St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-06-03

turning to the others, Blanche Bcr
trand never did know what it was to
fear, believe !"
"Just like her father !" Joined in
the husband of the matron, the brother
Of Blanche's mother, the commander
Of the station, and the middle-agcd
gentleman mentioned as one of the
party; "a true daughter of true
soldier. Her father, Colonel Philip
Bertrand, God bless him for a true
heart never did seem to know what
it was to fcar-and Blanche is just
like him."
By this time the parties had reached
the boat +; and the young man already
observation-disclosures Fairfax, the Sec
rotary of Blanche's father-at once
stepped forward, and, in a polite and
defcrential manner, offered his hand
to the different females, to assist them
on board. The hand of Blanche was
the last to touch his-and then but
slightly to the deck--but a close OBJ
server might have detected the slight
flush which mantled his noble, ex-
pressive features as his eye for an
instant met hers. She might herself
have seen it-perhaps she debut
there was no corresponding glow on
her own bright, pretty face, as she in
quircd in the calm, dignifed tone OF
one having the right to put the ques
ton, and who might also have been
aware of the inequality of position be,
tween herself and him she addressed :
eugene, is everything ready for
our departure 1t will not do for our
boat to spring leak again, as it did
coming down the kanawha--for it
will not be safe for us, ! am told, to
touch either shore between the differ
ent forts and trading-posts on our
route, this side of our destination, the
Falls of the Ohio"
"No, indeed ~ rcjoincd her aunt,
quickly sit 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 ali
on board"
"No one feels moro concerned about
the safe passage of Miss Bertrand
than myself" replied Eugene, in a
deferential tone land since our ar
rival here, | have left nothing undonc
that l thought might possibly add to
her security and comfort"
"That is true to my personal
knowledge" joined in the UNCLE of
Blanche and l thank you, Mr. Fair
fax, in behalf of my fair kinswomam.
There will, perhaps, be no great
danger, SO long as you keep in the
current but your watch must not be
neglected for single moment, either
night or day; and do not, | most
solcmnly charge and warn you, under
any pretencc whatsoever, suffer your
selves to be decoyed to either shore !"
81 hope we know our duty better,
Colonel said one Of the men, respect
fully.
81 doubt it not,' replied the com
mander of the Point :" believe you
arc all faithful and true men, or you
would not have been selected by the
agent of Colonel Bertrand, for taking
down more precious freight than you
ever carried before; but still the
wisest and best men have lost their
lives by giving ear to the most earn.
est appeals to humanity. You under
stand what mean? White men APP
| ,,,,n,I,, =, tho o,rootaSt list,.acS will
hail your boat, represent themselves
as having just escaped from the In
dams, and beg of you, for the love Of
God, in the most piteous tones, to
come to their relief; but turn a deaf
car to them-cven should you know
the plcaders to be of your own kin
for in such case your own brother
might deceive you-not wilfully and
voluntarily, perhaps-but because of
being goaded on by the savages, them
selves concealed. Yes, such things
have been known as one friend being
thus used to lure another to his de-
struction; and so be cautious, vigi-
liant, brave and true, and may the
good God keep you all from harm -
AS he finished speaking, Blanche
proceeded to take an aflectionate leave
of all, receiving many tender mes
sage 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 entered upon the most danger
Gus portion of long and perilous
journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip
Bertrand, was a native of Virginia,
and a descendant of one of the HUI
guenot refugees, who fed form their
native land after the revocation of the
cdict of Nantz in 1865. He had been
an officer of some note during the
Revolution-a warm political friend
of the author of the Declaration of In
dependcnce-and a gentleman who
had always stood high in the esteem
of his associates and contemporaries.
Though at one time man of wealth,
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and
suffered much, through British inva-
sion; and when shortly after the
close of the war, he had met with a
few more serious rcverscs, he had
been fain to accept grant of land,
near the Falls of the Ohio, now Louis
vile, rendered him by Virginia, which
then held jurisdiction over the entire
territory now constituting the State
Of Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel
upon seeking his new possessions and
building up a new home in the then
Far West, and as his wife had insist
ed upon accompanying him on his
tour, he had assentcd to her desire, Oh
condition that Blanche should be left
among her friends, till such time as
place could be prepared which might in
some degree be considered fit abode
for one 50 carefully and tenderly
reared.
blanche yould ocladjy have oone