Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-06
literarp 6eIettiuns.
THE GAME AT CARDS.

sshow them up, and let US see what they
look Ike"
The young planter, who had lost sent
the boat servant below for John and Hell
en- The passengers awaited the appear
ance of the servants in silence, for long
time, but they came not. The servant
had Informed them of the change of
owners, and they dreaded to see their
new master, They were attached to the
young planter and his wife, and did not
ike 70 leave them; besides they had chill
dren Of their own at home, and what was
to become of them?
The winner began to wax impatient at
the delay and exclaimed:
Come, Danton, hurry the niggers.
They must be quicker than this when 1
send for 'em, or they'll never know what
hurt 'em.'
The young planters aristocratic face
flushed crimson at this rude and brutal
exclamation, but he made no reply. He
was about to send another servant for
John and Helen when his purpose was
stayed by the appearance Of Mrs. Ion-
ton Her husband had been ganni--z,. and
she had peen weeping ever since the boa,
left Cincinnati; and we were now far
down the Mississippi. No wonder, then,
that she was pale and wan, and that her
eyes looked as though they had been
nearly wept away; but she was extremely
lovely, nevertheless.
Although many years have passed
since that evening, I can see the sorrow
stricken young wife now, as she glided
unto the table and looked her husband in
the face. He could not bear up under
her gaze. He had lost all their money,
and in fit of desperation had also staked
and lost the two slaves. Laying her lit
tie hand on his arm she said:
is it true, Charles, that you have lost
John and Helen ?'
Her husband made no reply he could
not even look up.
The passengers were fast gathering
around and the scene was growing painful.
My father (who had come north to fetch
me from school and, was taking the long
est possible way honey was holding me
by the hand, and knew by the tighten
ing Of his grasp that he was becoming
much excited.
As Danton did not seem inclined to an.
swer his wife's question, the gamestel
roughly said:
eyes ma'am; John and Helen are mine
and / want too see 'em quick
Danton sprang to his feet, and stopping
across the table, Missed in the teeth of the
gamester:
"Villain! don't you presume to speak
to my wife again"
The look with which this menace was
accompanied was perfectly blasting, and
made the swarthy and pitted face Of the
gamester turn white.
How inconsistent IS man? That ac-
complished and high born husband could
deliberately leopard the property and cor.
rode the happiness of his wife, hour aftel
hour, day after day, and year after year
but he could not bear that the man whom
he had chosen fora companion should
even as much as speak to her.
Eyes, Mary, John and Helen are lost
he said at last, as he let the gamester from
under his gaze ''they are lost, and i
can't be helped now; SO don't let US have
scene about it."
Il shall not let them co. said Mary
firmly, "and 1 shall have a scene about II
/ did not say word about the money
but now that you have paIved them ava,
oh Charliel" and she leaned herh hea,
on her husbands breast.
"Ah! here they come" said the game
ster, as John and Helen approached.
John was a powerful and fine lookin!
mulatto; his face indicated unsual intel
hgence and kind heartedness. Helen wa
much whiter than her husband, and re
markably handsome. The gamester'
evai eye cleaned as he surveyed her, an
turning to savage looking man near hin
he said:
@I'll sell you John in the morninc
Hammond; but Helen shall keen
least for two Or three days"
SIN agreeable said the slave trade
forsuch he was; shut I'd like the gal e
soon as possible"
A look of indignation ran around IL
group at this brutal colloquy. My fail
ers grasp grew tighter still and encou
aged thereby, I whispered to him to bu
John and Helen himself, but he shoe
his head and motioned me to keep siler
u tell you shall not let them 90, T
peated Mrs. Danton, addressing the stra