different theory of campaign, but alike agreeing that, in spite of all we had endured during those months of suffering and privation at Valley Forge, the time to strike once again was near at hand, although our numbers were barely half that of the enemy.
It must have been midnight when I crept into a bunk, and, even then, found sleep absent, my eyes gazing out through the open door to where the embers of the fire glowed red, and a sentinel paced back and forth in regular monotony. Suddenly he halted, and challenged hoarsely, flinging forward his gun. There was an indistinguishable answer, and, as I straightened up, the figure of a man blotted out the doorway.
"Major Lawrence?"
"Yes. What is it?" I swung to the floor, unable to recognize the voice. The man's hand rose to salute.
"I am Colonel Gibbs' orderly. General Hamilton wishes you to report at once at headquarters."
"The Potts house?"
"Yes, sir."
I dressed hastily, my pulses throbbing with eagerness. Whatever the message meant, there was certainly some purpose of vital importance in sending for me at this unusual hour, and I was boy enough still to welcome any form of active service. No duty of the war had so tried me as the long winter of waiting. Yet, rapidly as I moved, the orderly had disappeared before I got outside, and I picked my way as best I could alone through the darkness, along the rear of McIntosh's huts, until I reached the low fence surrounding the Potts house. Here a sentinel challenged, calling the corporal of the guard, and in his company I trudged up the path to the front door. There was a light showing through a window to the left, although the shade was closely drawn, and a guard stood within the hall. At the first sound of our approach, however, a side door was flung open, letting forth a gleam of illumination, and I perceived the short, slight figure of Hamilton, as he peered forward to get a better glimpse of my face.
"All right, Corporal," he said tersely, gripping my hand. "Come in, Major; your promptness would seem to indicate a readiness to get into service