Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-15

your boat, represent themselves as having
inst 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 deal
eur to them-to each and all of them-even
should you know the slunderers to be of your
own kin for in such q case your own brother
might deceive you-not willully and volun-
tarily, perhaps-but because of being goaded
on by the savages, themselves concealed
| Yes, such things have been known as one
| friend being thus used to lure another t. his
destruction and so be cautious, vgilant
brave and true, and may the good God keep
you all from harm !"
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceed
ed to take an affectionate leave of all, recciv-
ing many q tender message for her parents
from those who leld them in love and vene-
ration; and the boat swung out, and began
to float down with the current, now fairly
entered upon the most dangerous portion OF
o long and peilous journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Phillip
Bertrand. was a native OF Virginia, and a
defendant of one of the Huguenot refugees,
who fed from their native land after the rev.
ocation of the edict of Nantz in 1865. lie
had been an officer of some note during the
Revolution-a warm political and personal
friend of the author of the Declaration of
Independcnce-and gentleman who had al
ways stood high in the esteem of his associ.
| ates and contemporaries.
Though at enc time man Of wealth, Col
| onel Bertrand had lost much, and suffered
much, through British invasion ; and when,
shortly after the close OF the war, he had
&, h., Il
| been fain to accept grant of land, near the
Falls Of the Ohio, now Louisville, rendered
by Virginia, which then held jurisdiction
over the entire territory now constituting the
State of Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his new possessions and building up
o new home in the then Far West, and as his
wife hid insisted upon accompanying him on
his first tour, he had as >ented 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 de-
gree be considered fit abode for one 80
carefully and tenderly reared.
Blanche would gla lily have gone with her
parents but on this point her father had
been Notwithstanding that she would
have to remain at the East till he should see
proper to send for her; and as he was man
| of positive character, and rigid discirlina-
rian, the matter had been settled without ar
gument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to the
West Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen, &C.
companied him and coming of age shortly
after, lie had accepted the liberal offer of his
| noble benefactor, to remain with him in the
capacity Of private secretary and confiden-
tial agent. On taking possession of his grant,
the Colonel had almost Immediately erected
fort, and offered such inducements to set
tiers as to speedily collect around him quite
little community-of which, as matter OF
course, he became the head and chief; and
to supply the wants of his own family and
others, and increase his gains in legitimate
way, he had opened store, aud filled it with
G. DDS from Eastern marts, which goods
were transported by land over the mountains
to the Kanawaha, and thence by water to the
Falls of the Ohio, whence their removal to
Fort Bertrand became an easy matter. To
purchase and ship these goods, and deliver
a package Of letter to friends in the East
Eugene had been thrice dispatchcd-his third
commission also extending to tie escorting
of the beautiful heiress, with her servants, tc
her new home. This last commission had
been SO far executed at the time chosen fl
the opening of our story, as to bring the diff
ferent parties to the mouth of the great
Kanawha, whence the reader has seen them
slowly floating off upon the still, CLASSY bosom
of the belle of rivers.
The day, which was an auspicious one pas
sed without anything occurring worthy note
until near four o'clock, when, as Blanche wa.
standing on the fore part of the deck gazing
at the lovely scene which surrounded her, she
saw seemingly flying body suddenly leave 9
limb of tree, (whose mighty branches ex
tended far over the river, and near which the
boat was then swayed by the action of the
current and alight with a crash upon the
deck Of the boat, not more than eight fee,
from her. One glance sufficed to show her
what the Object was, and to freeze the b Ood
in her veins. The glowing eyes of huge
panther met her gaze. The suddenness of the
shock which this discovery gave her was
overpowering. With q deafening shrek she
feel upon her knees acd clasped her hands
before her breast. The panther crorched
for his deadly leap, but ere he sprang, the
huntidg knife of Eugene Fairfax (who, with
the stee: sman, was the only person on deck
besides Blanshe,) was buried to the hilt in his
| sue, lliIiCIlIlS d SeNeTc UuI nOt Idtdl WOuuu.
The infatuated beast at once turned upor
Eugene, and deadly struggle cnsued. But
it was short one. The polished blade OF
the knit, played back and forth like lightning
flashes, and at every plunge it was buried t.
the hilt in partners body, who soon fell tc
deck, dragging the daunlless Eugene with
him. On seeing her protector fall. Blanch G
uttered another shrek and rushed to his id
but assistance from stouter arms was at hand
The boatmen gathered round, and the savage
monster was literally hacked in pieces with
their knives and hatchets, and Eugene, COW
cred with blood, was dragged from under his
carcass. Surprising him to be dead or mort
ally wounded, Blanche threw her arms ar
ound his neck and gave way to passionate
burst of grief. But he was not dead-he
was not even hurt, with the exception of q
few slight scratches. The blood with which
he was covered was the panther's, not bis
own. But Blanche's embrace was his
priceless treasure-an index of her heart.
emotions and affections. 1t was to color bis
whole future life, as will be seen in the pro
gress of our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional
creak, dip, and splash of the steersmans oar,
the boat of our voyagers was borne along
upon the bosom of the current, on the third
night of the voyage. The hour was waxing
late, and Eugene, the only one astir except
the watch, was suddenly startled, BY rough