Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-05-21
lADYERzIsENEkr.l
THE PERILS OF THE BORDER.

by the Dlaektoot Indians, " were reminded
of thrilling event which occurred in the
''Wiid West" a short time subsequent tc
the Revolution, in which a highly accom-.
1 plished young lady, the daughter of dis
tinguished officer OF the American Army
played an important part. The story being
/ of = most thrilling nature, and exhibiting in
striking manner the .'Perils Of the Bor.
dcr,' we have concluded to give an extract
from it, as originally published, as follows;
! Tire angle on the right bank OF the Great
ksnawha, formed By It's Junction with the
/ Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is place
/ of historical note. Here, on the 10Th of
October, I774, during what is known as Lord
/ Dunmore's War, was fought one of the
| fercest and most desperate battles that ever
took place between the ViFginiaas and their
| forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the
| Indians were defeated with great loss, fort
was here erected by the vctors, w hicIi be-
came post of great Importance throughout
the sanguinary scenes of strife which al
most Immediately followed, and which IN
i
| for many years after that establishment OF
peace which acknowledged the United Col
oneS of America a free and independent
nation.
| At the landing of the fort, on the day our
story opens, was fastened fat-boat OF the
| kind used by the early nayIgators of the
| Western rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat, ,at the moment
we present the scene to the reader, stood
/ five individuals, alike engaged in watching a
aroup of persons, mostly females, who were
slowly approaching the landiDg. OF these
| 1--WE, one was a stoats sleek negro, in partial
! livery, acd evidently house or body SER
want; three were boatmen and borderers, as
Indicated by their rough, bronzed visages and
coarse attire; but the fifth was young man,
some two-and-twenty years of age, of a fine,
commanding person, and clear, open, in
telligent countenance; and in the lofty cat
riage OF his head-in the CLEAN of his large,
bright, hazel eye there was something
which denoted one of superior mind-but as
we shall have occasion in the course of our
narrative to fully set forth who and what
Eugene Fairfax was, we will leave him for
the present, and turn to the approaching
group, whom he seemed TO be regarding with
lively interest.
Of this group, composed of mddle-aged
man, and four females, with black female
servant following some five or six PAGES in
the rear, there was one whom the most ca
sual eye would have singled out and rested
upon with pleasure. 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 be-
ing beautiful in every lineament, rarely fails
to affect the beholaer with something like a
charm. .s-a--A - - zz-S
Her travelling costupe-a fine brown hah-
! it, high in the neck, buttoned closely over
The bosoms and eoming down to her small,
pretty feet, wiihout trailing on the ground
was both neat and beeoningi and with her
riding cap and its waving ostrich plume, set
gaily above her flowing curls. her appearance
contrasled forcibly with the rough, unpol-
shed looks of those of her sex beside her
with their Hasey bed gowus, scarlet flannel
petticoats, and bleacEied linen caps.
Oh, BiaAcbe,' said one of the more ven
erable of her female cem mPanions, pursuing a
conversation which had been maintained
since quitting the open fort behind them, 81
cannot bear to let you go; for it just seems
to me as it 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 thai
something will happen-for / expect one o
these days to reach nay dear father aut
blessed mother, and give them such all EN-
brace as is due IRON a dutiiul daughter 10 he
parents-and that will be something that ha.
not happened for two long years at least
g Bu. |, dUn'l mean that, Blanche re
turned the other, somewhat peiuiantiY; cant
you just laugh like gay ami thoughtles
girl when YOU ought to be serious. Becaus'
you have come safe thus far, through par
TALLY settled country, you think, perhaps
\ your own pretty face will ward off danger il
the more perllous wilderness--but | warr
you that fearful journey is before you -
Scarcely boat descend5 the ONO that doe!
not encounter more or less peril from tht
savages that prowl along either shore: an
some of them that go down ireighted wit
human life, are heard OF no maOres and non
ever return totell the tale.''
returned Blanche, with more serious all
"when you know it is my destiny, either g,o
or bad, to attempt tire voyage! hly parent
have sent for me to J1in them iR their heV
home, and it is my duty TO 60 to them, b
the peril what it may
"You never did know what it was to fear.
pursued the good woman, rather proudly
Mop she repeated, turning to the others
s.Blanche Bertrand never did know what
was to fear, believe -
Just like her father - joined in the hus
band of the matron, the brother of Blanche
mother, the commander OF the station, an
the middle-aged gentleman mentioned as on
of the party; ''a true daughter of true SO
der. Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand
God bless him for true heart never di
l seem to know what it was to fear-an
Blanche is just like him.
BY this time the parties had reached III
boat; and the young man already describe
Eugene Fairfax, the secretary Of blanche
= father-at once stepped forward, and IN u pit
= lite and deierential manner, offered his hal
d to the different females, TO assist them c
i board The hand OF Blanche was the last
touch his-and then but slightly, as 81
sprung quickly and lightly 10 the deck--b
y close observer might have detected II
slight flush which mantled his noble, EXPIRE
sive features, as his eye for single insta
g met hers. She might herself have seen
perhaps she did, but there was no CORE
y ponding glow on her own bright, pretty fac
. as she inquired, in the calm, dignihed tone
: one having the right to put the question, al
:. who might also have been aware of the in
u quality of position between herself and hi
y she addressed:
= Eugene, is everything prepared for o
le departure! 1t will not do for our boat