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 PEGGY OWEN
 AND LIBERTY

 _BY_ LUCY
 FOSTER
 MADISON

 AUTHOR OF

 "PEGGY OWEN"

 "PEGGY OWEN,
 PATRIOT"

 "PEGGY OWEN
 AT YORKTOWN"

 ETC.

 ILLUSTRATED BY
 H. J. PECK

 The Penn Publishing Company
 PHILADELPHIA  MCMXIII




 COPYRIGHT
 1912 BY
 THE PENN
 PUBLISHING
 COMPANY




[Illustration: "WHY, IT'S FATHER!"]




 "The motto of our father-band
  Circled the world in its embrace:
  'Twas Liberty throughout the land,
  And good to all their brother race.
  Long here--within the pilgrim's bell
  Had lingered--though it often pealed--
  Those treasured tones, that eke should tell
  Where freedom's proudest scroll was sealed!
  Here the dawn of reason broke
  On the trampled rights of man;
  And a moral era woke
  Brightest since the world began."




Introduction


In "Peggy Owen," the first book of this series, is related the story
of a little Quaker maid who lived across from the State House in
Philadelphia, and who, neutral at first on account of her religion,
became at length an active patriot. The vicissitudes and annoyances to
which she and her mother are subjected by one William Owen, an officer
in the English army and a kinsman of her father's, are also given.

"Peggy Owen, Patriot" tells of Peggy's winter at Middlebrook, in
northern New Jersey, where Washington's army is camped, her capture by
the British and enforced journey to the Carolinas, and final return
home.

"Peggy Owen at Yorktown" details how Peggy goes to Virginia to nurse a
cousin, who is wounded and a prisoner. The town is captured by the
British under Benedict Arnold, the traitor, and Peggy is led to
believe that he has induced the desertion of her friend, John
Drayton. Drayton's rescue from execution as a spy and the siege of
Yorktown follow.

In the present volume Peggy's friends rally about her when her Cousin
Clifford is in danger of capture. The exciting events of the story
show the unsettled state of the country after the surrender of
Cornwallis.




Contents


      I. A SMALL DINNER BECOMES A PARTY             11

     II. PEGGY IS SURPRISED                         26

    III. ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA                  40

     IV. THE SEARCH                                 53

      V. FRIENDS IN NEED                            69

     VI. APPEARANCES AGAINST HER                    81

    VII. DAVID OWEN IS INFORMED OF THE FACTS        94

   VIII. BEFORE THE COUNCIL                        108

     IX. OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE       120

      X. A RACE FOR LIFE                           134

     XI. THE CHOICE OF FAIRFAX                     144

    XII. "THEY MUST GO HOME"                       163

   XIII. A WOMAN'S WIT                             176

    XIV. MARCHING ORDERS                           194

     XV. THE ATTACK ON THE BLOCKHOUSE              215

    XVI. "OF WHAT WAS HE GUILTY?"                  227

   XVII. A GLIMPSE OF HOME                         244

  XVIII. HEROD OUT HERODED                         256

    XIX. THE TURN OF THE WHEEL                     272

     XX. A SLIGHT EMPHASIS OF "THAT"               285

    XXI. CHOSEN BY LOT                             303

   XXII. WHAT CAN BE DONE?                         318

  XXIII. A LITTLE HUMOR DESPITE A GRIM SITUATION   334

   XXIV. "THEE MAY TELL HIM AT THE LAST"           348

    XXV. AT HEADQUARTERS                           363

   XXVI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE GLEN                 376

  XXVII. THE SAFEGUARD OF HIS HONOR                392

 XXVIII. "HOW COULD SHE KNOW?"                     407

   XXIX. IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH                    424

    XXX. AND THEN THE END                          437




Illustrations


                                                   PAGE

 "WHY, IT'S FATHER!"                     _Frontispiece_

 "CLOSE THE DOOR"                                   47

 THE TWO GIRLS SET FORTH                            97

 A SHOWER OF BULLETS FELL ABOUT THE SLEIGH         138

 A CRY OF ANGUISH WENT UP                          221

 "WHERE IS THEE GOING?"                            268

 "I KNEEL TO YOU, SIR"                             373




Peggy Owen and Liberty




CHAPTER I

A SMALL DINNER BECOMES A PARTY

 "At Delaware's broad stream, the view begin
  Where jutting wharfs, food-freighted boats take in;
  Then, with the advancing sun direct your eye
  Wide opes the street with firm brick buildings high;
  Step, gently rising, over the pebbly way,
  And see the shops their tempting wares display."

