Smyrna times., 1858-05-13

mother, the commander of the station, and tn
middle-aged gentleman mentioned as one ofth
party; " a true daughter Of u true soldier
Her father, Colonel Philip Bertrand, God bles
him for a true heart! never did seem to know
what it was to fear--and Blanche is Just lik,
| him."
by this time the parties had reached tn,
boat; and the young man already described
Eugene Fairfax, the secretary of Banche's fa
tAer--at once stepped forward, and, in a polite
and deterentlal manner, offered his hand to the
different females, TO assist them on board. The
hand of Blanche was the last to touch hs--anC
then but slightly, as she sprung quickly anC
lightly to the deck-but close observer might
have detected the Slight flush which mantlet
his noble, expressive features as his eye for d
single instant met hers. She might hersel
have seen it-perhapS she did but there was
no corresponding glow on her own bright, pret.
ty face, as she inquired, in the calm, disnfed
tone OF one having the right to put the ques-
ton, and who might also have been IA ware of The
inequality of position between herself and him
she addressed:
"EIgene, is everything prepared for our de-
parture 1t will not do for our boat to spring
Il leak az lin, as it did coming down the Kama
Wha-tOr 1t will not be safe tor US, | am told, TO
touch either shore between the different forts
ana trading posts on our route this side of our
destinaton--the Falls OF the Ohio
"NO, indeed ~ rejoined her aunt, quickly ;
at Will be as much as your lives are worth to
venture a foot from the main current Of the
Ohlo--tor news reached us only the other day,
that many boats had been attacked this spring,
and several lost, with all on board''
No one feels more concerned abOu the safe
passage OF Miss Bertrand ihan myself" replied
Eugene, in deterential tone; land since our
arrival here, have left nothing undone that
thought might possibly add to her security and
comfort
"Ihat is true, to my personal knowledge"
Joined III the uncle OF Blanche "and | thank
you, Mr.. Fairfax, IN behalf of my fair kinswo-
man. There will, perhaps" he pursued, be
no great danger, so long you keep in the cur
rent; but your watch must not be neglected for
a single moment, either night or day and do
not, most solennly charge and warn you, un-
der any circumstances, or on any pretence
whatsoever suffer yourselves to be decoyed to
either shore !"
IL hope we understand our duty better,
Colonel" said enc Of jha men Respectfully
81 doubt it not" replied the commander of
the Point; 81 believe you are all faithful and
true men, or you would no,~have been selected
by the agent Of Colonel Bertrand, for taking
down more precious tre gilt lhan you ever car
rled before, tut still the wisost and Tie best Of
men have lost their lives by giving ear to the
most earnest appeals ofhumanity. You under
stand what | mean! Whi.e men, apparently
IN the greatest distress. will hail your boat, rep
resent themselves as having Just capcd from
the Indians, and beg Ofyou, for the love Of God,
IN the most piteOuS tones, to come TO their re-
lief; but turn deaf ear to thcm-to each aud
all o: them-even should you know the plead
erS TO be Of your kin for IN such a case your
own brother might deceive you-not wifully
and voluntarily, peral ps--but because OF beng
goaded on by the slvagcs, themselves con-
cealed. Yes, such things have been known as
one friend being thus used to lure another to
his destruction; aud so be cautious, vlgilant,
brave and true, aud may the good God keep You
all from harm! -
As he finished speaking, Blanche proceeded
to take an atectunate leave of all, receiving
many tender message for her parents from
those who held them in love aud veneration :;
and the boat swung out and began to float down
with the current, now fairly entered upon the
most dangerous portion of long and perilous
journey.
The father of Blanche, Colonel Philip Bert
rand, was native of Vrgina, and descend
ant of one of the Hugucnot refugees, who fled
from their native land after the revocation of
the edlct Of Nantz in 1865. lie had. been an
officer of some note during the Revolution-a
warm political and personal friend of the author
Ofthe Declaration Of fIndepeRdcnce-and 4 gen
tleman who had always stood high in the es-
TEEN Ut his associates and cOtemporares.
Though at one time man ofwealth, Colonel
Bertrand had lost much, and suffered much,
through British invasion; and when, shortly
after the close Of the war, he had met with a
lew more serious reverses, he had been fain to
accept grant of land, near the Falls of the
Ohio, now Louisville, rendered him by Vir-
glnla, which then held jurisdiction over the ea-
tire territory now constituting the State of
Kentucky.
The grant had decided the Colonel upon
seeking his new possessions and building up q
new home in the then Far West and as his
wife had insisted upon 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 place could be pre-
pared which might in some degree be considered
Il fit abode for one so carefully and tenderly
! reared.
| Blanche would have gladly gone with hel
parents; but on this point her father had beer
nexorable-declaring that she would have tc
remain at the East till he should see proper Il
send for her; and as he was & man of positive
character, and rigid discl lplnarian, the matter
had been settled without argument.
When Colonel Bertrand removed to lht
West, Eugene Fairfax, as we have seen, &C
companied him and coming of age shortly at
ter, he had accepted the liberal offer of his no
BILE benefactor, TO remain with him in the Ca
pacity of private secretary and con6Gsntia
agent On taking posses 'ion of his grant, tn
Colonel had almost Immediately erected for
and offered such inducements to settlers as I
collect around him quite little community
of which, as a matter OF Durse, he became th
head and chief; and to supply the wants of h
own. family and others, and increase his gain
in legitimate way, he had opened a store, an
: filled it with goods from the Eastern mart
: which goods were transported by land over til
: mountains to the Kanawhl. and theGce by WI
!, ter to the Falls Of the Ohio, whence their n
moyal to Fort Bertrand became an easy matte