The Shasta courier., 1858-06-26
ruc prRILs OF THE BORDER.

While readin, recently an account OF tne
friobtful massacre of several white families oy
the Black-foot Indians we were temihueo ,.. .. q
thrilling event which occurred in the Wild
west a short time subsequent to the Reyolu-
tion. in which highly accomplished young Ia
dy. the daughter Of a distinguished officer OF
the American Army, played an important part
The story being of most thrilling nature and
exhibiting in a striking manner the "Per'ls OF
the Border" we have concluded to give an ex-
tract from it, as originally published, as fol-
lows:
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Ranawha, formed by its junction with the Ohio,
il called Point Pleasant, and is place of his
torical note. Here, on the 10th OF October,
LIZA, during what is known as Lord Dunmore's
War, was fought one OF the fercest and most
desperate battles that ever took place between
the virginians and their forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the In
dians were defeated with greet loss, fort was
here erected by the rictors, which became
post of great importance throughout the
culinary scenes of strife which almost immedi-
atety followed, and which in this section of the
country were continued for many years asfer
that establishment Of peace which acknowl-
edged the United States of America q free and
independent nation.
At the landing of the fort, on the day our
story opens, was fastened fiat-boat of the kind
used by the early nayigators of the Western
rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat, at the moment
we present the scene to the reader, stood five
individuals, alike engaged in watching group
of persons, mostly females, who were slowly
approaching the landing Of these five, one
MAS stout, sleek negro, in partial livery, and
evidently house or body servant; three were
boatmen and borderers, as indicated by their
rough, bronzed visages and coarse attire but
the fifth was young man, some two-and-tWen-
ty years of age of fine commanding person,
and clear, open, intelligent countenance; and
in the lofty carriage of his head-in the CLEAN
of his large, bright, hazel eye-theEe was some
thing which denoted ons Of superior mind; but
as we shall have occasion in the course Of our
narrative to fully set forth who and what Eu-
gene Fairfax was, we will leave him for the
present, and turn to the approaching group,
whom he seemed to be regarding with lively in
terest.
OF this group, composed of niiddle-aged
man and four females, with a black female ser
want following some five or six PAGES in the
rear, there was one whom the most casual eye
would have singled out and rested upon with
pleasure. The lady in question, was apparent
ly about twenty years of age, of q slender and
graceful figure, and of that peculiar cast of fea-
lures, which, besides being beautiful in every
lineament, rarely fails to affect the beholder
with something like charm.
Her travelling costume fine brown habit,
high in the neck, buttoned closely over the bo-
som and coming down to her small pretty feet,
without trailing on the ground-was both neat
and becoming; and with her riding cap and its
waving ostrich plume, set gaily above her flow
hng caris, her appearance contrasted forcibly
with the rough, unpublished looks Of those Of
her sex beside her, with their linsey bed gowns,
md had lipat,
caps.
"Oh, Blanche" said one of the more venera-
BILE of her female companions, pursuing con-
versation which had been maintained since
quitting the open fort behind them, 81 cannot
bear to let you go; for it just seems to me as if
something were going to happen to you, and
when feel that way, something generally does
happen"
"Well, aunt returned Blanche, with n light
hugh, 81 do not doubt in the least that some
thing will happen-for / expect one cf these
DAYS to reach my dear father and blessed moth
or, and give them such embrace as is due
from q dutiful daughtep to her parents-and
that will be something that has not happened
for two long years at least"
"But don't mean that, Blanche" returned
the other somewhat petulently and you just
laugh like gay and thoaghtless girl, when you
ought to be serious Because you have come
safe thus far, through partially settled coun-
try, you think your pretty face will ward
off danger in the more perilous wilderness
but warn you that fearful journey is before
YOU Scarcely boat descends the Ohio, that
does not encounter more or less peril from the
sayages that prowl along either shore; and
some of them that go down freighted with hu-
life, are heard of more, and none ever
return to tell the tale"
uRut why repeat this to me, dear aunt" re-
aurned blanche, with more serious air, "when
you know it is my destiny, either good or bad,
TO attempt the voyage? NJ 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 it
may"
You never did know what it was TO fear y
pursued the good woman rather proudly. "No,
she repeated, turning to the others, % Blanche
Bertrand never did know what it was to fear, |
believer
aust like her fatherln joined in the husband
OF the matron, the brother of Blanches mother,
the commander of the station and the middle
aged gentleman mentioned as one Of the party !;
"a true daughter of a true soldier. Her faith
er, Colonel Philip Bertrand, God bless him for
true hearti never did seem to know what it
was to fear-and Blanch is just like him.
By this time the parties had reached the boat;
and the young man already Observation-Disclosures
Fairfax-the secretary of Blanche's father-at
once stepped forward, and, in polite and def
erential manner offered his hand to the different
fmales, to assist them on board. The hand OF
Blanche was the last to touch his-and then bat
slightly, as she sprung quickly and lightly to
the deck-but close observer might have de-
tected the slight flush which mantled his noble,
expressive features, as his eye for single in-
slant met hers. She might herself have seen it
perhaps she did-but there was no cores
pondng glow on her own bright pretty face, as
she inquired in the calm, dignihed tone of one
having the right to put the question, and who
might also have been aware Of the inequality
of position between herself and him she ad-
dressed
Eugene, is everything prepared for our de-
parturef 1t will not do for our boat to spring
q leak again, as it did coming down the Kanaw-
ha-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"
mo, indeedw rejoined her aunt, quickly "
lit 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.n
"No one feels more concerned about the safe
passage Of Miss Bertrand than myself" replied
Eugene in a deferential tone and since our
arrival here, have left nothing undone that
l..