                    --_"Description of Philadelphia," Breitnal, 1729._


It was the first of March, 1782, and over the city of Philadelphia a
severe storm was raging. A stiff wind, that lashed the black waters of
the Delaware into sullen fury and sent the snow whirling and eddying
before it, blew savagely from the northeast. The snow, which had begun
falling the day before, had continued all night with such rigorous,
relentless persistence that by the noon hour the whole city was
sheeted with a soft white blanket that spread abroad a solemn
stillness. The rolling wheels of the few vehicles in the streets were
noiseless, and the sharp ring and clatter of horses' hoofs became a
dull muffled tramp. High up overhead the snow settled on the church
spires, clothing them in a garb of pure cold white, and drifted among
the niches of the State House Tower, until the face of the great clock
was hidden, and could scarce be told for what it was.

Just across from the State House, in the midst of extensive grounds,
stood a large double brick house which was taking its share of the
storm. There were piles of snow on the steps and broad piazzas, huge
drifts against the fences, and great banks on the terraces of the
gardens. The wind lashed the lithe limbs of the leafless trees of the
orchard, shrieked through the sooty caverns of the wide chimneys,
whistled merrily as it drove the snow against the windows, and rattled
the casements with howls of glee as it went whirling by.

Storm-bound the mansion seemed, but its cold and wintry appearance was
wholly on the outside, for within its walls there was no lack of
cheerfulness and warmth. Great fires blazed on every hearth and puffed
clouds of smoke through the broad chimneys, in defiance of the wind
which strove there for the mastery. Between the heavy gusts of wind
came gleeful bursts of laughter from the sitting-room as though the
inmates were too happy to heed the driving storm without, and from the
kitchen arose savory odors that spoke of tempting preparations for a
bounteous meal, which further enhanced the air of geniality that
pervaded the dwelling.

In this latter apartment were two persons: one, a serene faced woman
of middle age who was busily engaged at the kneading board; the other,
a slender maiden well covered by a huge apron and with sleeves rolled
back, stood before a deal table reducing loaf sugar to usable shape.
They were Mistress David Owen and her daughter Peggy.

"How it blows!" exclaimed the girl, looking up from her task as a
sudden gust of wind flung the outside door wide, and sent the snow
scurrying across the sanded floor of the kitchen. "What shall be done
anent that door, mother?"

"Tell Sukey to bring a large stick of wood and put against it,"
returned the lady. "Then look to the oven, Peggy. 'Tis hard to get a
clear fire with so much wind."

"I do believe that everything is going to be done to a turn in spite
of it," remarked Peggy, a little frown of anxiety which had puckered
her brow disappearing as she glanced into the great oven.

"Then as soon as thou hast set the table the dinner will be ready to
take up. I make no doubt but that thy friends are hungry. And what a
time they seem to be having," Mrs. Owen added as a merry peal of
laughter came from the sitting-room.

"Are they not?" Peggy smiled in sympathy. "I am so glad they came
yesterday. I fear me that they could not have reached here to-day in
this dreadful storm. 'Tis too bad to have such weather now when 'tis
Robert's first home leave in three years."

"Methinks that 'twould better come when one is on a furlough than in
camp," remarked her mother gravely. "It must be terrible for the
soldiers who lack so much to keep them comfortable."

"True," assented the girl soberly. "Would that the war were at an end,
and the peace we long for had come in very truth."

"And so do we all, my daughter. 'Tis weary waiting, but we must of
necessity possess ourselves with patience. But there! let not the
thought of it sadden thee to-day. 'Tis long since thou hast had thy
friends together. Enjoy the present, for we know not what the morrow
may bring. And now----"

"Set the table," added Peggy with a laugh, as she rolled down her
sleeves. "And don't thee dally too long talking