The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-12
THE PERILs OF TIE BORDER.


ton, in which a highly accomplished young lady the
daughter OF distinguished officer of the American army
prayed an important part. The story being of a most
lhrling nature and exhibiting in striking manner the
feris oil the Border we have concluded give an ex-
tract from it, as originally published, as follows:
formed by its junction with the Ohio, is called Point Pleas
ant and is place of historical Here on the 10th of
Octooer IVA during what is known Lord Dunmore's
war was fought one of the ercest most desperate
battles that ever took place between the virginans and
After the battle in question: which the Indians were
defeated with great loss here erected bv the
out the sangunary strife which almost immrJ
ately followed and which in section of the
were continued for after that Of
peace which acknowledged the United Colonies America
free and Independent nation.
At the landing of the fort the day our story opens
was fastened taboat of the kind used by the early
| igators of the Western rivers. '
Upon the deck this boat at the moment we present
the scene to the reader stood five individuals alike en-
gagged in watching group of persons, mostly females
who were slowly approaching the landing these five
one was stout, sleek negro, in partial livery evil
IDENTIFY house body servant three boatmen and
borerers, indicated by their rough bronzed visages
and attire but the fifth was young man. some two
and twenty years of age, of fine commanding person
and clear, open, intelligent countenance: and in the
lofty carriage of his head i'm the CLEAN of his large
bright, hazel eyethere something which denoted one
otsuperor mnd but shall have the course
OF our narrative to fully set forth who and what Eugene
Fairfax will leave him for the present. and turn to
approaching group whom he seemed to be regarding
| with lively interest.
females with black female following some five
or six PAGES in the there the most cas-
ual eye would have singled out and rested upon with
pressure The lady in question, was apparently about
twenty years OF age of slender and graceful figure and
OF that peculiar cast of feature, which, besides being
beautiful in every li2eament rarely affect the be-
holder with something like charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown habit high in the
neck buttoned closely over the bosom and coming
to her small pretty feet, without trailing ground
was both neat and becoming and with her riding cap and
It's waving ostrich plume set gay above her flowing curls
her appearance contraSted orcbly with the rough un
polished looks of those of her beside her with their
nsey bedgowns scarlet flannel pettcoats and bleached
linen caps
"Oh Blanche said of the more venerable of her
female companions, pursuing a conversation which had
been maintained since quitting the open them
Il cannot bear to let go for it just if
something were going to happen to you, and when feel
that way, something generally does happen
Well, aunt, returned Blanche, with light laugh 81
do not doubt in the least that something will happen
for expect of these days to reach father
blessed mother and give them such embrace as is due
from duful daughter to her parcnts-and that will be
something that has not happened for two long years at
least"
But don't mean that, Blanche returned the other
somewhat petulantly 'and just laugh like gay and
thouSheSS girl when you ought to be serious Because
you have safe thus far, through partially settled
country you think perhaps, your own pretty face will
ward oil danger in the more perilous wderness-but
warn you that fearful journey is before you! Scarcely
boat descends the Ohio that does more or
less peru from the savaGes that prow along either shore
and some of them that go down freghted with human
life are heard of no more and tell
tale.n
But why repeat this to me, dear aunt" returned
Blanche, with more serious air when you know is
destiny, either good bad attempt the yoyare9
My parents have sent for join them in their new
home and it is my duty to go to them, be the peril what
1t may
You never did know what it fear" pursued the
good woman rather proudly 'No," she repeated turn
ing to the others, Banche Bertrand never did know what
it was to fear believe"
"Just like her father,' Joined in the husband of the
matron the brother of Bancla's mother, commander
of the station and the mddeaged gentleman mentioned
as one of the party "a true daughter of soldier
Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand, God him for
h,prt
and Blanche is just like him"
By this time The parties had reached the boat and the
young man already deScribed-Eugene Fairfax secre-
tary Of Blanche aher-at stepped forward and in
polite and deerentia manner, offered his hand the
fcrent females, to assist them board TIE hand of
Banche was the last to touch hsand then but slightly
as she sprung quickly and lightly to the deckbut
observer might have detected the slight flush which man
tied his noble expressive features his eye for single
instant met hers. She might herself have i-per
maps se u-put tere was no corresponding glow on her
own Drght pretty ace as she inquired in the calm dig
nied tone of one having the right put question
and who might also have been aware of the inequality OF
position between herself and him she addressed:
Eugene is everything prepared for departure0 1t
will not do for boat to spring leak again it did
coming down the hanawha-for 1t will not be safe for us,
am told to touch either shore between the different
and trading posts route this side
tion,-the Falls of the OhO.'
