Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-08

Ao4o0 bEJ SeSD e0 fOCS'05 ND'OO COS~COS" ed a. point opposite Father Beret's hut, to which she then ran, the flag stream ing brayely behind her in the wind, her heart>beating time to her steps.
 It was plainly great surprise to Fa- ther Beret, who looked up from his prayer when she rushed in, making a startling chatter, the loose puncheons shaking together under her reckless feet.
 'Oh, father, here it is! Hide, it; hide I It, quickn'
 She thrust the flag toward him.
 They shall not have it! They shall never have it!'
 l He opened wide his shrewd, kindly eyes, but did not fairly comprehend her meaning.
 She was panting, half laughing, half l crying. Her hair, wildly disheveIed, hung in glorious masses over her .shoul- aers. Her face beamed triumphant1y.
 ''They are taking the fort she breath iessly added, again urging the flag upon him. @They're going in, but got this and ran away with it. Hide it, father; i hide 1t, quick, quick, before they come?' The daring light in her eyes, the ] witching play of her dimples, the mad cap air intensified by her attitude and l 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 danger Ous charm.
 ''NIon Dieu, Father Beretr' she ex- 1 claimed, with atmpadence. Haven't you grain of sense left? Take this flag and hide it, telltyou! Don't stay there gazing and blinking. Here, quick! They saw me take it; they may be fol lowing me. Hurry, hide it'somewherer'
 He comprehended now, rising from ] his knees with a queer smile broaden ] ing on his face. She put the banner in- to his hands and gave him gentle push
 ''Hidefit, tell you; hide it, you dear old goose4'
 l Without speaking he turned the staff over and over in his hand until the flag was closely wrapped around it; then, stopping, heslifted puncheonsand 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 1t! It's the flag of George Wash ington."
 She gavel1im 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- I. waved the flag at then-at the English-an6
 one young officer took off his hat tc
 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 itr'
 Her enthusiasm gave a splendor tC her countenance, heightening it's riches
 of color and somehow adding to itf
 natural girlish expression an audaciou:
 sweetness. The triumphant success o1
 her undertaking lent the dignity oi } conscious power to her look, a dignity which always sits well upon a young and somewhat immaturely beautiful face. Father Beret could not resist her fer . vid eloquence, and he could not ruI away from her or stop up his eari l while she went on. So4he had to laugl when she said:
 : "Oh, if you had seen 1t all you would have enjoyed it. There was Oncle la l zon squatting behind the little swivel and there were Captain Helm and Lieu
 tenant Beverley holding their burning ] sticks over the big cannon ready t } shoot, all of them so intent that the. : didnk zee ma, arA -Wqsaae Sssne th'