Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-05-19

good God keep you from~all harm!''
As he finished speaking, Blanche pro-
ceeded to take an affectionate leave OF
all, receiving many a 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 en-
tered upon the most dangerous portion
Of long and perilous voyage.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Phil
Up Bertrand, was a native of Virginia.
and descendent of one of the Hugue-
not refugees, who fled from their native
land after the revocation fthe edict of
Nants, in 1865. He had been an off
Ger Of some note during the Revolution
"a warm political and personal friend
of the author of the Declaration of In
dependence-and gentleman who had
always stood high in the esteem of his
associates and contemporaries.
Though at one time man ofwealth
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and
suffered much, through British inva-
sion; and when, shortly aftersthe close
of the war, he had met with few
more serious reverses, he had been fain
to accept a grant of land, near the
Falls OF the Ohio, now Louisville, ten
dered him by Virginia, which then held
jurisdiction over the entire territory
now constituting the State of Ken.
lucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel
upon seeking his new possessions and
building up a new home in the then
Far West, and his wife had insisted
upon accompanying him on 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 could be prepared which might
III some degree be considered a fit
abode for one 50 carefully and tender
/ ~ reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with
her parents; but on this point her faith
er had been MISUNDERSTANDING that
she would have to remain at the East
till he should see proper to send for her;
and as he was q man Of positive char
actcr, and d rigid disciplinarian, the
matter had been settled without argu-
ment.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to
the " est, Eugene Fairfax, as we have
seen, accompanied him; and coming of
age shortly after, he had accepted the
liberal offer of his noble benefactor, to
remain with him in the capacity of pri-
vate secretary and confidential agent.
On taking possession Of his grant, the
Colonel had almost Immediately erect
ed q fort, and offered such inducements
to settlers as to speedily collect around
him quite little communicate which
as matter Of course, he became the
head and chief; and to supply the
wants of his owI family and others,
and increase his gains in a legitimate
way, he had opened a 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 to the Falls of
the Ohio, whence their removal to Fort
Bertrand is an easy matter. To pur-
chase and ship these goods, and deliv-
er a package Of letters to friends in the
East, Eugene had been thrice dispatch
ed-his third commission also extend
ing to the escorting Of the beautiful
helress, with her servants, to her new
home. This last commission had been
SO far 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
rivers"
The day, which WAS an auspicious
one, passed without anything occurring Q
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 suddenly
leave the limb Off 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 light with a crash upon the deck
of the boat, not more than eight fee,
from her. One glance sufficed 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 was overpow.
ering. With a deafening shrek she
fell upon her knees and clasped he,
hands before her breast. The panth-
er crouched for his deadly leap, but
ere he sprang, the hunting knife ot
Eugene Fairfax (who, with the steers
man, was the only person on deck be
| sides Blanche), was buried to the hit
in his side, inf1icting severe but not
! fatal wound. The inftlriated beast al
once turned upon Eugene, and dead
ly struggle ensued. But 1t was a short
one. The polished blade of the knife
played back and forth like lightning
flashes, and at every plunge it was bu
rled to the hilt in the panther's body
: who soon fell to the deck dragging the
dauntless Eugene with him. On see
ing her protector fall, Blanche uttered
; another shrek and rushed to his aid
! but assistance from stouter arms were