M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-05-20
inequality Of position between herself and

Eugene, is everything prepared for our de
parture2 1t will not do for our boat 10 spring
a leak again, as it did coming down the Ka
nawha-for it viii not be sale for us, am
tolG, 10 touch either shore between the differ.
ent forts and trading posts on our route, this
side of our destihation,--the falls of the
Ohio alrrll asl asor,'e.r n; s,7g g,r.
mo, indeed 7 rejoined her aunt, quickly
1T will be as much as your lives are worth tC
venture foot from the main current of the
Ohio-for news reached US only the other day
that many boats had been attacked thii
spring, and several lost, with all on board.
mo one feels more concerned about thl
safe passage Of Miss Bertrand than myself,
replied Eugene, in de(enntiai toueI 'ant
since our arrival here, have left nothing un
done that ! thought might possibly add to hel
security and comfort ~, ..f, g. d.
! THAT is true, to my personal knowledge,
joined in the uncle oeBlanche; Iand thank
you, Mr.. Fairfax, in behalf of my fair kins.
woman. There will, perhaps, he pursued
be no great danger, SO long as. you keep in
the current; but your watch must no. bt
neglected for single moment, either night
or day; and do not, most solemnly charge
you, under any circumstances, or on any pre-.
tence whatsoever, suffer yourselves to be de.
coyed 70 either shore = - ..,,e,,,,r, y7.i
q hope we understand our duty better,
Colonel, said one of the men, respectfully. u
~ doubt it not replied the commander oil
the Point; Il believe you are all faithful and
true men, oryou would not have been select
ed by the agent of Colonel Bertrand, for taxi
ing down more precious freight than you ev-
er carried before; but still the wisest and
best of men have lost their lives by giving
ear to- the mostearnest appeals Of humanity.
You understand what, II mean? White men,
apparently in the greatest distress, will hail
your boat, represent themselves as having
just escaped from the Indians, and beg 81
you, for the love Of God, in the most piteous
tones, to come to theirrelief but turn deaf
ear to them---to each and all of them--eyen
should you know the peaders. to be OF your
own skin; for in such case your own broth,
er might deceive you-not wilfully and vol
UNFAIRLY, perhaps--but because of being goad-
ell on by the savages, themselves concealed.
Yes, such things have been known as one
friend being thus used to lure another to his
destruction; aud so be cautious, viglant,
brave and true, and may the good God keep
you from all harm = 1871, fe7a a.f'.' i.'i
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceed !.
ed to take an affecti0nate leave of all, receiv-
ing many tender message for her parents
from those who held them in love and ven
eration; and the boat swung out, and began
10 foat down with the current, now fairly en- .
tered upon the most dangerous portion of a
long and perilous journey,i 6 III gnoig a
The father OF Blanche, Colonel Philip Ber-
trend, was native OF Virginia, and q de-
scendant ofone of the Hueenot refugees, who
fled from their native land after the Tevoca.
tion of the edict Of Nantz in 1865. He had
been an officer OF some note during the Rev.
olution--a warm political and personal
friend Of the author Of the Declaration Of In-
dependence-and a gentleman who had al
ways stood high in the esteem ofhis associates
and cotemporaries. .a m-..i s"Gt,
Though at one time, man ofwealth, Col.
Bertrand had lost much, and suffered much,
through British invasion; and when, shortly
after The close Of the war, he had met with a
few more serious reverses, he had been fain
to accept grant of land, near the Falls Of
the Ohio, now Louisville, rendered him by
Virginia which then held Jurisdiction over
the entire territory now constituting the
State ofKentucky. .n5 ..f.ro a.. .s+--.a
The grant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his new possessions and building up
a new home in the then Far West. and as
his wife had insisted upon &C 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 a
place could be prepared which might in some
degree be considered fit abode for one so
carefully and tenderly reared. a.s riH)
Blanche would gladly have gone with her
parents, but ON this point her father had
been MISUNDERSTANDING that she would
haze 10 remain at the East till he should see
proper to send for her, and as he was man
Of positive character, and a rigid discipline
rian, the matter had been settled withou.
arg ument. ,li .f "a.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to the
West, Eugene Fairlax, as we have seen, ac-
companied him; and coming Of age shortly
after he had accepted the liberal offer of his
noble benefactor to remain with him in the
capacity of private secretary and confidential
agent. On taking possession Of his grant, the
Colonel had almost Immediately erected a
a fort, and offered such inducements to set
Tiers as to speedily collect around him quite
a little community--of which, as a matter
Of course, be became the head aud chief and
to supply the wants Of his own family and
O thers. and increase his gains in legitimate
way he had opened a store, and filled i with
goods from the Eastern marts, which goods
were transported, by land over the mountains
to the Kanawha, and thence by water to the
Falls OF the Ohio, whence their removal to
Fort Bertrand became all easy matter. 10
purchase and ship these goods, and deliver a
package of lettets to friends in the East, Eu-
gene had been thrice. dispatched-his third
commission also extending to the escorting
Of the beautiful heiress, with her servants, to
her new home. This. last commission bad
been, SO far executed at the time chosen for
the opening of our story !. as 10 bring the diff
isrent parties to the mouth of the great Kan
awba whence the reader has seen them slow
" floating Of upon the still, CLASSY bosom Of
sthe belle OF riyersps "
The day, which was an auspicious one,
passed without anything occurring worthy
Of note, until near four o'clock, when, as
Blanche was standing on the fore part Of the
deck gazing at the lovely. scene which sur
rounded her, she saw seemingly flying
body suddenly leave "a limb of a gigantic
tree,, (whose mighty branches extended far
over the river, and near which the boat was
A