St. Mary's beacon., 1858-05-13
! SEECTED MISCELLANY.
The Perils Of the Border.


The Perils Of the Border.
While reading recently an account Of the
frightfal massacre of several white families by
tie Blaek-foot Tndians, we were reminded Of a
thrilling event which occurred in the "Wild
West" short time subsequent to the Revolu-
don, in which highly accomplished young
lady, the daughter of a distinguished officer
of the American Army, played an important
part. The story beingor most thrilling ua-
trre, and exhibiting III a striking manner tie
''Periis Of the Border" we have concluded to
give an extract from it, as originally published.
rs follows %
Tic angle on the right bank OF the Great
Kauawha, formed hy its Junction with the
Ohio is called Point Pleasant, aud is a place
of hist 1rcai note. Here. on the 10th Of Octo-
Der, 1874, durin. what is known as Lord
Dunmorc's War, was fought one Of the fcrccst
aud most dcspcrat" battles that ever took place
between the Virginans aud their forest foes
After the battle in question, in wl:ich the
Indians were defeated with great loss. a fort
vas here erected b. the victyrs. which became
post Of great importance throughout the
mcliatcly fJ!iowcl, and which in this section
of the country were continucl for many years
after that cStahl<h!,nt Of peace which ac-
knowlcdged the United Colonies of American
= free and independent nation.
At the landing Ui thc fort m tic Jay oul
try opens. was fastened llat-boat the kind
u~cl by the carly ra,i@ators of the Western
rivers.
Upon the deck Of this boat, at the moment
we present the scene t. thc reader. stood five
Individuals a'ihe engaged il watching grcuI
. IF persons, mostly females, who were slowly
/ approaching the landing. Oithcsc five. one wa,
| a stout. sleek negro. il partial livery, and cvi.
! lcutly house or body servant: three wcr,
h"atmcn and bord"rcrs, as indicated by thcii
r.,ugh, bronZed viSagcs aEd coarse attire; bu
/ the fifth waS a young man, some two-ant
| twenty years of age, of fine commanding
! person and clear. open, intcligem. countc
nance and in the lofty carriage If his head
in lhc CLEAN Of his large, bright. hazel eye
| there was something which denoted one Of SUI
rcri,r mind bu. as we shall have occasion ii
! tho course of our narrative to fully set fortl
! who and what Eugene Fairfax was, we wi.
! leave him for the present. and turn to the ap
preaching Gronr, whom he seemed to be re-
| garding with lively Interest.
| OF this group, com posed of q middle-agci
man and four females, with n black female
servant following some five or six PAGES in t!i
rear. there was one whom the most casual cyt
would have singled ont and rested upon will
pleasure. The lady i'll question. was appar
I emily about twenty years Of age. Of a sicndc
and graceful figure. AMI Of that peculiar ca.
of feature, which, besides Ecing beautiful il
every ireament. rarely fails to affect the be
holder with something like i charm.
Her travelling costumc-a fine brown habit
high in tie neck, buttoned closely over til
bosom and coming down to her small prett
feet, without trailing on the ground-was bot
neat and becoming: and with her riding-ca
anL its waving ostrich plume, set gaily abov
her flowing kurlS, her appearance contrastc
forciblv with the rough, unpublished looks {
those Of her sex beside her with their linse
be,l-gowlrs, scarlet flannel pctticoats, an
bleathcd linen caps.
"Oh Blanche" said one Of the more venera
DE of her female companions pursuing a con
versatou which had been maintained sine
quitting the open fort behind them, ~ caDnc
bear to let you go; for it just seems to me i
il something were going to happen to you, an
when feel that way. something generally do.
haPRG,n;:," ,
"WetI, aunt returned blanche, with q h9I
laugh, II do not doubt in the least that some
thing will lappen-fnr | expect one of the>
DAYS to reach my dear father and blcSsc
mother, and give them such IN embrace as
due from dutiful daughter to her parents
and that will he something that has not hal
pcncd for two long years at least
"But don't nican that, ElanChc,' rcturne
!he other, somewhat petuantly; "aud yo
~
when YOU ought to be serious. Because w
settled country, You think. perhaps, Your ow
pretty face will ward OF danger in the mon
pcrilous wildcrnesS-but | warn vou that
fearful Journey is before You. Scarcely loa
deSoe,tls the Ohio. that does not encountc
more or less peril from the savagcs that prov
along either shore f.: and some of them that q
down frcightcd with human life, are heard I
no more and none ever return to tell the tale
but why repeat this to mo, dear aunt" II
turned Blanche with more serious nj
"when you know il is my destiny. either goo
or bad to attempt the voyageP My parent
have sent for Rle to bin them in their ne'
home, and it is my duty to 90 70 them, be T.!
peril what it may" ......-.
You never did know what il was to fear
pursued the good woman, rather proudly
No." she repeated. turning to the other
BLANCHE Bertrand never Gid know what
was to fear. belicye!' ....
Just like her father r'joinei in the husban
of the matror. the brother of Blanche's moth
or. the commander of the station, and III
middle-aged gentleman mentioned as one {
the party; "a true daughter Of a true soldier
Her father, Colonel Phiiip Bertrand, Go
bless him for true heart: nevcr-iid Stem I
know what it was to fe.Gr-aad Blanche is jus
like him." '" =
Ry this time the parties had reached tn
| hoa:; and the young man already described
Eagcne Fairfax, the secretary Of Blanche
father-a at one stcpred forward, aud, in a 20
lite and defcreutiai manner, offered his hand Z
the different females, TO assist them on board
} The hand Of Blanche was the last to touch hi
and then but slightly, as size sprung quickl,
and lightly to the deek-blt a close observe
might have detected the slight ih.sh which
maatlea his noble, expressive featnpcs as hi