Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-12-11
ALICE OF OLD
VINCENNES
By MAURICE THOMPSON
Copyright, 1900, by the
Bowen. MERRILL COMPANY
By MAURICE THOMPSON
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

without speaking he turned the stan
over and over in his hand until the
flag was closely wrapped around 1t:
then, STOPPING, he lifted a puncheon and
with 1t 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 Jingle.
Don't you dare to let any person
have it, It's the flag of George Wash
ington"
She gave him a strong squeeze
He pushed her from him with both
hands and hastily crossed himself, but
his eyes were laughing.
You ought to have seen me. l 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 Il splendor to
her cOuntenance, frightening its riches
of color and somehow adding to its
natural girlish expression an auda cious
sweetness. The triumphant success of
her undertaking lent the dignity of
conscious power to her look, Il dignity
which always sits well upon a young
and somewhat immaturely beautiful
face
Father Berct 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
ooh, if you had seen it all you would
have enjoyed it. There was Oncle ia
ION 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 | do, Come another step
and I'll blow you all to hades in a sec
ond" | was nightly in hopes that
they'd come on. | wanted to see n
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
1t 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
Il didn't order the flag down until
after | had accepted your terms" said
Helm, land when my man started to
obey we saw young lady snatch it
and run away with it."
"Who was the girl!
Il do not inform on women" said
Helm.
Hamilton smiled grimly, with u
veXed look in his eyes, then turned to
Captain Farnsworth and ordered him
to bring up NJ. Roussillon, who when
he appeared still had his hands tied to-
gether.
Tell me the name of the young wo-
man who carried away the flag from
the fort, You saw her; you know ev-
cry soul in this town. Who was it.,
sir?'
1t was hard question for NJ Rous-
sillon to answer Although his humili-
ating captivity had somewhat cowed
him, still his love for Alice made it i'm
possible for him to give the informa-
ton demanded by Hamilton. He chok-
ed and stammered but finally man
aged to say:
Il assure you that l don't know-I
didn't look-I didn't sect was too
far off for me to- was somewhat ex-
cited-I"-
Take him away Keep him secure
! ly bound" said Hamilton. "Confne
him. Wen see how long it will take to
refresh his mind. Well puncture the
big wind bag"
While this curt scene was passing
the flag of Great Britain rose over the
/ fort to the lusty cheering of the victo-
rious soldiers.
Hamilton treated Helm and Beverley
with extreme courtesy. He was a sol
dier-gruff, INSCRIPTIONS and cruel to
u degree, Dut he could not help admir-
ing the daring behavior of these two
officers who had wrung from him the
best terms OF surrender. He gave them
full liberty, on parole of honor not to
attempt escape or to aid in any way
an enemy against him while they were
prisoners.
Nor was it long before Helms genial
and sociable disposition won the Eng
lishman's respect and confidence to
such an extent that the two became al.
most inseparable companions, playing
cards, brewing toddies, telling stories
and even shooting deer In the woods
together, as If they had always been
the best of friends.
Hamilton did not permit his savage
allies to enter the town, and he imme-
diately required the French inhabitants
to swear allegiance to Great Britain