The Portland daily press., 1892-08-22

into the keeping Of its stanch defender.
Then occurred an incident which proved
the determined little teacher equal to
the emergency.
It was Friday afternoon and the
school work for the week was about
over. One of the boys was istlessly
erasing the written exercises from the
blackboard, when, CHANGING to glance
through the window, he saw something
which at once made him all attention.
Two men, whom he recognized as Pete
johnson and Jack Welsh, were entering
the schoolyard. They were both noto-
rious characters and had been arrested
some months before charged with hav-
ing set fire to barn. There was not
sufficient evidence upon which to hold
them and the sheriff had reluctantly re-
leased them.
They entered the schoolyard with a
swagger, johnson carrying in his hand
an ak. The purpose of their visit flashed
through the boys mind. In an instant
he was at Miss Fenton's desk. Breath
lessly he told her what he had seen. The
color left the teachers face as she lis
tened, for johnson and Welsh were well
known as reckless and lawless men.
For a moment she felt unable to carry
out the resolution she had formed that
the flag should not be disturbed. But
it was only for moment. Quickly leav-
ing her chair she stepped to her closet
and bsought forth the rifle which she
had provided for the emergency she
must now face. An instant later she
passed through the door, closely fol-
lowed by the boy who had espied the
men. The other pupils remained in their
seats, scarcely conscious Of what was
passing.
'.roucn that nag II you darel~
Both men looked and were startled to
find themselves confronting the danger
GUS end Of gun barrel, which in the
hands of the plucly little teacher looked
cold and unsyrnpathetic. A hasty glance
was sufficient to assure johnson that he
was in an undesirable locality. His
courage might be equal to forcing an en-
trancesinto deserted school building in
the night, but it did not stand the test Of
rife in the hands of the little teacher,
who handled it as though she knew how
to use it, and he skunk toward the gate.
Welsh, however, stood his ground. He
had come there to take down the flag
and level the pole with the ground and
he hated to be thwarted. He looked
into the resolute face Of Miss Fenton,
and his eye caught the CLINT of the
cleaning barrel. He fiinched as he met
her steadfast gaze and stood irresolute.
'sLeave here at once!" ordered Miss
Fenton.
He heard the command and dared not
disregard it, He turned, and with an
attempt at defiant air moved toward
his companion, who was already skulk-
ing down the road.
Miss Fenton watched them until they
had put a considerable distance between
themselves and the flag. Her face was
pale and her agitation showed how
Trembling, she turned toward the little
school building, dazed by what had oc-
Cured during the last few minutes.
The pupils had in the meantime come
into the yard and the girls huddled
around her, while the boy who first
espied the intruders, true to the boy
nature, proceeded to take to himself the
glory of their defeat.
The news was not long in reaching
the town, where the theft of the first
flag still furnished a topic for specula-
ton.
johnson and Welsh were seen no more
in the neighborhood.
The people in Columbia Corners
found many ways in which to express
their appreciation of Miss Fenton's
worth. Her heroism had captured the
hearts of the people. She not only had
gained the confidence of the parents and
the devoted allegiance of the pupils, but
she also found herself the recipient of
various sorts Of testimonials from tho
several orders and organizations of the
neighborhood, who fell into way Of
outdoing one another in evidence of
their admiration for her courage.
The story Of her undaunted confront
ing of the rufians in the defense of the
flag travelled through the newspapers of
all the states, often given, it must be
admitted, with original variations of
coloring. But she had become hero
inc of the people,, The unique oppor-
trnity which had been thrust upon her
of doing really daring thing for the
national emblem was Of the sort that
appealed to the$ imagination, and made
for her a happy fame. But in spite of
desirable invitations to other schools
Miss Fenton remained at her humble
ueSk dG Gil0 OOTu0fS IOI IWo years.
Then the principalship of the Aurora
Literary Institute for young ladies was
pressed upon her in such terms that she
could no longer refuse to accept the
larger responsibilities.
Mr.. Williams is still a member of the
school committee of Columbia Corners,
and he never drives by the school house
without stopping to look at the stars and
stripes which are raised every morning
Of the session. If friend is with him
he always relates the story of Miss Fen
toms school flag movement and her de-
Tense of it. "And now the young ones
get out and cheer old Glory every day.
And when there is an anniversary of
anything big in the history Of the coun-
try they have to have a time over it
around the fiagpole. Columbus Day is
coming, and we're not going to be out.
done here by any school in the state.
All the folks round in the district are
going to come here and help the school
celebrate old Columbus. We've got to
get a new flag for that day, I reckon; that
one is getting to look like one Of our old
battlefags." Then he goes back to Miss
Fenton, who started it all, and after
i 1. 4.