Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-22

wlrnout speaking ne turned the stan
over and over in his hand until the
flag was closely wrapped around It,;
then, STOPPING. he lifted 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 tingle.
Don't you dare to let any person
have it. It's the flag Of George Wash
lngton."
She gave him strong squeeze.
He pushc;i her from him with both
hands and hastily crossed himself, but
his eyes were laughing.
you ought 10 have seen me. waved
the faS at ihem-at the English-and
one young officer took off his hat to
me. Oh. Father Beret. 1t was like
what is In 81 novel. They'll get the fort,
but not the banner. not the banner!
I've saved 1t. I've saved IT."
Her enthusiasm gave splendor to
her counteuancc. heightening its riches
of color ard somehow adding to its
natural griisli expression IN audaci0us
sweetness The triumphant success of
her undertaking lent the dignity OF
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 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 j.
zon squatting behind the little swivel,
and there were Captain Helm and Lie.-
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 III blow you all to hades in Sec
ond" was nightly in hopes that
they'd come on. wanted to see
cannon bail hit that English command
er right In the face, he looked SO arrO'
CANT"
Father Bcret shook his head and
tried to look disappearing and solemn.
Meantime down ut 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 lie wanted
to handle it as the best token of his
bloodless but important victory.
81 didn't order the flag down until
after | had accepted your terms, sal
Helm, "and when my man started 10
obey we saw young lady snatch 1t
and run away with It,"
"Who was the girlT'
81 do not inform on women" said
Helm.
Hamilton smiled grimly, with
veXed look In his eyes, then turned to
Captain Farnsworth and ordered him
to bring up NJ. Roussillon, who whe.
lie appeared still had his hands tied to-
gether.
Tell me the name Of the young wo-
man who carried away the has from
the fort You saw her; you klow ey-
cry soul In this town. Who was 1t,
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 1t i'm
possible for him to give the informa-
tion demanded by Hamilton. He chok-
ed and stammered, but finally man
aged to say:
Il assure you that don't know-l
didn't loOk-I didn't see-it was too
far off for me to-I was somewhat ex-
cited-I"-
"Take him away. Keep him secure
ly bound" said Hamilton. "COnfine
him. Well see how long 1t 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 sol
dier-gruff. INSCRIPTIONS aud cruel to
degree, but 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,
which they did with apparent hearth
ness, all save NJ. Roussillon, who was
kept in close confinement and bound
like a felon, chafing lugubriously and
wearing the air Of martyr. His pris-
on was a little log pen in one corner
of the stockade, much open to the
weather, Its gaping cracks giving him
dreary view Of the frozen landscape
through which the Wabash flowed In q
proau, steer gray current. Helm, VINO
really liked him, tried In vain to pro-
cure his release, but Hamilton was In
exorable on account Of what he regard
ed as duplicity in NJ. Roussillon's con-
duct.
"No; I'll let him reflect" he said.
"There's nothing like a little tyranny
to break up bad case Of self impor.
tance. He'll soon find out that he has
overrated himself"
CHAPTER x.
u. RoUssILLoN ENTERTAINs COLONEL
HAMILTON.
n DAY or two after the arrival
~ of Hamilton the absent garri-
son of buffalo hunters strag-