Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-05-11

Colonel, said one of the men, respectfully.
81 doubt it not, replied the commander of
the Point; 81 believe you are all faithful aud
true men, or you would not have been select
ed by the agent of Colonel Bertrand. for tax
ing down more precious freight than you ever
carried before but still, the wisest and the
best OF men have lost their lives by giving ear
to the most earnest appeals of humanity.
lou understand what l meant White men,
apparently in the greatest distress, will hail
your boat, represent themselves as having Just
escaped from the Indians. and beg of you, for
the love of God, in the most piteous tones to
come to their relief. But turn a deaf car to
them-to each and all of them-even should
you know the pleaders to be of your own
kin for in such q case your own brother
might deceive you-not wilfully and Volunta-
rIly, perhaps, but because OF being goaded on
by the savages, themselves concealed. Yes,
such things have been known as one friend
being thus used to lure another to his de-
struction. And so be cautious, vigilant,
brave. and true, and may the good God keep
you all from harm !"
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceeded
to take an sffeetionate leave of all, receiving
many tender message for her parents from
those who held them in love and veneration
and the boat swung out, and began TO float
down With the current, now fairly entered
upon the most dangerous portion of long
and perilous journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip
Bertrand, was native of Virginia, and a
descendant of one Of the Huguenot refugees,
fed from their native land after the revoca-
ton of the edict of Nantz in 1865. He had
been an officer of some note during the Rev
olutlon-a warm political and personal friend
of the author of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence-and a gentleman who had always
stood high in the esteem of his associates and
contemporaries.
Though at one time man of wealth Colo
mel Bertrand had lost much, and suffered
much, through British invasion and when,
shortly after the close of the war, he had met
with few more serious reverses, he had been
fam to accept grant of land, near the Falls OF
Ohio, now Louisville, rendered him by Vir-
giria. which then held jurisdiction over the
entire territory now constituting the State of
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his new possessions and building up
a new home in the then Far West, and as his
wife had insisted upon accompanying him OH
his first tour, he had assented to her desire,
on condition that Blanche should be left
among her friends, till such time as a place
gree be considered Dit abode tor one so care.
fully and tenderly reared
Blanche would gladly have gone with her
parents but on this point her father had been
MISUNDERSTANDING that she would have to
remain at the East till he should see proper to
send Tor her. and as he was man of positive
character, and rigid dsciplinarian, the matter
had been settled without an argument.
When Col. Bertrand removed to the West.
Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen, accompa
MED h'm and coming of age shortly after,
ne had accepted the liberal offer OF his noble
oeneiac'or' 10 remain with him IN the eapa-
Guy Oh private secretary and CONFIDENTIAL
agent Oh taxing possession OF his grant,
the Colohel hau almost immediately erected a
lott, ana ohered SUCH inducements to settlers
as 10 specify collect around hun quite little
colamuhity-ol when, as matter OF course
ne became the mead and chief; and to supply
me wants OF his own family and others, and
increase his gains in legitimate way, he had
opened store, and hlled 1t with goods IRON
the Eastern marts' which goods were trans
ported oy land over the mountains to the ka-
hawha, ana thence oy water to the Falls OF
the ONO, whence their removal to Fort Ber-
rsno became an easy matter. 10 purchase
ana snip these goods, and deliver package
Of letters 90 lrlehos III the East. Eugene had
oeeh thrice olspaIcheo-hls thlrd commission
also extending 70 the escorung OF the oeaut-
iul heiress, win her servants to her new
nome ms last commission mad been SO far
e1ecu'eu al the tlme CHOSEN ior the opening
u our storSi as W orlhS me olueIent parties
70 the mouth OF the Great hanawha, whence
the ieauer mas seen them slowly noatlng on
upon the stlii, CLASSY bosom OF =" the belle OF
IiNeIS.
The day, which was an auspicious one,
passed without anything occurring worthy Of
note, until near four o. clock when, as Blanche
was standing on the fore part of the deck
gazing at the lovely scene which surrounded
her, she saw seemingly flying body sud
denly leave limb of gigantic tree, (whose
mighty branches extended far over the river,
and near which the boat was then swayed by
the action of the current) and aight with
crash upon the deck of the boat, net more
than eight feet from her. One glance sufficed
to show her what the object was, and to
freeze the blood in her veins. The glowing
eyes of a huge panther met her gaze. The
suddenness OF the shock which this discovery
gave her was overpowering. With deafen-
ing shrek she fell upon her knees and casped
her hands before her breast The panther
crouched for his deadly leap. but ere ne
sprang. the hunting knife of Eugene Fair
fax (who, with the steersman, was the only
person on deck besides Blanchs) was buried
to the hilt in his side. lnhlcting severe but
not fatal wound. The infunated beast at
once turued upon Eugene, and deadly strug-
gle ensued But it was a short one. The
polished blade OF the knife PLAYED back and
forth like lightning flashes, and at every
plunge it was burned to Inc hilt in the pam