Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-03-04

was more fiery condensation of self
approval than anger.
Outside the shouting, singing and
huzzas gathered strength and vol
ume until the sound became a hoarse
roar. Clark was uneasy. He had over.
heard much of threatening character
during the siege The creoles were, he
knew, justly eXasperated and even his
own men had been showing a spirit
which might easily be famed into a
dangerous flame of vengeance. He
was very anxious to have the formal
ties of taking possession of the fort
over with, so that he could the better
control his forces. Sending for Bever-
ley, he assigned him to the duty Of
hauling down the British flag and run
ming up that of Virginia. 1t was an
honor of no doubtful sort, which under
different circumstances would have
made the lieutenant's heart glow. AS
it was he proceeded without any sense
of pride or pleasure, moving as a mere
machine in performing an act signifi.
cant beyond any other done west OF
the mountains in the great struggle
for American independence and the
control Of American territory.
Hamilton stood little way from the
foot of the tall fiagpole, his arms fold
ed on his breast, his chin slightly
drawn in, his brows contracted, gaz
ing steadily at Beverley while he was
untying the halyard, which had been
wound around the poles base about
three feet above the ground. The
American troops in the fort were dis.
posed so as to form three sides of q
hollow square, facing inward. Oncle
taZon, serving as the ornamental eX.
IRENE of one line, was conspicuous fol
his outlandish garb and unmilitary
bearing The silence inside the stock.
ade offered a strong contrast to the
tremendous roar of voices outside
Clark made a signal. and at the tap OF
a drum Beverley shook the ropes loose
and began to lower the British colors
Slowly the bright emblem of earth's
mightiest nation crept down in token
of the fact that handful of back.
woodsmen had won an empire by a
splendid stroke of pure heroism. Bev-
erley detached the flag and, saluting,
handed it to Colonel Clark Hamil-
tons breast heaved and his iron jaws
frightened their pressure until the lines
of his cheeks were deep burrows of
pain.
Just then there was birdlike move
ment, winglike rustic, and a light fig
ure fitted swiftly across the area. All
eyes were turned upon it. Hamilton
recoiled, as pale as death, half lifting
his hands as if to ward off deadly
blow, and then a gay flag was flung
out over his head. He saw before
him the girl he had shot but her beau
tiful face was not waXen now, nor was
it cold or lifeless. The rich red blood
was strong under the Drowned yet del
icate skin, the eyes were bright and
brave, the cherry lips, slightly apart,
gave a glimpse of pearl white teeth,
and the dimples-those roguish dimples
-twinkled sweetly.
Colonel Clark looked on in amaze
ment and in spite Of himself in ad-
miration He did not understand. The
but his virile nature was instantly and
wholly charmed. Something like q
breath of violets shook the tenderest
chords of his heart.
Alice stood firmly. statue of tri-
unlph, her right arm outstretched,
holding the flag high above Hamilton
head, and close by her side the little
hunchback Jean was posed in his most
characteristic attitude, gazing at the
banner which he himself had stolen
and kept hidden for Alice's sake and
because he loved it.
There was q dead silence for some
moments. during which Hamilton
LAPSE Then the keen voice Of Oncle
Jazon broke forth:
"Nive ZhorZh Nasinton. Nive In ban
Mere d'Alice Roussillon."
He sprang to the middle of the area
and flung his old cap high in air, with q
shrill war whoOp.
Hist it, hist it. Hissez Ia banniert
de Mile. Alice ROussillon. VOLTA. que
c'est glorieuse, cette banniere Ia! His
ii, h lSt It!
He was dancing with rickety live
Illness. his goatish legs and shrlvclet
body giving him the look of an enact
atcd satyr.
Clark had been told by some of hi
creole officers the story Of low Alic,
raised tho flag when Helm took III,
fort and how she snatchcd it from
IIamiliOn's hand. rs it were and woul,
not give it w when lie demanded ii
Tie whole situation pretty soon bcgal
to explain Itself. rs lie saw what Alic
was doing. Then lie heard her say t
Hamilton while she slowly swayed Il!
ripping tag back and forth:
! Il said as you will remember, NJ.
Gouverneur, that when you next shout
see this flag | should wave it over you
head. Well. look. l am waving i
Nive In republique! Nive Georg
q