The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-06-04

i0'u pulsueu the SOOu woman, rather
proudly. "No," she repeated, turning
~ the others, " Blanche Bertrand never
did know what it was to fear, | believe ~
"Just like her father" Joined in the
husband of the matron, the brother OF
Blanche's mother, the commander of the
station, and the middlc-agod gentleman
mentioned as one Of the party; "a true
daughter of true soldier. Her father,
Colonel Philip Bertrand, God bless him
for true heart never did seem to know
what it was to fear---and Blanche is just
like him."
BY this time the parties had reached
the boat; and the young man already
Observation-Disclosures Fairfax, the secretary
OF Blanchc's father at once stepped for
ward, and, in polite and defcrential
manner, offered his hand to the different
females, to assist them on board The
hand OF Blanche was the last to touch his
land then but slightly, as she sprung
quickly and lightly to the dcck---but a
close observer might have detected the
slight flush which mantled his noble, ex-
pressivc features, as his eye for a single
Instant met hers. She might herself have
seen it. perhaps she did--but there was
no corresponding glow on her own bright,
pretty face, as she inquired, IN the calm,
dignifed tone of one having the right to
put the question, and who might also have
been aware of the inequality of position
between herself and him she addressed
" Eugene, is everything prepared for
our departure 1t will not do for our
boat to spring a leak again, as it did com
ing down the Kanawha--for it will not be
safe for us, | am told, to touch either
shore between the different forts and
trading-posts on our route, this sds of
our destination, 1.-The Falls of the Ohio"
/" No, indeed :" rejoined her aunt, quick
ly: it will be as much as your lives are
worth to venture foot from the main
current of the Ohio---for 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 about
the safe passage of Miss Bertrand than
myself replied Eugene, in a defer entail
tone; "and since our arrival here, | have
left nothing undone that | thought might.
possibly add to her security and comfort .
"That is true, to my personal knowl-
-. Joined -, tho unole of blanche
and [ thank you, Mr.. Fairfax, in behalf
Of my fair kinswoman. There will, per-
haps," he pursued, "be no great danger,
so long as you keep in the current; but
your watch must not be neglected for
single moment, either night or day; and
do not, most solcmnly charge and warn
you, under any circumstances, or on any
pretence whatsoever, suffer yourselves to
be decoyed to either shore
81 hope we understand our duty better,
Colonel" said one Of the men respectfully
81 doubt it not, replied the com
mander of the Point | believe you are
all faithful and true men, or you would
not have been selected by the agent of
Colonel Bertrand, for taking down more
precious freight than you ever carried be-
fore; but still the wisest and the best of
men have lost their lives by giving ear to
the .smost earnest appeals Of humanity
You understand what mean? White
men, apparently in the greatest distress,
will hail your boat, represent themselves
as having just escaped from the Indians,
and beg of you, for the love Of God, in
the most plteous tones, to come to their
relief; but turn deaf ear to thcm---to
each and all Of thcm---evcn should you
know the pl, adcrs to be of your own kin
for III such a case your own brother might
deceive you---not wilfully and voluntarily, |
pcrhaps--but because Of being goaled on
by the sayagos, themselves concealed
\ es, such things have been known as one
friend being thus used to lure another to !
his destruction; and so be cautious, vigi- |
ant, brave and true, and may the good
God keep you all from harm :"
As he finished speaking, Blanche pro-
;ceded to take an affectcnate leave of all, |
many tender message for her
parents from those who held them in love
md veneration and the boat swung out,
md began to float down with the current, |
now fairly entered upon the most danger
ous portion of long and perilous journey.
The father Of Blanche, Colonel Philip |
Bertrand, was a native of Virginia, and
descendant of one of the Huguenot rcfu-
gees, who fled from their native land after
he revocation of the cdict of Nantz in
1868. He had been an officer of some
note during the Rcvolntiou---a warm po-
i.ical and personal friend of the author of
Inc Declaration of independence. and a
gentleman who had always stood high in
.hc esteem Of his associates and cotempo-
aries
Though at one time man of wealth,
Colonel Bertrand had lost much, and suf-
'erod much, through British invasion; and
when, shortly after the close Of the war,
nc 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-
ire territory now constituting the State
of H. anfuoI,.