The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-05-20

vote secretary and confidential AGENT
On taking possession of his grant, the /
Colonel had almost Immediately erected /
a fort, and offered such Inducements to
settlers as to speedily collect around .
him quite little community-Of which. /
as a matter Of course, he became the |
head and chief and TO supply the wants .
of his own family and others, and In /
crease his gains in a legitimate way, he
had opened q store, aud filed it with |
goods from the Eastern marts, which /
goods were transported By land over the
mountains TO the kanaWha, 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, and deliver a
package Of letters to friends in the East,
Eugene had been thrice despatched
his third commission also extending TO
the escorting Of the beautiful heiress
with her servants, to her new home
This last commission had been so lar
executed at the time chosen for the
opening Of our story, as to bring the
different parties TO the mouth Of The
Great Kanawha, whence the reader has
seen them slowly floating off upon the.
still, CLASSY bosom of "the belle of riv-
ers.
The day, which was an auspicious one,
passed without anything occurring
worthy Of note, until near four o'clock,
wben as Blanche was standing on the
fore part of the deck gazing at the
lovely scene which surrounded her, she
saw a seemingly flying body suddenly
leave limb Of q 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 alight with a crash upon the deck
of the boat, not more than eight feet
from her. One glance suficed 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 a dealening shrek she fell upon
her knees and Clasped her hands before
her breast, The panther crouched for
his deadly leap, but ere he sprang, the
hunting-knife OF Eugene Fairfax (who,
with the steersmau, was the only person
on deck besides Blanche) was buried to
the hilt in his side inficting a severe
but not fatal wound. The infuriated
beast at once turned upon Eugene, and
a deadly struggle ensued But it was q
short one. The polished blade Of the
knife played back and forth like light.
ming flashes, and at every plunge it was
buried to the hilt in the panther's body
who soon fell to the deck, dragging tho
dauntless Eugene with him. On seeing
her protector fall, Blanche uttered an.
other shrek and rushed to his aid; but
assistance from stoutcr arms was al
hand, The boatmen gathered round
and the savage monster was literally
hacked to pieces with their knives anl
hatchets, and Eugene, covered witt
blood, was dragged from under his car
cass Supposing him to be dead Of
mortally wounded, Blanche threw hel
arms around his neck and gave way t
a passionate burst Of grief. But he was
not dead-he was not even hurt, witt
the exception of a few slight scratches
The blood with which he was covered
was the panther's, not his own. Blu
Blanche's embrace was his-a priceless
treasure-an index Of her hearts emo
tions and affections. 1t was to color hi
whole future life, as will be seen in thp
progress Of our story
Slowly and silently, save the occa
sional creak, dip, and plash Of tn
steersman oar, the boat of our voya
gers was borne along upon the bosom
Of the current, on the third night oi
the voyage, The hour was waxing late
and Eugene, the only one astir excep
the watch, was suddenly startled, by
rough hand being placed upon his shoul
der, accompanied by the words, in tn
gruf voice of the boatman:
"l say, Cap'n, here's troubled"
"What is it, Dick?' inquired Eugene
> starting to his feet.
Don't you see thars a heavy 70
rising, that'll soon kiyer us up so thic
that we won't be able to tell a whit
man from a nigger?' replied the boat
! man, Dick Winter by namo-a, tai
bony, muscular, athletic specimen o
, his class.
"Good heaven, so there isl" ezclaim
ed Eugene, looking off upon the a
ready misty waters. ''It must hay
( gathered very suddenly, for al was clel
a minute ago. What is TO be done nov
This is something 1 was not prepare
! for, on such a night as this"
q at looks troublous, Cap'n, I'll a
( low, " returned Dick, "but we're in for
i that's sartin, aud / s'pose we'll have
! make the best ont"
"But what is to be done2-what 4
you adviser asked Eugene, in quicI
i excited tone, that indicated some d
d gree Of alarm.
n 'Why, eff you war'nt so skeerc
d about the young LADY, and it war.nt
81 dead agin the orders from head qua
n ters, my plan would be o'ar and eai
f. one-Id just run over to the Kaintu'
a shore, and tie up"
n "No, no" said Eugene, positivel
% ''that win never do, Diok--that wi
p never dol L would not think of su,
a thing for q moment We must ke,
h in the current by all means"
IF "Ef YOU can, rejoined the boatma
q ttl,,,t ,.-bov 81 frftr al dnrE oo ma anu