Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-05-22

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and, in polite and deferential manner
offered his hand to the different females
to assist them on board The hand Of
Blanch was the last to touch his-and
then but slightly, as she sprang quickly
and lightly to the deck-bnta close OBJ
server might have detected the slight flush
which mantled his noble,, expressive fea-
lures as his eye fora single instant met
ners. She might herself have seen it
perhaps she debut there was no cor
responding glow on her own bright, pref
ty face, as she enquired, in the calm, Dig
ni6ed tone of one having the right to put
the question, and who might also have
boon aware of the inequality of position
between herself and him she adrcssed:
Eugene, is everything prepared for
our departure 1t will not do for our
boat to spring a leak again, as it did COM
ing down the Kanawha-for it will not be
safe for US, l am told, to touch either shore
between the different fort; and trading
postsson our route, this side Of our desti-
nation,-the Falls of the Ohio"
"No, indeedr rejoined her aunt, quick
iy; "it will be as much as your lives are
worth to venture foot from the main
current of the Ohio-for news reached us
only The other day, that many boats had
been attacked this spring, and several lost,
with all on board.
"No one seels more concern about the
safe passage of Miss Bertrand than my
SELF" replied Eugene,in deferential tone
.'and since our arrival here, l have left
nothing undone that l thought might
possibly add to her security and comfort ,
THAT is true to my personal knowl
edge!" Joined in the JUNGLE of Blanche
and | thank you, Mr.. Fairfax, 10 behalf of
my fair knswoman. There will perhaps, "
he pursued, "be no great danger, so long
as you. keep in the current; but your watch
must not beI,neglected for single mo-
ment, either night or day; and do not, |
most solemnly charge and warn you,under
any circumstances, or on any pretence
whatsoever, suffer your yourselves to be
decoyed to either shore!'
Il hope we understand ssour duty bet
ter, Colonel" said one Of the men, respect
fully.
Il doubt it not" replied the comman-
der of the Point; II believe you are all
faithful and true men, or youa would not
have been selected by the agents of Colo
mel Bertrand, for taking down more pre-
cious freight than you ever carried before
but still the wisest and best of men have
lost their lives by giving ear to the most
earnest appeals Of humanity. You under
Istandswhat mean! White men, appar-
antly 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 pite-
ovs tones, to come to their relief; but turn
"a deaf ear to them-to each and all OF
them-even' should you know the plead
ers to be your own kin; for such case
your own brother might deceive you-not
wilfully and voluntary perhaps-but be-
csuse of being goaded on by the savages
themselves concealed. Yet such things
have been known as one friend being thcs
used to lure another to-. his destruction
and SO be cautious, vigilant, brave and true
and may the good God keep you all from
harm!"
AS he finished speaking, Blanche pro
ceeded to take an affectlonaae leave of all
receiving many tender message for be-
parents from those who held in love anc
veneration ;'and the boat swung out, ane
began to float down with the current, nov
fairly entered upon the most dangerous
portion of long and p,rilous journey.
The father Of Blanche, Colonel PHILIP
Bertrand, was native of Virginia, and ;
descendant of one of the Huguenot refu
gees, who fled from their native land afte
the revocation of the edict of Nantz il
1865. He had been an officer of som.
note during the Revolutions warm polit
ica and personal friend of the Declaration
of Independence-and gentleman who
had always stood high in the esteem of biz
associa ties and contemporaries.
Though at one time man of wealth
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and suff
cred much, through British invasion; anc
when, shortly after the close of the war, he
had met with few more serious reverses
he had been faint to accept grant o
land, near the Falls of the Ohio, nov
Louisville, rendered him by Virginia
which then held jurisdiction over the entire
territory now constituting the State o
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upo'
seeking his new possessions and building
up new home in the then Far West, anc
as his wife had insisted upon accompanying
him on his first tour, he had assented t.
her desire, on condition that Blanche
should be left among her friends, till suci
time as place could be prepared which
might in some degree be considered Fl
abode for one SO carefully and tenderl,
reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with he
parents: but on this point her father hac
been MISUNDERSTANDING that she would
have to remain at the East till he shoult
see proper TO send for her; and as he wa
man of positive character, and rigic
disciplinarian, the matter had been settled
l..