My Lady of Doubt   By: Randall Parrish (1858-1923)

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

Copyright A. C. McCLURG & CO. 1911

Published October, 1911

Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England

PRESS OF THE VAIL COMPANY COSHOCTON, U. S. A.

[Illustration: Claire]

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

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

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.