Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-15

to them. be the peril what it may"
"You pever did know what it was to
fear ~ pursued The good woman, father
proudly. no." she repeated, turning
10 the others. "Banche Bertrand never
did know what it was 20 fear. believe y
"Just like her father ~ joined in the
husband of the maron, the brother Of
Banche's mother. the commander Of the
station, and the mddle-aged gentleman
mentioned as one Of the party; "a tue
daughter of true soldier. Her father,
Colonel Philip Bertrand, God bless him
for true heart never did seem to know
what it was to fear-and Blanche is just
| like him."
By this time the parties had reached
the boat and the young man already des-
cribeG--- Eugene Fairfax, the secretary OF
Blanche's laiher--at once stepped forward
and in polite and delerenlial manner, of.
fered his hand 10 the different females, to
assist them on board. The hand Of
Blanche was The last to touch his---and
then but slightly, as she.sprung quickly
and lightly TO the deck--bu, close obser-
yer might have detected the slight flush
which mantIed his noble, expressive fea-
lures as his eye for single instant met
| hers. She might herself have seen it
perhaps she did---but there was no cor
responding glow on her own bright, pref
ty face, as she inquired, III the calm, dig
ni6ed tone of one having the right to put
tAe question, and who might also have
been aware of the inequality of position
between herself and. him she addressed
Eugene, is everything prepared for
our departure 1t will not do for our
boat TO spring leak again, as ii did COM
ing down the Kanawha- for ii will not be
safe for us, am told 10 touch either shore
between the different forts and trading
posts on our route, this side Of orr desii.
nalion,-the Falls Of The Ohio."
"No, indeed - rejoined her aunt,quick-
ly; ait will be as much as your lives
are worth 10 venture foo! from the
main current Of the Ohio-lor news reach
ed us only the other day, that many
boats had been attacked this sprlng, and
several lost, with all on board"
"No one feels more concerned about
the safe passage of Miss Bertrand than
myself" replied Eugene, in deleren-
lai tone "and since our arrival here, l
have left nothing undone that thought
might possibly add TO her security and
comfort"
"That is true. to my personal knowl-
edge" joined in the uncle of Blanche;
''and thank you, MIR. Fairfax, in be-
half Of my fair kinswoman. There will,
perhaps" he pursued, "be no great dan
ger, so long as you keep in the current
but your watch must not be neglected for
a single moment, either night or day
and do not, mos, solemly charge and
warn you, under any circumstances, OF
on any pretence whatsoever, suffer your
selves to be decoyed to either shore -
81 hope we understand our duty better,
Colonel, said one Of the men respect
fully.
II doubt it not" replied the comman-
der of the Point II believe you are all
faithful and true men, or you would not
have been selected by the agent of Colon
el Bertrand, for taking down more pre-
cious freight than you ever carried be-
fore, bat still the wisesi and the best OF
men have lost their lives by giving ear
10 the most earnest appeals OF humanity.
You understand what | mean? White
men. apparently in the greatest distress,
will hail your boat, represent themselves
as having just escaped from the Indians,
and beg you, for the love Of God, in the
most pleOus tones, 10 come 10 their re-
lief; but turn deaf ear 10 them-to
each and all of them even should you
know the peaders TO be of your own
kin Tor in such cases your own brother
might deceive you-not willully and
voluntarily, perhaps-but because of be-
! ing goaded on by the savages, ,thems elves
concealed. Yes, such things have been
known as one friend being thus used TO
lure another TO his destruction and so
be cautious, vigilant, brave and ,and
may the good God keep you from all
harm u
AS he fnishsd speaking, Blanche pro-
ceeded TO take an alTeciionate leave of all,
receiving many 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 entered upon the most danger
Gus portion of long and pcrilous journey.
The father OF Blanche, Colonel Philip
Bertrand, was native of Virginia, and a
descendant of one of the Huguenot refu-
gees, who fed from their native land alter
the revocation of the edict of Nantz in g.
65. He had been an officer of some note
during the Revolutions warm political
and personal friend OF the author OF The