The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-24


life: but she understood and perfectly
appreciated the situation.
What are YOU going to do?" Bever-
ley demanded in sheer despair. He was
not able to see any CLEAN of hope out
of the blackness which had fallen
around him and into his soul.
what shall we dor he repeated
Take the chances of war" she said.
smiling graYely. 1T win all come out
well. no doubt"
I hope SO. but-but I fear not"
His. face was gray with trouble
Helm is determined to fight, and that
means -
Good" she interrupted with spirit.
4 am so glad OF that. l wish / could
go to help him, If / were a man I'd
love to fight think it's just delight
full
But it is reckless bravado: it is
worse than foolishness, said Beverley.
not feeling her mood. What can two
or three men do against an army?"
Flight and die like men" she replied,
her whole countenanee lighting up BE
heroicl''
I'VE will do that, Of course; wei do
not fear death; but you-you"- His
voice choked him.
A gaE shot rang out clear in the dis
lance. and he did not finish speaking
AAdt ) Probably the DSSiillllASr NJ
added in a moment, extending both
hands to her. Goodbye. l must hurry
to the fort. Good bye"
She drew q quick breath and turned
SO white that her look struck him like
a sudden and hard blow. He stood for
moment. his arms at full reach, then:
My God. Alice. ] cannot. cannot
leave you,' he cried, his voice again
breaking huskily-
She made little movement. as II to
take hold of his hands; but in an in
slant she stepped back pace and said:
Don't fear about me. l can take
care of myself. I'm all right. You'd
better return to the fort as quickly as
you can. 1t is your country, your flag,
not me, that you must think of now"
She folded her arms and stood boldly
erect.
Never before in all his life. had he
felt such a rebuke. He gave her a
straight, strong look IN the eyes.
You are right, Alice he cried, and
rushed from the house to the fort.
She held her rigid attitude for lit
tie while after she heard him shut the
front gate of the yard so forcibly that
it broke in pieces. then she flung her
arms wide, as if to clasp something.
and ran TO the door; but Beverley was
out of sight. She turned and dropped
into a chair. Jean came to her out of
the next room His queer little face
was pale and pinched; but his jaw was
set with the expression of one who has
known danger and can meet it some
how.
Are they going to scalp us?" he half
whispered presently. with a shudder-
ing lift of his distorted shoulders.
Her face was buried in her hands
and she did not answer. Childlike he
turned from one question to another in
consequently
Where did Papa RoussilIon go tor"
he next inquired. rs he going tC
fight?"
She shook her head
They'll tear down the fort, won't
they?''
If she heard him she did not make
any sign.
They'll kill the captain and lieuteh-
ant and get the fine flag that you SET
so high on the fort, won't they. Alice?'
She lifted her head and gave the COW
ering hunchback such a stare that he
shut his eyes and put up a hand. as il
afraid Of her. Then she impulsively
took his little misshapen form in hel
arms and Rugged it passionately. Her
| bright hair fell all over him. almost
hiding him. Madame Roussillon was
lying on bed in an adjoining room
moaning diligently, at intervals han
ding her rosary and repeating a prayer
The whole tow was silent outside.
Why don't you get the pretty fiag
down and hide it before they come? -
Jean murmured from within the siIkeu
meshes of Alice's hair.
In his small mind the gaudy banner
was the most beautiful of all things
Every day since it was set UP he had
gone to gaze at it as it fiuttered against
the sky The men had frequently said
in his presence that the enemy would
take II down if they captured the fort
Alice heard his inquisitive voice; but
1t seemed to come from far off; his
words were part Of the strange wild
swirl in her bosom. Reverley's look. as
he turned and left her. now shook every
, chord Of her being He had gone to his
death at her command. How strone
and true and brave he was, In her i'm
agination she saw the flag above him
I saw him die like a panther at bav. saw
! the gay rag snatched down and tori
to shreds by savage hands. It was the
tragedy of single moment. enacted II
! fiaShlight of anticipation
She released Jean so suddenly that he
( fell 10 the floor. She remembered what
she had said to Beverley on the nigh
Of the dance when they were STANDING
under the flag.
You made it and set it up" he light
ly remarked: you must see that NJ
enemy ever gets possession of it, es-
! pecially the English"
IN take ii down and hide il wher
! there's danger of that she said in the
! same spirit
And now she stood there looking Al
Jean. without seeing him. and reneat.
ed the words under her breath.
II take Il down and hide it. They
shan't have it,
Madame RoussilIon began TO cal
from the other room in a loud. com.
( planning voice; bat alice gave no heef
/ to her querulous demands.
stay here. Jean. and take care o.
! Mamma ROussillon," she presently
said to the hunchback I am goins
I out; III be back soon: don't Won dare
leave the house while I'm gone; dc
/ you hear?'
She did not wait for his answer. bur
snatching hood-like fur cap from Z
peg on the wall. she put IL on anr
hastily left the house.
Down at the fort Helm and BeverIey
We're making ready to resist Hannji
/ tons attack, which they knew woull
not be long deferred. The two heaviI,
J charged cannon were planted so as L
/ cover the space in front Of the gat
/ and some loaded muskets were range
J nearby ready for use
/ We'll give them one he'll of a blast.
I growled the captain. before the,
| overpower us
Beverley made no response in words
! but he was preparing a bit of tinde
/ on the end of a stick with which I,
( fire the cannon. Not far away a Iittl.
heap OF logs was burning in the fort.