Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-20

Hu w Os1, bHUIt tinlO suOoCqucue W
the Revolution, in which highly accom-
plished young lady, the daughter Of a distin-
guished officer of the American Army, play
ed an important part. The story being of
a most thrilling nature, and exhibiting in
striking manner fhc I" Perils of the Border"
we have concluded to give an extract from it,
as originally published, as follows:
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Kanawha, formed by its junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is a place
of historical note Here, on the 10th of
October, l774, during what is known as
Lord Dunmore's War, was fought one of the
fercest and most desperate battles that ever
took place between the Virginians and their
forrest foes.
After the battle in question, in which the
Indians were defeated with great loss, fort
was here erected dy the victors, which be-
came h post of great Importance throughout
the sanguinary scenes of strife which almost
Immediately followed, and which in this Sec
ton of the country were continued for many
years after that establishment of peace which
acknowledged the United Colonies OF Amer
lea free and independent nation,
At the landing Of the fort, on the day our
story opens, was fastened a Aat.boat of the
kind used by the early navlgators of the
Western rivers. -
Upon the deck Of ttlao ss'at, at the moment
we present the scene to the reader, stood five
individuals, alike engaged in watching a
group of persons, mostly females, who were
slowly approaching the landing. Of these
five, one was a stout, sleek negro, in partial
livery, and evidently house or body servant
three were boatmen and borderers, as indica-
ted by their rough, bronzed visages and
coarse attire; but the fifth was a young man,
some two-and-twenty years of age, of fine
commanding person, and a clear, open, intel
lgent Icountenance and in the lofty carriage
of his head-in the CLEAN of his large, bright
hazel eye-there was something which de-
noted one of the superior mind; but as we
shall have occasion in the course of our mar
rative to fully set forth who and what Eugene
Fairfax was, we will leave him for the pres.
ent, and turn to the approaching group, whom
he seemed to be regarding with lively In
terest
OF this group, composed of a middle-aged
man and four females, with a black female
servant following some five or SIX PAGES II
the rear, there,xas one whom the most casual
eye would have singled out and rested upor
with pleasure. The lady in question, wasap'
parantly about twenty years of age, of
slender and graceful figure, and of that pecu
liar cast of feature, which, besides being
beautiful in every lineament, rarely fails tt
affect the beholder with something like q
charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown hab
it, high in the neck, buttoned closely over the
bosom and coming down to her small pretty
feet, without trailing on the ground--wa'
both neat and becoming; and with her riding
cap and its waving ostrich plume, set gaily
above her flowing curls, her appearance con
trasted forciby with the rough, unpublished
looks of those OF her sex beside her, with
their insey bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petit
coats, and linen caps.
"Oh, Blanche" said one Of the more ven
erable of her s#sale companions, pursuing Il
conversation which had beer maintained slnct
quitting the open fort behind them, &C can
not bear to let you 60; for it just seems t(
me as if something were going to happen t(
you, and when | feel that way, something
generally does happen"
"Well, aunt returned Blanche, with
light laugh, Il do not doubt in the least tina
something will happen-for | expect one o
these days to reach my dear father and bles
sed mother, and give them such an embrace
as is due from dutiful daughter to her pa
rents-and that will be something that ha
not happened for two long years at least"
but don't mean that Blanche" return
ed the other, somewhat petulantly; "ant
you just laug h like a gay and thoughtlcs
girl, when you ought to be serious. Because
you have come safe thus far, through par
TALLY settled country, you think, perhaps, you
own pretty Gace will ward off danger in thu
more perilous wilderness-but warn you
that fearful journey isbefore you! Scarce
ly boat descends the Ohio, that docs not en-
counter more Or less peril from the savage
that prowl along either shore; and some o
them that 60 down ireighted with human lif
are heard of no more, and none ever return
to tell the tale"
but why repeat this to me, dear aunt,
returned Blanche, with more serious air
"when you know it is my destiny, either goo'
or bad, to attempt the voyage? My parent
have sent for me to join them in their nev
home, and it is my duty to go to them be tn
peril what it may"
You never did know what it was to fear !!
pursued the good woman, rather proudly
No." she repeated, turning to the others
Blanche Bertrand never did know what
was to fear, believed
"Just like her father !" joined in the hus
band Of the matron, the brother of Blanche
mother, the commander of the station, ant
the middle-aged gentlemen mentioned as on
of the party;r"a true daughter of tru
soldier. Hes father, Colonel Philip Bert
rand, God bless him for true heart neve
did seem to know what it was to fear-an
Blanche is just like him."
BY this time the parties had reached tn
boat; and the young man already describes
Eugene Fairfax, the secretary of Blanche
father-at once stepped forward, and, in
polite and defcrcntial manner, offered his ham
to the different females, to assist them o.
board. The hand of Blanche was the last t
THOUGH his-and then but slightly, as sh
sprung quickly add lightly to the deck-bu
a close observer might have detected IN
slight flush which mantled his noble express
i've features as his eye for single instan
met hers. She might herself have seen it
perhaps she debut there was no CORES
ponding glow on her own bright, pretty face
as she inquired in the calm, dlgnihed tone
one having the right to put the question, an
who might also have been aware OF the in
lnnuolitu az ,oo;tion hptwapn herself and hlr