Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-15


which then held jurisdiction over the en-
tire territory now constituting the State OF
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel up
OIL seeking his new possessions and build
ing up new home in the then Far West,
and as his wife had insisted upon accom-
panying him on his first tour, he had as.
sented TO her desire, OH condition that
Blanche should be left among her friends,
ill such time as place could be rrepar-
ed which might in Some degree be con-
sidored a fit abode for one 50 carefully
and tenderly reared.
Blanche would gladly have gone with
her parents; but on this point her father
had been eXorabe-declaring that she
would have TO remain al the East till he
should see proper to send for her; and
as he was man Of positive character, and
a rigid discipllnarian, the matter had
been settled without argument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed TO
the West. Eugene Fairfax, as we have
seen, accompanied him and coming OF
age shortly after,he had accepted the lib
eral offer of his noble benefactor, TO re-
main with him in the capacity Of private
secretary and confidential agent. On Ia
king possession of his grant, the Colonel
had almost Immediately erected a fort,
and offered such inducements TO settlers
as TO speedily collec, around him quite a
little community--of which, as matter
of course, he became The head and chief;
and to supply the wants OF his own fam
lily and others, and increase his gains in
legitimate way, he had opened store,
and filled it with goods from the Eastern
marts, which goods were transported by
land over the mountains % the Kanawha,
and thence by water to the Falls of the
Ohio, whence their removal 10 Fori Ber-
trand became an easy matter. TO pur-
chase and ship these goods, and deliver
package oi letters TO friends in the East,
Eugene had been thrice dispatched--his
third commission also extending TO the
escorlng of the beautiful heress, with
her servants, 10 her new home. This
last commission had been so far execu-
ted at the time chosen for the opening Of
our story, as TO bring the different par
lies TO the mouth of the great Kanawha,
whence the reader has seen them slowly
floating off upon the still CLASSY bosom
of "lhe belle of rivers"
The day which was an auspicious one,
passed without anything occurring worthy
Ioc, ~ x,b
Blanche was standing on the fore part Of
The deck gazing at the lovely scene which
surrounded her, she saw seemingly fly
ing body suddenly leave limb of a gigan-
tic tree, (whose mighty branches extend
ed far over the river, and near which the
boat was then swayed by the action Of the
current and alight with crash upon the
deck of the boat, not more than eight feet
from her. One glance sufficed TO show
her what the object was, and 10 freeze the
blood in her veins. The glowing eyes Of
huge panther met her gaze. The sud-
denness of the shock which this discove-
ry gave her was overpowering. With
deafening shrek she fell upon her knees
and clasped her hands before her breast.
The panther crouched for his deadly leap,
but ere he sprang, the hunting knife Of
Eugene Fairfax (wIo with the steersman,
was the only person OIL deck besides
Dianche). was buried to the hilt in his
side, inhicting a severe but not fatal
wound. The inluriaied beast at once
turned upon Eugene, and deadly slrug-
gle ensued. But it was short one. The
polished blade Of the knife played back
and forth like lightning flashes, and al
every plunge ii was buried TO the hilt in
the panlber's body, who soon fell 10 the
deck, dragging the dalnless Eugene with
him. On seeing her protector fall.
Blanche uttered another shrek and rush.
ed 10 his aid but assistance from stouter
arms was at hand. The boatmen gather
ed round, and the savage monster was
literally hacked in pieces with their
knives and hatchels, and Eugene, covered
with blood, was dragged from under his
carcass. Supposiug him 10 be dead or
mortaly wounded, Blanche threw her
arms around his neck and gave way TO a
passionate burst of grief. But he was
not dead-he was moi even hurt, with the
exception of few slight scratches. The
blood with which he was covered was the |
panher's, not his own. But Blanche's
embrace was his-a priceless treasure
an index Of her hearts emotions and af- |
iections. 1t was 10 color his whole fu-
tuSe life, as will be seen in the progress
oil our story.
Slowly and silently, save the occasional
creak. dip. and plash Of ,he sieersman's
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