The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-13

i, husband of the matron, the brother O
Blanche's mother, the commander of tn,
station, and the middlc-agcd gentleman
f mentioned as one of the party ga tru,
, daughter Of II true soldier Her father
. Colonel Philip Bertrand, God bless him fo,
n true heart! never did seem to know wba,
it was to fear-and Blanche is Just ll.
him."
By this time the parties had reached the
boat; and the young man already described
-EuGcne Fairfax, the secrcta,y y of Blanchc's
tather-ot once stepped forward, and, in a
polite and defcrcntial manner, offered his
hand to the different females, to assist them
on board. The hand of Blanche was the
last to touch his-and then but slightly, as
she sprung quickly and lightly to the deck
but close observer might have detected
the Slight flush which mantled his noble,
expressive features as his eye for Il single
instant met hers. She might herself have
seen it-perhaps she did-Lut there WAS
no corresponding glow on her own
bright, pretty face, as she inquired, in the
calm, dlgniicd tone of one having the right
| to put the question, and who might have
been aware of the inequality of position
between herself and him she addressed:
Eugene, is everything prepared for our
departure? 1t will not do for our boat 20
spring leah: again, as it did coming down
the kanawha-f for il will not be safe for
lis, am told, to touch either shore between
the forts and trading posts on our route,
this side Of our dcstnativn,- Falls of
the Ohio
"No, indeed" rejoincd l,er aunt, quickly;
" it will bc as much us your lives arc worth
TO venture 4 foot from the main current Of
the ohio-for news reached lis only the
other day, hat many boats had been at
tackled this spring, aud several lost, with all
on board"
No one feels more concerned about the
safe passage of Miss Bertrand than myself"
replied Eugene, in Il dciercntial tone; "and
since our arrival here, have left nothing
undonc that l thought might possibly add
to licr security and comfort"
"That is true, to my personal knowledge
joined in the uncle Of Blanche; and
thank you, Mr. Fairf;tx, in behalf of nv
fair kinswoman. There will, perhaps" he
pursued, "hc no great danger, SO long as
yon keep in the current; but your watch
must not be neg lcctcd for single moment,
either night or day; and do not, most
solemn'y charge and warn you, under any
circumstances, or on any pretencc wllatso-
ever, suffer yourselves to be decoyed TO
either shore" !"
81 hope We understand our duty better,
Colonel" said one Of the men, respectfully.
II doubt it not,' replied the commander
OF the Point; believe YOU arc all faith
III! and true men, or YOU would not have
been selected by the agent Of Colonel Bert
rand, for taking down more precious freight
than you ever carried before: but still the
wscst and the best Of men have lost their
lives by giving ear to the most earnest appeals
Of humanity. You understand what
means White men, apparently in the
greatest distress, will hail you, boat, repre-
sent themselves as having just escaped from
the Indians, and beg of you, for the love Of
God, IN the most piteous tones, to come to
their relief; but turn deaf car to them
Ito each and all of. thcm-evcn should
you know the pleadcrs TO be of your own
kin; for in such case your own brother
might deceive you-not wilfuly and VOL
unfairly, pcrhaps-but because Of being
goaded on by the savages, thcmselvs con-
cealed. Yes, such things have been known
as one friend being thus used to lure an
other to his destruction and so be eau
tious, vigiant, brave and true, and may the
good God keep you all from harm n
AS he finished speaking, Blanche pro-
ceeded to take an affectionate leave of all, re.
celving many tender message for her pa
rents from those who held them in love and
veneration; and the boat swung out, and
began to float down with the current, now
fairly entered upon the most dangerous por.
ton of long and periIous journey.
The father Of Blanche, Colonel Philip
bertrand, was native Of Virginia, and a
descendant of one Of the Hugucnot refugees,
who fled from their native land after tile
revocation of the edict of Nantz in 1866. He
had been an officer of some note during the
l'svolut'on-a warm political and personal
friend Of the author Of the Declaration of
lndependence-and a gentleman who had
always stood high in the esteem of his asso.
clates and contemporaries.
Though at ono time man of wealth.
Colonel Bertrand had lost much. and suf
fered much, through British invasion; and
when, shortly after the close of the war