The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-17
MY LADY OF DOUBT.
Continued from Page Eleven.

spurs, and lying close. He had a ORA
goon's cape Tapping from his shout
ders, but twas the boy all right. Ali
there go the guns Ut the bank. Now,
perhaps. they'll let 4-e take my nght
Ing dogs across"
The way was open for me, at least,
and swung up into the saddle, and
drove my horse down the slippery
shore into the water. The stream
was not deep, although the current
flowed swiftly. and a moment later ]
had found Maxwell.
YES" he said to my first question,
I'VE are going to fight, although II
. may not be anything mora serious
than Bkirmishing today. Washing ton
has decided IN spite Of Lee. thank
God, and we1l have a go at the Red
coats. lafayette commands the ad
vance, and Wayne will be UP within
q few hours. We are to skirmish for
ward toward Monmouth Court House;
Clinton has turned that way"
You learned that from a scout?"
Yes; he Just came through; one OF
Charles Lees men, L understood-s
blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked boy, who said
his name was Mortimer. He had rid
den from Cookstown. and was Keeling
in tbs saddle, but would go on. Your
men are over there, major, beyond the
ciump Of timber. In my Judgment
well accomplish little today, fol-
there Is a heavy storm In those clouds
yonder."
How many men will we have when
Wayne comes up?"
About four thousand, with the mi
iitiA. We are ordered to hang close
TO Clinton's left, while Morgan circles
him to the right. IT'S said the Brit
ish have transports, at Sandy Hook
and are trying to get there; that was
the word young Mortimer brought in
The bath in the water seemed to
have helped my horse, but rode slow
~ up the valley toward the wood
which served as my guide. Before
= I reached the skirmishers, great drops
of rain fell, and then a downpour, ut
terly plotting out the landscape
Lightning flashed, the thunder unre
uniting, the rain a food, water leaped
dow the side of the hill cascades
and, blinded, trew my horse back
into tho slight shelter OF the wood
and waited, gripping him by the bit
Men ran back down the hill, seeking
shelter from the fury Of it, and bent
my head, soaked to the skin. For the
first time realized how tired I was
every muscle aching with the strain
of the long nights march, my head
throbblng from the awful heat of the
early morning. I sat down in the
mud and water; my arm through the
bride rein, my head against the
trunk Of a tree, which partially pro
tected my face from the beating rain
But there was no sleep possible.
My mind pic ed the field of action
reviewed the events leading up to this
hour, and, as surely, reverted to Claire
Mortimer. / had almost forgotten
the sturdy downpour so intensely was
l thinking, when a courier came spur
ring forward, blinded by the storm
yet riding recklessly. He must nave
seen the group Of men huddled at the
edge Of the grove, for he drew up his
horse, calling my name.
Major Lawrence, come from Gen
ersl Maxwell" he shouted between
the crashes Of thunder. You are
given command OF the right of the
line, and will press on regardless Of
the storm until the enemy is met IN
force. Dragons have been seen tive
miles east. You understand, sir?"
Yes" leading forth my horse
Come on, lads, it's the top Of the
hill! What about the artillery"
I'VE may not be able to move the
guns" he answered, but you are tc
keep your powder as dry as possible
and hold Clinton to the road. Dr.
powder will be sent as soon as tbs
storT" breaks. That's all, sir"
could scarce see the fellow as hi.
horse whirled. and went splashing
down the slope. Through the mist o.
rain the men gathered about were
mere blotches.
'AI right, you water-rats, come on!
sang out cheerfully. Wen give tht
Red-coats the butts Of our guns any
how"
There was a faint cheer as tht
drenched, figures sprang forward rae
ing after me. Twice we ran up agains
small parties Of horsemen, exchanging
shots, but these fell back, leaving tn,
road clear. By dark we were at Eng
lishtown, hungry and thoroughly worI
out, and there we halted, sleeping
upon our arms. All had in my hav
ersack was a single hard biscuit
after munching which lay down upoI
the ground and fell instantly asleep.