The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-06-24
A STORY OF
OLD VIRGINIA
fOriginal.1

Before the war the Bentley family
Chesapeake bay. The storm of war
swept over it twice, once during the
after which it was restored,
and once during the civil war, since
which time it 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 a 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, 1 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.
I know you love him. Keep a watch
over his wife, and II 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 q
lover George Bentley himself was not
above reproach, and had it not been
for his promise Joe would have let
matters take their course. AS 1t was,
he kept an eye on Jeanette Bentley,
and one day, seeing her mount her
horse and ride away. he followed her
at a distance. She rode on to a bridge
and waited. Joe crawled through some
bushes and found a good position un-
der the bridge. He soon heard the
sound Of a 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 q
large sum of money which her hus-
band was keeping at home for the pur-
pose of paying on a mortgage. The
robbery and fight were to take place
that night between IL and II 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 a re-
volver in his face, disarmed him and
took his papers. consisting Of letters
from Jeanette Bentley and other
proofs Of the intended robbery.
Hetherington disappeared. and Joe
returned to the plantation. He had
married 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. Co
| 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, JoeT 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 sheY'
Another silence, then another reply:
"well. I've been away all day. and
I gave orders that Maggie should be
taken to the white cottage"
what foh?"
This time there was no reply.
MARS George" said Joe, 81 5ist
done yo' q little favah. / reckon when
yo' know bout it yo'll glib me back my
Maggie"
"A favor? What favorT
Before mistiss died she said to me
to watch over yo'r Mars George to see
dat nothin' happens him. Pze been
Ia-watchin', and I've saved yo' from be.
in robbed. Mars George. eff 1 done
prove to yo' dat saved yo' money. Will
yo' glib me back my MaggieY
81 will, Joe"
| Joe produced papers taken from
Hetherington, Withholding Jeannette
Bentley's letters. Bentley seized them
and scanned them eagerly.
THE internal scoundrelr he exclaim
ed. How did you get these"
Joe tried In vain to give Hethering
tons 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 q clean breast. Joe
finding that the whole plot must come
out, gave the required information
George Bentley with the ferocity Of 4
was not there.
Joe" he said when he returned
my mother was right. and l wa.
wrong l sinned against her, and
have sinned against you. Go to thu
white cottage and take Maggie hom'
with yod. From this night you ant
she are free. Tomorrow I will sigl
your free papers"
Jeanette Bentley was never seeI
again at the plantation. Hetheringtol
Joined her at the rendezvous, and the.
went abroad together Joe had no
only saved his master from being rob
bed, but from committing murder. Th
/ slave was commended for his wisdom
by every one. though his master a
: first regretted that he had not been In
e formed in time to kill the couple. Lat
5 | er he secured a divorce and marrie'
: again. 1t was then that he fully real
e lied how faithful and how farsights,
t Joe had been in saving him froE.
$ double murder. He gave Joe a smal
4 plantation 1t is being worked toda