The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-05-12

close observer might have detected the
slight flush ,wlrch manted his noble, ex.
pressive features rs his eve for a single
instant met hers. She might herself have
seen it-perhaps she did-but there was
no correspondeniug glow on her own
bright, pretty face, rs she inquired, in the
calm, dignified tone of ole having the
right to put the question, and who might
also have been aware of the inequality of
position between herself and him she ad
dressed:
Eugene, is everything prepared for our
departure! 1t will not do for our boat
to spring leak again, as it did coming
down the kanawha-for it will not be
safe for US, l am told, to touch either shore
between the different forts and trading
posts on our route, this side Of our desti
Ration,-the Falls of the Ohio
NO, indeed ! rejoined her aunt, quick
Iy: 1T will he rs much as your lives arc
worth to venture foot from the main
current of the 0hio-for news reached us
oa'y the other day, that many boats had
been attacked this spring, aad several
lost, with all on board
No one feels mare concerned about the
safe passages Of Miss Bertrand than nv
sa't,' replied Eugene. in defereutisl tone;
'and since our arrival here, have left
nothing undone that thought might nos
sibly add to her security and comfort"
That Is true. to nay personal knowl.
edge Joined in the Wncle of blanche I:
and | thank you, Mr.. Fairfax, in behalf
OF my fair kinswoman. There will, per
haps,' he pursued, TO no great danger, so
long as you keep in the current; but your
watch must not be neglected for a single
moment, either night or day and do not,
most so!ennly charge and warn you,
under any circumstances, or on anv pre-
tence whatsoever, suffer yourselves TO be
decayed to either shorei'
Il hope we understand our dutv better.
Colonel, said one of the men, respectfully.
4 doubt it not replied the nander
OF the Point; 4 believe you are all faith
tul and true men, or you would not have
been selected by the sgent of Colonel Der
trand, for taking down more precious
freight than You ever carried before; but
sli. the wisest and best of men have lost
their lives by giving ear to the most earn.
est appeals ofhumanity. You understand
what mean White men, apparently
in the greatest distress, will hail your
boat, represent themselves as having lust
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 ear TO tliein-:o each aud all of them
even should you know the pIeaders to
be of your own kin; for in such a case
your own brother might deceive you-
not wllfully and voluntarily, perhaps
but because Of being goaded on by the
savages, themselves concealed. Yes, such
things have been known as one fri+ad be-
ing thus used to lure another to his de.
s'rnction; and SO be cautious, vigilant,
brave and true, and may the good God
keep yon all from harmr
AS he finished speaking, Blanche pro.
ceeded TO take an aaectionatc leave of all
receiving many a tender message for her
parents from those who held them in love
and veneratlon; and the boat swung out,
and began to float down with the curren,
now fairly entered upon the most danger
Gus portion Of long and perIous jour.
ncv.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Phillip
Ber,rapd, was a native of Virginia, and a
descendant of one of ,he Huguenot refu
gees, who fled from their native land after
the revocation Of the edict OF Nantz in
1868. lie had been an officer Of some
note during the Revolution-a warm DO.
ltIcal and personal friend of the au,her
OF the Declaration Of Independence and
gentleman who had always stood high
in the esteem of his associates and co,em .
poraries.
Though at one time man Of wealtl,
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and suf.
Tered much, through British invasion and
when, shortly after the close Of the wa,,
he had met with few more serious re.
verses, 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 en-.
tiro territory now constituting the State Of
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel up.
on seeking his new possession and build
my mp new home in the then Far West.
and as his wife had insisted upon accom-
Danring him on his first tour, lie had AS.
sented to her desire, on condition That
Bianche should he left among her friends
tiii such time as place could he prepared
which might in some degree be consider.
ed tit abode for one so carefully and
tenderly reared
blanche would gladly have gone with
her parents; but on this point her father
had been MISUNDERSTANDING 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 dlsciPlinarian, the matter had been
settled without argument.
When Colonel BertrauHremoyed 10 the
West, Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen.
accompanied him; and coming of ace
shortly after, he had accepted the liberal
offer of his noble benefactor, to remain
with him in the capacity of private secre.
tary and confidential agent. On taking