Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Story of Old Virginia. =
[OriSinaL1

| swept over II twice, once during the
Revolution. after which il was restored,
and once during the civil war, since
which time * has been divided and is
now owned in part by former slaves
and their descendants.
During the early part of the last
century young George Bentley came
into the possession of the property. He
fell In love with IA French girl. Jean
nette la Tour, and married her against
his mothers wishes. Before the old
lady died she sent for one of the house
servants, Joe, and said TO him:
Joe, | am convinced that my sons
wife Will be his ruin. You and he
played together when YOU were little
children. and. though you are his boy,
/ know you love him. Keep Il watch
over his wife, ana IL YOU find that she
is about To bring discredit or loss upon
him warn him."
Joe made the required promise, and
soon after old Mrs. Bentley died.
Ii was not long before Joe discovered
| that his young masters wife had Il
lover. George Bentley himself was not
| above reproach,- and had il not been
| for his promise Joe would have let
| matters take their course. As il was,
he kept an eye Oh Jeanette Bentley,
and one day, seeing her mount her
horse and ride away, he followed her
at distance. She rode OH 10 a bridge
and waited. Joe crawled through some
bushes and found II good position I'M
der the bridge. He soon heard the
| sound of IL horses hoofs, and Cyrus
HetherinGton, the lover, joined the
| young wife. Joe overheard them ar
ranging a plan TO elope together TO
| France, Jeanette taking with her Il
large sum OF money which her hus-
band was keeping at home for the pur-
pose of paying OF mortgage. The
robbery and flight were to take place
that night between IL and L. o'clock.
Joe was too wise to bring on the
bloodshed that was sure To follow
should he inform his master of the
plot. He armed himself and went TO
the appointed rendezvous. Riding from
there in the direction HetheringtOn
would come. he met him, thrust Il re-
volver in his face, disarmed him and
took his papers. consisting Of letters
from Jeanette Bentley and other
|
HethcrinGfon disappeared, ana Joe
returned TO the plantation. lie had
married quadroOn girl when she was
old Mrs. Bentley's maid. ana the couple
were devoted To each other. Joe after
leaving Hetherington sought his cabin
and his Maggie Approaching. he saw
| no light. The place WAS empty. Co
ing TO the nearest cabin. he eagerly
Ia
wife had been sold. Fastening To the
manor house, he found her young mas
ter ut the sideboard pouring out glass
OF brandy.
Mars George" hc said. choking
back his tears. yves played togedder
as chillen. and now yo' Goin' fob to
ruin me"
What is It, Joe:" asked Bentley
shamefacedly.
"Dey say yo' done sold my Maggie"
Bentley'did not reply for some time,
then said:
THAT isn't true. She isn't sold"
Then whar is she:"
Another silence, then another reply:
We'll, I've been away all day, and
l gave orders that Maggie should be
taken To the white cottage"
what fohY'
This time there was no reply.
Mars George" said Joe, II jist
done yO' n little favah. l reckon when
yo' know bout il YOU glib me back my
Maggie"
"a favor? What favOr?''
Before mistiss died she said to me
to watch over yo'r Mars George to see
dat nOthin' happens him. Ize been
a-watchin', and I've saved yO' from be-
in robbed. Mars George. ef l done
prove to yo' dat l saved yO' money, will
20 glib me back my Maggie?"
81 will, joe
Joe produced papers taken from
Hetherington, Withholding Jeanette
Bentley's letters. Bentley seized them
and scanned them eagerly.
THE internal scoundrcl!' he exclaim-
ed. How did you get these?"
Joe tried in vain to give Hethering-
toms part in the plot without revealing
the part taken by his masters wife.
Bentley became suspicious that the boy
was deceiving him and violently order
ed him to make n clean breast. Joe,
finding that the whole plot must come
out, gave the required information.
George Bentley with the ferocity of a
tiger rushed TO his wife's room. She |
was not there.
Joe" lie said when he returned, |
my mother was right, and 1 was
wrong. 1 sinned against her, and l |
have sinned against you. Go to the |
white cottage and take Maggie home |
with you. From this night you and |
she are free. Tomorrow l will sign |
your free papers,
Jeanette Bentley was never seen
again at the plantation. Hetherington |
Joined her at the rendezvous, and they |
went abroad together. Joe had not |