The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-05-20


Blanche is just like him"
by this time the parties had reached |
the boat; aud the young man already
described-Eugene Fairfax, the secro
tary of Blanche's father-at once step |
ped forward, and, in a polite and defer |
ential manner, offered his hand to the
different females, to assist them on
board The hand of Blanche was the
last TO touch his-aud then but slightly, /
as she sprung quickly and lightly to the
deck--but a close observer might have
detected the slight flush which mantled
his noble, expressive features as his eye
for a single instant met hers. She
might herself have seen it--porhaps she
did--but there was no corresponding
glow on her own bright, pretty face, as
she inquired, in the calm, dignided 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 prepared for
our departure? 1t will not do for our
boat to spring leak again, as il did
coming down tho Kanawha--for it will
not be safe for us, am told, to touch
either shore between the different forts
and trading-posts on our route, this side
of our destination, the Falls of the
Ohio"
"No, indeed7 rejoiued her aunt,
quickly; cit will be as much as our lives
are worth to venture a foot from the
main current Of the Ohio-for news
reached us only the other day, that ma
ny 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 a deferen-
tial tone; "and since our arrival here, I
have left nothing undone that 1 thought
might possibly add to her security and
comfort"
"That is true to my personal knowl-
edge joined in the uncle Of Blanche;
"and l thank you, Mr. Fairfax, in be-
half of my fair kinswoman. There
will, perhaps" " he pursued, "be no great
danger, so long as you keep in the cur
rent; but your watch must not be neg
lectcd for a single moment, either night
or day; and do not, l most solemuly
charge and warn you, under any circum-
stances, or on any pretense whatsoever,
suffer yourselves to be decOyed to either
, shoreP
81 hope we understand our duty bet
ter, Colonel" said one of the men re-
, spectfully
81 doubt it not, replied the COM
mander Of the Point; 81 believe you are
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 of
men have lost their lives by giving ear
to the most earnest appeals of humanity
t You understand what 1 mean? White
men, apparently in the greatest distress
viii hail your boat, represent themselves
as having just escaped from the Ind.
, ians, and beg Of you, for the love of
g God, in the most piteous tones, to come
to their relief; but turn a deaf ear tC
D them-to each and all Of them--ever
y should you know the pleaders to be Of
r your own kin; for in such a case your
e own brother might deceive you--no
!; wilfully and voluntarily, perhaps-bu
, because Of being goaded on by the saw
: ages, themselves concealed. Yes, suci
4 things have been known as one friend
s being thus used to lure another to hi
r destruction; and so be cautious, vigil
ant, brave and true, and may the gooC
God keep you all from harm!"
o As he finished speaking, Blanche
. proceeded to take an aftectionate leav,
n of all, receiving many a tender messag,
It for her parents from those who helC
them in love and veneration; and tn
boat swung out, and began to float dowl
d with the current, now fairly entered up
= on the most dangerous portion Of
long and perilous journey.
h The father of Blanche Colonel Phil
e ip Bertrand, was a native Of Virginia
7 and a descendant of one Of the Hugue
v not refugees, who fed from their nativ
q land after the revocation of the odict o.
q Nantz in 1865. He had been an Office
d Of some note during the Revolution
- warm political and personal friend o.
the author Of the Declaration Of Inde
!. pendence-and a gentleman who ha
" always stood high in the esteem Of hi
d associates aud cOtempOraries.
.el Though at one time a man Of wealth
r. Colonel Bertrand had lost much, an
a suffered much through British inva
N sion; and when, shortly after the clos
,e of the war, he had met with a few NOR
N serious reverses, he had been fain {
n accept grant of land, near the Falls o
NJ the Ohio, now Louisville, rendered bin
n by Virginia, which then held jurisdi,
ar ton over the entire territory now cor
m stitutng the State of Kentucky.
f The grant had decided the Colont
mi upon seeking his new possessions an
building up a new home in the the
,r Far West, and as his wife had insistc
re- upon accompanying him on his fir
Nv tour, he had assented to her desire, O
IF condition that Blanche should be le
,r among her friends, till such time as
d place could be prepared which might
n some degree be considered q fit aboc
for one so carefully and tenderly rea
.o ed.
or Blanche would gladly have gone wit
,g her parents, but on this point her fath'
,v.I L l..-.. l1a Inalaufnfr thnt q u