Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-12-31

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She lifted it high and araued it.
'-Iney snall NOT have 1t: Ihey shall
never have it"'
He opened wide his shrewd. kindly
eyes, but did not fairly comprehend her
meaning.
She was painting, half laughing, halt
crying. Her hair, wildly disheveled,
hung in glorious masses over her shoul-
ders Her face beamed triumphantly.
"They are taking the fort" she breath.
lessly added, again urging the flag upon
him. They're going in, but I got this
and ran away with it. Hide it, father;
hide it, quick, quick. before they Gomez
The daring light in her eyes, the
witching play Of her dimples. the mad
cap air intensified by her attitude and
the excitement of the violent exercise
just ended. something compounded of
all these and more. affected the good
priest strangely. 1nvoluntarily he
crossed himself, as if against Il danger
| Gus charm.
mon Dieu. Father Berct!' she cx-
claimed, with Impotence. Haven't
you grain of sense left? Take this
flag and hide it. l tell you. Don't stay
there gazing and blinking. Hero, quick.
They saw me take it; they may be fol-
lowing me. Hurry. hide it somewhere"
He comprehended now. rising from
his knees with q queer smile broaden
ing on his face She put the banner in
to his hands and gave him gentle
push.
Hide it. toll You; hide it. you dear
old goosc!''
Without speaking he turned the staff
over and over in Ills hand until the
tag was closely wrapped around it,:
then. STOPPING. he lifted a puncheon and
with it covered the gay roll from sight.
Alice caught him in her arms and
kissed him vigorously on the cheek.
Her warm lips made the spot tiAgle.
Don't YOU dare to let any person
have it! It's the flag of George Wash
ington."
She gave him strong squeeze.
He pushed her from him with both
Aands and hastily crossed himself. but
his eyes We're laughing.
"You ought to have seen me. I waved
the flag at them-at the English-and
one young officer took off his hat to
me! Oh, Father Beret. it was like
what is in novel. They'll get the fort.
but not the banner. not the banner!
I've saved it, I've saved it!''
Her enthusiasm gave splendor to
her countenance. heightening its riches
Of color and somehow adding to its
natural girlish expression an audacious
sweetness. The triumphant success Of
her undertaking lent the dignity of
conscious power to her look. a dignity
which always sits we'll upon Il young
and somewhat immaturely beautiful
face.
Father Beret could not resist her fer
vid eloquence, and he could not run
away from her or stop up his ears
while she went on. So he had to laugh
when she said:
"Oh. if you had seen it all You would
have enjoyed it. There was Oncle ia
Zon squatting behind the little swivel.
and there were Captain Helm and Lieu
tenant Beverley holding their burning
sticks over the big cannon ready to
shoot, all Of them SO intent that they
didn't see me, and yonder came the
English officer and his army against
the three. When they got close to the
gate the officer cried out, Surrender
and then Captain Helm yelled back:
Blessed If l do! Come another step
and I'll blow youSall to hades in Sec
ond" I was nightly in hopes that
they'd come on. L wanted to see
cannon ball hit that English command
er right in the face, he looked SO AFRO
CANT"
Father Beret shook his head and
tried to look disappearing and solemn.
Meantime down at the fort Hamilton
was demanding the flag. He had seen
Alice take it down and supposed that
It was lowered officially and would be
turned over to him. Now he wanted
to handle it as the best token of his
bloodless but important victory.
II didn't order the flag down until
after had accepted your terms" said
Helm, ''and when my man started to
obey we saw young lady snatch it
and run away with /"
who was the grip
Il Do not inform On women" aid
Hdm.
Hamilton smilsd erin,y. With