Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-20
A STORY OF
: OLD VIRGINIA

Of Virginia owned q large estate on
Chesapeake bag. The storm Of war
swept over 1t twice. once during tho
Revolution. after which IL was restored.
and once during the civiI war. since
which time II has been divided and IL
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 a French girl, Jean
netts la Tour. and married her against
his mothers wishes. Before the old
lady died sse 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 hey,
know you love him. Keep a watch
over his wife. and 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.
1t was not long before Joe discovered
that his young masters wife had a
hover. George Bentley himself was not
above reproach, and had 1t not been
for his promise Joe would have LET
matters take their course. As it was.
he kept an eye ON Jeanette Bentley.
and one day. seeing her mount her
horse and ride away, he followed her
at distance. She rode on TO a bridge
and waited. Joe crawled through some
| bushes and found a good position I'M
der the bridge. He soon heard the
sound of a horses hoofs, and Cyrus
Hetherfngton, the lover. Joined the
young wife. Joe overheard them ar
ranging a plan TO elope together to
France, Jeanette taking with her n
large sum of money which her hus-
band was keeping at home for the pur-
pose Of paying OF mortgage. The
robbery and fllght were to take place
that night between IL and IL O'Clock.
Joe was too wise to bring on the
bloodshed that was sure to follow
ne iHtbEAA MS VI Abt
plot. He armed himself and went to
the appointed rendezvous. Riding from
there In the direction Hetherington
would come. he met him, thrust re-
yolver In his face. disarmed him and
took his papers, consisting Of letters
from Jeanette Bentley and other
proofs of the Intended robbery.
gassf rad and IDa
returned TO the plantation. He had
married a quadroon girl when she was
old Mrs. Bentley's maid, and 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. Go
| ing TO the nearest cabin. he eagerly
made Inquiries and was told that his
wife had been sold. Fastening to the
manor house, he found her young mas
ter at the sideboard pouring out glass
OF brandy.
Mars George he said, choking
back his tears, ives 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 sheT'
Another silence. then another reply:
well, I've been away all day, and
| gave orders that Maggie should be
taken to the white cottage"
what foh?"
This time there was no reply.
MARS George" said Joe. 81 jist
done yo' a little favah. | reckon when
yo know bout 1t yo'll glib me back my
Maggie"
"a favor? What favorf
Before mistiss died she said TO me
to watch over yo'r Mars George to see
dat nothin' happens him. rze been
a-watchin', and I've saved yo' from be
in robbed. Mars George. eff l done
prove to yo' dat saved yo' money, will
yo' glib me back my Maggie?"
II will. joe"
Joe produced papers taken from
Hetherington. withholding Jeanette
Bentley's letters. Bentley seized them
and scanned them eagerly.
The internal scoundrel!' he exclaim-
ed. How did you get thesef"
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 clean breast. Joe,
finding that the whole plot must come
out, gave the required information.
George Bentley with the feroeity of a
tiger rushed to his wIfe's room. She
was not there.
"Joe," he said when he returned,
my mother was right. and was
wrong / slnned against her. and l
have slnned against you. Go to the
white cottage and take Maggie home