My Lady of Doubt

ernoon, but now I saw him for a tall, slender man, somewhat swarthy of face, with black hair and moustache, and a keen eye, atti

eeping me with a supercilious glance, "but am I mi

her eyes steady. "It seems I had overlo

me, staring insolently. "The

d upon my sleeve, and her voice replied ca

what you mean. Permit me to present Captain Grant of the Queen's

ed, intensely hating t

Fortesque, of the

hand, the Captain twisting his mous

lowly. "Fortesque; not of

y. "I regret having interf

ard; a pleasant evening, sir," and he drew aside, stiffly military. Eager to lose as little as possib

" I ventured, without

kly. "But you must not quarrel with hi

g on your acco

d-and between our fathers exists a life-long friendship. I could never consent to be the c

uble," I returned, as she hesitated. "It has been my experien

n sufficiently tested already. I warn you not to presume on you

is t

ng slightly, and yet gra

prove sufficient reward

equest

entire burden of decision on

authority to dictate wh

d, and then fell

to be excused from discussing this matter further now, but-but," her voice t

against the wall where we left him, his eyes fastened moodily on the crowd; I realized his presence, yet my whole thought was concentrated on the girl, the strands of her h

ed to sa

u can never believe I would leav

will require a higher motive to influence y

ngers on my guiding hand, and kne

," she whispered. "I-I know you, Maj

ingness. She knew me, this blue-eyed girl; knew me, and sought to aid my mission, this daughter of a loyalis

we conversed lightly. We passed Grant, even as I held my breath, a

how do you know this? Sure

t means nothing how I know-the fac

stress

istress M

tain called

gether-you can scarcely

t you can

is it no

eet as the face was, greatly as it had attracted me, there was nothing to awaken a throb of memory. Surely I could never have se

ll go?" she que

mean, le

t, and you must not remain. The guard-lines are slack to-night, and you can get through, but if y

deceit, but I am bewildered at this sudden expos

ognize you just as I have. There is no mystery about it. I was in Philadelphia when the Continental troops were

ted out to

brother on the sta

rm me your family

ough annoyed at such persistent questioning. "I have a father a

are w

ble to determine whether to fi

til they fell, veiling their reve

touch of her hair on my lips, "you dissemble so charmingly as to even puzzle me.

a prisoner? I am always m

-day, and go back to report to Washington that the exchange of British commanders means the early evacuation o

ightly into mine, th

ng now, and am sure this dress is most be

scovered where I can read the truth be

height of twenty-two feet, having three large alcoves on each side. The ceiling was the segment of a circle, the sides painted a light straw color, with vine leaves and festoons of flowers, some in bright, others in dark green. More than fifty large pier-glasses extended from floor to ceiling, reflecting the glitter of the tables, while a hundred branches of three lights each, and eighteen clusters of twenty-four, illumined the immense apartment, aided by three hundred wax taper

ed for me, and Captain Grant is coming this way now. Something is wrong, I am sur

was no danger in this assemblage, not a familiar face meeting mine. At the instant Grant came up, elbowing h

sisted, "unless there be another previ

ve, smiling from his face into mine. "We were waitin

rant halted, holding her arm tightly

e a moment after I have found the l

do not keep me w

no delay. Shall we s

e appeal in the lady's face,

ere as anyw

to avoid the meeting. Studying over the situation I pushed my way through the crowd across the floor of the ball-room. There were a few people still lingering on the stairs, but, except for the servants, the parlors below were deserted. I walked the length of one of the great rooms, and halted in front of a fireplace to await Grant's coming. I was eager to have this affair settled, and be

tralto of the voice. "Don't stop to qu