The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-13
LITERATURE.

LITERATURE.
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contained two berths one for herself and the other
for her waiting woman-a large rush mat for the
feet-a rude, but cushioned settee-two or three
camp stoos-a kind of dressing bureau evidently of
frontier workmanship-a small mirrors few books
and a few other articles of minor Importance and
though many proud beauty of to-day might have
Rod and region Of country it was considered quite
elegant, and drew many an encomium from the
friends of Blanche.
While the female party were thus occupied below,
proceeded to give them such instructions and warn.
ngs he thought might best promote the safety OF
his fair kinswoman and themselves.
There will, perhaps" he pursued, be no great
watch must not be neglected for single moment,
either night or day; and do not, ! most solemnly
charge and warn you, under any circumstances, OF
on any pretence Whatsoever, suffer yourselves to be
~ hope We understand our duty better, Colonel"
said one OF the men, respectfully.
IL doubt it not" replied the commander OF the
point; 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
visest and the best of men have lost their lives by
giving ear to the most earnest appeals Of humanity
renty in the greatest distress, will hail your boat
represent themselves having just escaped from the
Indians and leg of you, for the love Of God, IN the
most pteous tones, to come to their reef but turn
should you know the pleaders to be OF your
own kin for in such case your own
brother might deceive yoa-not .wilfuily and
voluntarily, perhaps-but because of being goad-
ed on by the sayages, themselves Gomez led. Yes,
such things have been known o. on" lend being
thus used to lure another to his dest lion; and so
be cautious vigiant brave and true and may the
good God keep you all from harm.
As finished sne4 king blanche returned to the
deck with her friends and at ence proceeded to take
alectonate leave of all, receiving many tender
message for her parents from those who held them
in love and veneratiOn.
Quite crowd of the idle and curious mostly wo-
men and children had by this time collected around
the landing, to witness the departure of the boat;
and the latter swung out, and began to float down
with the current, general cheer was given, followed
by many earnestly spoken wishes, and silently uttered
prayers for the safety of the voyagers in general,
and the "sweet lady" in special, who had now, with
high hopes and beating heart, fairly entered npon
the most perious portion Of her long and perilous
journey.
CHAPTER II.
UNDER WAY.
Blanche Bertrand stood upon the deck OF the
boat, it slowly glided down the stream, looking
back to those from whom she had tearfully parted,
perhaps for the last time. She had been repeat
many of the peris which lay before her; and
though young, brave, spirited and buoyant. she had
secretly felt more than she had shown, while listen
ing to those who, chdless themselves, loved her al
most as a daughter. She well knew it TO be no mere
triHipg journey she had undertaken-that of travel
ing, with only some two or three attendants through
the long wilderness which lay between the eastern
section of Virginia and what was then called the
Falls of the Ohio now the city of Louisville but she
had come of high spirited chvalrous stock-of
descent noted for courage from the troublous times
which drove her pefsecuted ancestors to virginia,
down to the present and so, when summoned by
30 Iarfn fhof nr
ness, she had hesitated not moment to commit her
self to the perious undertaking.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip Bertrand,
was native Of Virginia, and descendant of one OF
the Huguenot refugees who fed from their native
land after the revocation of the edict Of Nantz in
1855. He had been an officer of some note during
the Revolution-a warm political and personal friend
of the author Of the Declaration of Independence
and gentleman who had always stood high In the
esteem Of his associates and contemporaries
Though at one time a man of wealth, Colonel
Bertrand had lost much, and suffered much,
through British invasion, az already intimated in
the preceding chapter and when, shortly after the
close Of the war he had met with few more sir1oa5
reverses he had been fan TO accept grant of land,
the Falls Of the Ohio rendered him by Virginia,
which then held jurisdiction over the entire territory
now constituting the State Of Kentucky
This grant had decided the Colonel upon seeking
his new possessions and building up new home in
the then far West; and a. his wife had insisted upon
accompanying him on his first tour, he had assented
TO her desire on condition that Blanche should be
left among her friends till such time as place could
be prepared which might in some degree be con
sdered fit abode for one so carefully and tendery
reared
Blanche would gladly have gone with her parents;
but on this point her father had been inexorabe-
declaring that she would have TO remain at the East
till he should see proper TO send Tor her. and as he
was man of positive character, and rigid disci-
plinarian the matter had been settled without argu
ment
Besides bis wife, and the half dozen negro SER
wants taken with him, leaving two with Blanche,
there was another member OF Colonel Bertrands
household whom il is proper TO mention in this con-
nection. We refer TO Eugene Fairfax.
This young man, Of what in Virginia was consd
cred good descent, had been left poor orrran in
mere childhood and been taken in charge by Colonel
Bertrand, who had given him good education and
otherwise treated him IA one OF the family, rather
than M dependant. Yet being naturally Of that
same high spirited nature which characterized those
around him, Eugene, az he grew mp. had sometimes
felt fhe disparity between himself and the proud and
beautiful Blanche. Though for years beneath the
same roof there had never existed anything ike in
timacy between them. He had looked upon her az
the beautiful heiress Of q wealthy and distinguished
family-she upon him as humble frieDd-a depend
ant even II a eonfdant. He had always borne In
mind his station in her presence-she had never for
q moment seemed to lose sight OF her own. Andyet,
strange as il may seem witha, he had conceived a
passion for her in his youth which had strengthened
with his ripening year-and this in spite OF his most
earnest strivings 10 the contrary. Not word tend
ing 70 reveal this feeling had ever passed HIS lips
and IL Blanche knew Of Il, Il was only through NO
mans naturally quick, intutive perception: and no.
thing in her conversation manner had ever shown
that she was aware OF what on his part she might
possibly have considered the height Of presumption.
When Colonel Bertrand removed 10 the West, Eu-
gene Fairfax, as sc have said, accompanied him,
and coming Of age shortly after he had accepted
the liberal offer Of his noble benefactor TO ain
with him In the capaeity Of private secretary and
confidential agent. On taking possession OF his
grant the Colonel had almost Immediately erected
fort, and offered such inducements to settlers as TO
speedily collect around him gate little communi-
ty-of which as a matter OF course he became the
head and chief and 10 supply the wants Of his own
family and Others and increase his gains IN egiti
mate way be had opened a store, and filed IL with