Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-12
and when feel that way, something generally


pened for two long years at least"
"But don't mean that. Blanche returned
the other, somewhat petulantly land you
just laugh like q gay and though.less girl,
when you ought to be serious. Because you
have come safe thus far, through partially
settled country, you think. perhaps, your own
pretty face will ward off danger in the more
perilous wilderness-but L warn you that a
fearful journey is before you! Scarcely
boat descends the Ohio, that does not encOun-
ter more or less peril from the savages that
prowl along either shore; and some of them
that go down freighted with human life, are
heard Of no more, and none ever return TO
tell the tale.'
But why repeat this to me, dear aunt"
returned Blanche. with a more serious air,
'.whcn you know ii is my destiny. either good
or bad, TO attempt the voyage? My parents
have sent for me to join them in their new
home, and it is my duty to go to them, be the
peril what il may"
''You never did know what il was to fear!"
persued the coed woman, rather proudly.
NO" she repeated. turning to the Others
Blanche Bertrand never did know what it was
10 far, believed"
just like her father!" joined in the hus-
band Of the matrOn, the brother of Blanche's
mother. the commander of the station. and
the middle-aged gentle man mentioned as one
OF the party; "a true daughter of true sol
der. Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand,
God bless him for "a 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 men already described
Eugene Fairfax, the secrt tary of Blanche's
father-at once stepped forward, and, in a
polite and defercntial manner, offered his
hand to the different females, to assist them
on board. The hand of Blanche was the last
~, al - I,,t Ii. IL. Il,
sprung quickly and light yto the deck-but a
close observer might have detected the slight
flush which mantlCd his noble, expressive
features his eye for "A single instant met
hers. She might herself have seen it-per-
haps she did-hut there was no corresponding
glow on her own bright. pretty face, as she
inquired, in the calm, digaiied tone of
one having the right to put the question,
aud who might also have bcenaware of the
inequality of position between herself and
him she addressed:
Eugene, is, every thing prepared for our
departure? 1t will not do for our boat to
spring Il leak aCan, a. it did coming down
the Kanawha-.or it will not be SAT-. for us, |
told. to touch either shore between the
different forts and trading posts Oh our route,
this side Of our destilatiOn,--t Falls of the
Ohio"
NO, indeed!'' rcjoined her aunt, quickly;
lit will be as much rs yoIr lives are worth to
venture u 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 feels more concerned about the
safe passage of Miss. Bertrand than myself
replied Eugene. in dcf-rcntial tone; ''aud
since our arrival here, | have left nothing
undUnc that | thought might possibly add to
her security and comfort
That is true to my personal knowl dye"
Joined IN the uncle OF BLANCHE; .and | thank
you, Mr.. Fairfax in behalf Of my air kius-
woman. There will, perhaps" ne pursued,
she no great danger so long as you keep in
the current; but your watch must not be ne
elected for Il single moment, either night or
day: aud do not. | most solemnly charge and
warn you, und r any circumstances, or on
any prctcnce whatsoever suffer yours Ives to |
b. dccoyed to either shore!"
Il hope we understand our duty better |
Colonel, said one OF the men, respectfully. |
Il doubt II not" replied the commander of |
the Point, Il believe you are all faithful and f!
true men, or you would not have been select !
cd by the agent Of Colonel Bertrand, for |
taking down more precious freight than you
ever carried before; bat still the wiseSt and |
the best of men have lost their lives by |
giving ear to The most earnest appeals of hus- !
mainly. GU understand what mean? White |
men, apparently in the greatest distress, will |
hail your boat. represent themselves us having |
just escaped from the Indians, and beg OF you, |
for the love of God, in the most pteous tones, |
10 come to their relief; but turn a deaf ear to
each and ali of th,m-even should you know |
the picadcrs 10 be of your own kin; for in
such case your own brother might deceive |
you-not wiliulIy and voluntarily, perhaps !
but because of of b.ing gUadCd on /
by the savages themselves conc ,aled. Yes,
such things have been known as one friend /
being thus used to lure another TO his de- /
and so be cautious. vigilant, brave |
and true, and may the good God keep you all /
from harn.'
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceeded /
to take an AFT ctiouate Leave Of all, receiving
many tender message for her parents from
those who held them IN love and generations:
and thu boat swung out, and began to float
down with the current, now fairly entered
upon the most dangerous portion OF long
and parlous journey.
The father Of Blanche Colonel Philip Ber-
irand, was a native of Virginia, and des-
pendant of one of the Iiugucnot refugees,
who fled from their native land after the
revocation Of the cdict o; Nautz in 1865. He
had been an officer of some note during the
Revo.uliOI--a warm political a d and per
,onal friend of the author of the Declaration
IF lndupandrncc-and gentleman who had
always stood high in the esteem Of his asso-
hates and contemporaries.
Though at one time "A man OF wealth, Col
mel Bertrand had lost much, AID suffered
much. through British invasion; and when,
hurtly after the close of the war, he had
net with a few more serious revcrscs, he
lad been fain TO accept grant Of land near
he Falls OF the Ohio, now Louisville, tender
d him by Virginia, which then held jurisdc
ion over the entire territory now constituting
he State OF Kentucky.
No. I.,.I ii y |
ecking his new possessions and building up "A
lew home in tile then Far West, and as his
iite had insisted upon accompanying him on
is first tour, he had asscntCd to her desire
N condition that Blanche should be left
mong her friends. till such time as d place
ould be prepared which might in some de
rec be- considered tt abode for one SO
arefully and tcndcrly reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with her
areuts; but on this point her father had been
cXorablc-dcclariug that she would have to
,main ut the East till he should see proper To |
md for her; and as he was man of positive
haracicr, and rigid disciplinarian, the mat
n had been settled with out argument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to the
Vest, Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen, nc
pmpanied him; and coming of age shortly
Iter he had accepted the liberal offer Of his
Oblr bcnriHctur, to rcman with him in the
lpdclIy OF private secretary and cOniden-
al agent. On taking possession OF his grant,
ie Colonel had almost Immediately erected |
fort, and offered such inducements TO set
filters To speedily collect around him
ute little cummuuity-of which as u
natter Of course. he became the al aad
lief; aud TO supply the want of his own fam
y and others. and increase his gains in a L.
tjmate way, he had opened a store, aud filed
with goods from the Eastern marts, which
pods were transported by land over the
ouutains To the kahawha, aud thence by
alter To the Falls OF the Ohio, whence their
moval To Fort Bertrand became an easy
after. To purchase and ship these goods.
nd deliver package Of letters 10 friends