The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-07-02
GR|MSHAW'S PLAN
[Original.1

| after hard days hOelng, enjoying the
recreation of practicing with an old
| pistol that he had found and polished.
| Gumbo, as he was called, had a pas.
! sion for shooting and was an expert.
We kn a circle of admiring darkies he
was tossing up chips and putting bull
| lets through them while in the air. Am
| brose Grimshaw, the overseer, hearing
| the shots, went to see what it meant.
| From behind one of the cabins he wit
messed Gumbo's skill without being
himself seen. Then, advancing, he or
| dered that the boy receive fifty lashes
for having firearms in his possession.
Gumbo bore his punishment with
| patient endurance. 1t was common
occurrence on that especial plantation
| owing to the cruel nature of the over
seer The negro showed no vindictive-
ness and was always afterward Obe-
dent, even to servility.
| Prochet, the owner of the plantation,
was an easy going man, with no head
| for business, while Grimshaw was as
avaricious as he was cruel One day
Prochet discovered that all he pos
] sessed was about to pass to his over
seer. Grimshaw was above his class in
| breeding and education. Indeed he
was fairly we'll born. Prochet con-
| ceived the idea of marrying his daugh-
ter to Grimshaw on condition that the
| property be settled on him. Miss Pro
| Chef objected, especially since while on
| visit to ST. Augustine she had met a
| young officer of the United States ar
my at Fort Marion, with whom she had
| fallen in love and who had asked her
| hand But when her father told her
! that a marriage with Grimshaw was
| the only way to save the plantation she
resolved to sacrifice herself for her ia
! ther whom she loved Gevotedly,
| The war came on, and while Proehet
became poorer Grimshaw grew richer.
| being interested in a blockade runner
| that had made several successful trips
| from Southampton to Charleston. 1t
was at this time that Miss Prochet con-
scented to marry him. The war had sep
| arated her from her northern lover, and
| she had heard nothing from him since
| the firing on Sumter. But one morning
| about sunrise, when no one suspected
| there was a Yankee within fifty miles,
| 10000 of them came hurrying down the
turnpike past the plantation, having
made a forced march during the night.
They went into camp near by, and dur
ing the day young captain of artil-
lery rode up to the Prochet manor
house to call upon Miss Prochet. He
was Edgar Pennington, the man who
had asked her hand.
His coming caused a commotion. Mr..
Prochet was in great distress about
the matter. Carey's resolution was
put to a severe test, while Grimshaw
ground his teeth and vowed that she
should never wed the young officer.
One night an officer was picked off
by bushwhacker who was never dis
covered This suggested to Grimshaw
a means of getting rid of his rival. He
sent for Gumbo to come to his rooms.
"Gumbo," ne said, ''would you like
your freedomY'
Eyes, masSa."
sAnd $4,000 besides?"
''Yes, massa." The darky's eyes were
as big as saucers.
nington will leave the plantation to
ride to camp. I will join and ride with
him. You follow and when take off
my hat shoot him through the head"
"Why don't yo' do dat yo'self,
NASSAU
ssJ x.,;ch RI roorry Miss proobot r.
I killed Captain Pennington even in a
fair fight, it would prevent this mar
rage"
"But wha' fo' d'yo' go long: with him
when he git shot?"
''To prove that did not shoot him
myself. shall give you signal when
some one is near to be witness in my
favor. You must shoot from dis
lance, but you are good shot and can
hit your mark easily"
Gumbo lowered his eyes to the
ground and thought while Grimshaw
watched him eagerly. Presently the
negro looked up and said:
Reckon I want dat freedom and de
five thousan' dollars"
very well, lufk near Tue piduld llOH
gate from 10 o'clock till you see the
man come out. If you succeed, come
here tomorrow. / will keep my word"
At IL o'clock Pennington, who had
finally secured Miss Prochet's consent
to break with Grimshaw, rode out of
the plantation gate feeling very happy.
He had not gone far before he overlook
a horseman whom he recognized as his
rival.
'Good evening, captain said the lat
ter. Riding to campw
EYES," said the captain shortly.
'With your permission I'll ride with
you
"As you like"
Grimshaw made passing remarks at
intervals till an army courier, with a
dispatch in his belt, met them, when
be raised his hat. Pennington was as
tOnished to see the overseer pitch for
ward in his saddle and fall to the
ground.
1t was fortunate for Pennington that
there was witness tn Drovo ha was