The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-05-19

after she revocation Of the edict of Nantz
in l665, He had been an officer of some
note during the Revolution--a warm po-
liticsl and personal friend Of the author
of the Declaration of Independence--znd
a gentleman who had always stood high in
the esteem OF his associates and coteDpe-
raries. ....
Though at one time man Of wealth,
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and suf-
fered much, through British invasion; and
when, shortly after the close Of the war, he
had met with few more serious revsrses
he had been fain to accept grant Of land
near the Falls of the Ohio, now Louisville
rendered him by Virginia, which then held
jurisdiction over the entire territory now
constituting the State of Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel up
on seeking his new possessions and build
ing up new home in the then Far West
and as his wife had insisted upon accom-
panying him on his first tour, he had as
sented to her desire, on condition that
Blanche should be left among her friends,
till such time as place could be pre-
parol which might in some degree be con-
sidered fit abode for one SO carefully 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 be
should see proper to send for her; and as
he was a man of positive character, and
rigid disciplinarian, the matter had been
settled without argument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to the
West, Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen,
accompanied him and coming Of age
shortly after, be had accepted the liberal
offer of his noble bensfactor, to remain
with him in the capacity Of private score
tary and confidential agent On taking
possession Of his grant, the Colonel had al
most Immediately erected fort, and Of
fered such inducements to settlers as to
speedily collect around him quite little
community--of which, as matter Of course
be became the head and chief; and to
supply the wants of his own family and
others, and increase his gains in leg;ti-
mate way, be had opened store, and filed
it with goods from the Eastern marts,
which goods were transported by land over
the mountains to the Kanawha, and thence
by water 10 the Falls of the Ohio, whence
their removal to Fort Bertrand became an
easy matter. To purchase and chip these
goods, and deliver package Of letters to
friends in the East, Eugene had been thrice
dispatched-his third commission also sx.
tending to the escOrting Of the beautiful
heiress, with her servants 10 her new home.
This last commission had been so far exc
cuted at the time chosen for the opening
of our story, as to bring the different par
ties to the mouth Of the great Kanawha,
whence the reader has seen them slowly
floating off upon the still, CLASSY bosom Of
"ths belle of rivers"
The day, which was an auspicious one.
passed without anything occurring werthy
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 suddenly 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 cur
remit, and alight with crash upon the
deck of the boat, not more than eight feet
from her. One glance sufhced 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 sud-
denness of the shock which this discovery
gave her was overpowsring. With deaf
ening 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 steersman. was the
only person on deck besides Blanche), was
buried to the hilt in his side, inflcting q
severe but not fatal wound, The infuria'
ted beast at once turned upon Eugene, and
deadly struggle ensued. But it was .
short one. The polished blade of the knife
played back aud forth like tightening
flashes, and at every plunge it was buried
to the hilt in the panthers body, who soou
; fell to the deck. dragging the dauntlen
Eugene with him. On seeing her protsS.
tor fall, Blanche uttered another shrek
and rushed to bis aid but assistance from
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