The Republican journal., 1896-08-06

Quickly leaving her chair she stepped to
her closet and brought forth the rifle
which she had provided for the emergen-
cy 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.
''Touch that flag if you darer'
Both men looked, and were startled to
find themselves confronting the dangerous
end of a gun BARREL which in the hands
of the plucky little teacher looked cold
and unsympathetic. A hasty glance was
sufficient to assure johnson that he was
in an undesirable locality. His courage
might be equal to forcing an entrance into
deserted school building in the night,
but it did not stand the test of rifle 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 bar
rel. He t1inched as he met her steadfast
leave here at once ordered Miss
Fenton.
He heard the command and dared not
disregard it. He turned, and with an at
tempt at defiant air moved toward his
companion, who was already skulking
down the road.
Miss Fenton watched them until they
had put considerable distance between
themselves and the flag Her face was
pale, and her agitation showed how great
had been the strain upon her. Trembling,
she TUNED toward the little school build
ing, dazed by what had occurred 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, pro-
ceeded 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 topic for speculation.
johnson and Welsh were seen no more
in the neighborhood.
The people in Columbia Corners found
many ways in which to express their ap-
probation of Miss Fenton's worth. Her
heroism had captured the hearts of the
people. She not only had gained the con-
tdence OF the parents and the devoted al
legiance of the pupils, but she also found
herself the recipient of various sorts of
testimonials from the several orders and
organizations of the neighborhood, who
fell into way of outdoing one another in
evidence of their admiration for her cour-
age.
The story of her undaunted confronting
of hn ruff no Iofo IL. a
travelled through the newspapers of all
the States, often given, it must be admit
ted, with original variations of coloring,
But she had become a heroine of the peo-
pie. The unique opportunity which had
been thrust upon her of doing really
daring thing for the national emblem was
of sort that appealed to the Imagination,
and made for her happy fame. But in
spite of desirable invitations to other
schools Miss Fenton remained at her
humble desk at the Corners for two years.
Then the principalship of the Aurora Lit
erary Institute for young ladies was press
ed upon her in such terms that she could
no longer refuse to accept the larger re-
sponsibilities.
Mr. Williams is still member of the
school committee of Columbia Corners.
and he never drives by the schoolhouse
without stopping to look at the Stars and
Stripes, which are raised every morning
OF the session. If a friend is with him he
always relates the story of Miss Fenton's
school flag movement and her defence of
IT. And now the young ones get out and
cheer Old Glory every day. And when
there : an anniversary of anything bio in
the history OF the country they have to
have time over it around the tiagpole.
Columbus Day is coming, and we are not
going to be outdone here by any school in
the State. All the folks round in the
district are coming here and help the
school celebrate old Columbus. We've
got to get new flag for that day, l Yeck-
on; that one is getting to look like one of
our old battle flags Then he goes back
to Miss Fenton, who started it all. and
after WILDLY describing how the mild
looking teacher baked the two rufians,
usually winds up by remarking, ''You re-
member Josh Billings says you can't al
ways tell how far toad'll Jump by look
ing at him. Selected