Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-05-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
II pER1Is or THE BORDER.


"wid West" short time subsequent to the
Revolution, in which highly accomplished
young lady, the daughter of distinguished
officer of the American Army, played an i'm
portant part. The story being Of most
thrilling nature, and exhibiting in striking
manner the "Peris Of the Border we have
concluded to give an extract from it, as orig
inslly published, as follows
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Kanawha, formed by its junction with the
Ohio. is called Point Pleasant, and is place
# historical note. Here, on the 10th of
October, IVA, during what is known as Lord
Dunmore's War, was fought one Of the ferc-
est and most desperate battles that ever took
place between the Virginians and their forest
ioes.
After the battle in question, in which the
Indians were defeated with great loss, fort
was here erected by the victors, which became
q post of great importance throughout the
sanguinary scenes of strife which almost i'm
modiately followed, and which in this section
OF the country were continued for many years
after that establishment Of peace which ac-
lu1wledged the United Colonies of America
free and Independent nation.
At the landing Of the fort. on the day our
story opens, was fastened a ilat-boat of the
kind used by the early naVgotors Of the
Western rivers
Upon the deck Of this boat, at the moment
SIC 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
was a stout. sleek negro, in partial livery, and
cvi emily house or body servant; three were
latmen and bordcrcrs, as indicated by their
r9r ;h, bron2ed visages and coarse attire but
c fifth was young man, some two-and-
twenty years Of age, of fine commanding
ptyson, and a clear, open and intelligent coun-
tcu,nce and in the lofty carriage of his head
I'm the CLEAN of his largo, bright hazel eye
there was something which denoted one of
npetior mind but AS we shall have occa-
sion in the course Of our narrative TO fully set
f,rit who and what Eugene Fairfax was, we
wiz leave him for the present, and turn to
T. approaching group, whom he seemed to
b egarding with lively interest.
Of this group, composed Of middle-aged
mal and four females, with a black female
sci ant following some five or six PAGES in the
rl~. there was ono whom the most casual
csc would have singled out and rested upon
win pleasure. The lady in question was APP
la ntly about twenty years of age of slcn-
DIR and graceful figure, and of that peculiar
c.-t of feature which, besides being beautiful
ia every lineament rarely fails to affect the
% p der with something like a charm.
Ter travelling costume fine brown habit.
hiyl in the neck, buttoned closely over the
b')m and coming down to her small pretty
6 without trailing on the ground-was
D "a neat and becoming; and with her riding
ct1 and its waving ostrich plume, set gaily
above her flowing curs, her appearance CON
go ted forcbly with the rough, unpublished
% IS Of those Of her sex beside her, with
Their linsey bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petit
IS. aud bletched linnen caps.
Oh, Blanche" said one of the more ven
dc of her female companions, pursuing a
con fersation which had been maintained since
u ting the open fort behind them, 81 cannot
b'ir to let you 60, for it Just seems to me as
~ omething were going to happen to you.
a7 when | feel that way something generally
dos happen"
Well. aunt returned Blanche, with a
ut laugh, ~ do not doubt in the least that
something will happen--for ! expect one OF
tse days to reach my dear father and blessed
% ther, and give them such an embrace as is
from a dutiful daughter to her parents
al that will be something that has not hap
p'1ed for two long years at least"
But don't mean that, Blanche, returned
the other, somewhat petulantly; "and you
Just laugh like a gay and thoughtless girl,
when you ought to be serious. Because you
lave come safe thus far, through II partially
settled country, you think, perhaps, your own
pretty face will ward off danger in the more
p rilous wildernoss-but | warn you that a
l-rful journey is before You Scarcely a
b at doscends the Ohio that does not encoun-
tar more or less peril form the sayages that
p.owl along either shore aud some of them
that 20 down freighted with human life are
hoard of no more, and none ever return to
tell the tale
but why repeat this to me, dear aunt, "
returned Blanche, with more serious air,
when you know it is my destiny, either good
or bad, to attempt the voyagei My parents
have sent for me to join them in their now
home, and it is my duty to go to them, be
the peril what it may"
"You never did know what il is to fear 20
pursued the good woman, rather proudly
No" she repeated, turning to the others,
blanche Bertrand never did know what it
was to fear, believe r.
just like her father r. Joined in she hus-
band of the matron, the brother Of Blanche s
mother, the commander Of the station, and
the middle-aged gentleman mentioned as one
Of the party "a true daughter of a true sol
dier. Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand,
God bless him for true heart; never did
seem to know what it was to fear-and
Blanche is just like him"
BY this time the parties had reached the
boat and the young man already described
Eugene Fairfax, the Secretary of Blanche
father, at once stepped forward, and, in a po-
lite and deferential 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 a single instant met
hers. She might herself have seen it-por.
haps she debut there was no correspond
ing glow on her own bright, pretty face, as
she inquired, in the calm, dignifed tone OF
one having the right to put the question. and
who might also have been aware of the inc.
quality of position between herself and him
she addressed
"Lugene, is everything prepared for oul
departure? 1t will not do for our boat tc
l..