"No indeed rejOned her aunt quickly; will be as
much as your lives worth to foot from the
man current of the oo-or news reached us only the
other day that boats had been attacked this SPRING
and several lost, with all on board
one feels more concerned about the safe passage
Miss Bertrand than myself replied Eugene in deeren-
tia tone; land since arrival here have left nothing
undone that thought might possibly add to her security
and comfort'
That is true, to my personal knowledge joined in the
uncle OF Blanche land thank you Mr.. Fairfax, i'll be
half of my fair knswoman. There WILL perhaps, he pur
sued be great danger long You keep in the
rent but watch must not be neglected for single
moment either night day and do not solemnly
charge and warn you under any circumstances any
pretece whatsoever suffer yourselves to be decoyed Ell
ther shore"
81 hope understand our duty better Colonel - said
of the men, respectfully.
II doubt it not, replied the commander of the Point;
Il believe are all faithful and true you would
not have been selected by the agent of Colonel Bertrand
for taking down precious freight than you
ried before but still the wses and the best men have
lost their lives by giving to the most appeals
of humanity. You understand what mean? White
men apparently in the greatest distress will hail your boat
represent themselves having escaped from the In
dans and beg Of for the love of God in the pit
tones to to their relief but turn deaf
themto each and all of them-even should you know the
peaders to he of your kin; for in such your
own brother might deceive you-not wfully and voun-
tarily perhaps-bu because of being goaed by the
savages, themselves concealed Yes such things have
been known as one friend being thus useo lure another to
his destruction; and be cautious vigant brave
true and may the good God keep you all from harm'
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceeded to take
aection3e leave Of ALL receiving many tender message
for her parents from those who held them in love and
Grafton; and the boat out and began to float down
with the current fairly entered upon the dan
gerous portion of long and perious journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip Bertrand
native of Virginia, and descendant of of the Iugue
refugees, who fed from their native land after the
revocation of the eict of NantZ in 1868 He had been
EeVOlutIOn-a
political and personal friend of the author of the Decar
tion of Independenceand gentleman who had always
stood high in the esteem of his associates and contem
pOraries
Though at time a of wealth. Colonel Bertrand
had lost much and suffered much, through British
son and when, shortly after the close of the he had
met with few serious reyerses he had been to
accept grant of land, the Falls of the Ohio,
Louisville rendered him by Virginia, which then held
jurisdiction the entire territory constituting the
State of Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon seeking his new
n FAR
West, and his wife had insisted up'n accompanying
him on his first tour he had assened to her desire on
condition that Blanche should he among friends
till such time as place could be prepared which might in
some degree be considered fit abode for
fully and tenderly reared.
Blanche would gladly gone with her parents;
this point her father had been MISUNDERSTANDING
that she would have to remain at the East till he
proper to send for her and as he Of positive
character and rigid discplinarian the had been
settled without argument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed the West, Eugene
Fairfax, have seem accompanied him: and coming
ofage shortly after he had accepted the liberal offer of
his noble beneiactor TO remain with him in the capacity
of private secretary and confidential agent On taking
possession of his grant, the Colonel had almost i'm
mediatey erected fort, and offered such in
ducements TO settlers to speedily collect
around him quite little communy-of which,
matter of course he became the head ana chief
ply the wants of his family and Others and increase
his gains in legitimate he had opened store and
filled with goods Eastern marts which goods
transported by land the mountains to the Kama
wha and thence by water to the Falls Of the Ohio whence
their removal to Fort Bertrand became an easy matter
To purchase and ship these goods deliver package of
letters friends in the East Eugene had been thrice dis
pate led-his third commission also extending the es
cOrtng the beautiful heress with her servants to her
home. This last commission had been far execu-
ted at the time chosen for the opening of story, to
bring the different parties the mouth of great Kama
wha whence the reader has them slowly floating of
upon the still CLASSY bosom of the belle of rivers"
The day, which auspicious one passed without
anything occurring worthy of note until four O'Clock
when, Blanche standing the fore part of the
deck gazing at the lovely which surrounded her she
seemingly flying body suddenly leave the limb of
gigantic tree (whOe mighty branches extended far over
the river, and which the was then swayed by
the action Of the current) and aght with crash upon
the deck of the boat not than eight her
One glance suced to show her what the object was and
to freeze the blood in her veins The glowing eyes of
huge panther met her gaze. The suddenness of the
shock which this discovery gave her overpowering-
With deaenng shrek she fell npon her and clasp
ed her hands before her breast The panther crouched for
1aallV hut he he