Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-07-10
A MISSISSIPPI STORY.
THE GAME FOR LIFE

A MISSISSIPPI STORY.
THE GAME FOR LIFE.
''The darkies are mine," said the games
ter, striking his fist upon the table, ''show
'em up, and let us see what they look like ;"
The young planter who had lost, sent
one of the boat servants below for John and
Helen. The passengers awaited the ap-
pearance Of the servants in silence, for a
long time but they came not. The SER
want had informed them of the change of
Iowners. They were attached to the young
planter and wife, and did not like to leave
them but they had children 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 up the niggers
They must move quicker than this when I
send for 'em Or they'll never know what
hurt 'em."
The young planters aristocratic face
flushed crimson at this rude and brutal ex-
clamation, 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. Danton. Her husband
had been gaming, and she had been weep
ing ever since the boat 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 ex-
,quisitely lovely nevertheless.
Althoug n many years have passed since that
levening, | can see the sorrow stricken wife
nov, as she glided up to the table and look
ed her husband in the face. He could not
bear up under her gaze. He had lost all
his money, and in fit of desperation had
also staked and lost the last two slaves.
els it true that you have lost John and
Helen %
Her husband made no reply; he could
not even look up.
The passengers were now fast gathering
round, and the scene was growing painful.
NY father lwho had come North to fetch me
sible way home,) was holding me by the
hand, and I knew by the Tightening of his
grasp, that he was becoming much excited.
AS Danton did not seem inclined to an
swer his wife's question: the gamester rough
ly said -
eyes, ma am John and Helen are mine,
and [ want to see 'em quick"
Danton sprang to his feet, and STOPPING
across the table, Kissed in the teeth of the
gamester -
William! don't you presume to speak to
my wife again
The look with which the menance was &C
|companied was perfectly blasting, and made
the swarty and pitted face of the gamester
fairly turn white.
How inconsistent is man! That accom-
plished and high-born husband could delib-
erately jeopardise the property and corrode
the happiness of his wife, hour after hour,
day after day, and year after year, but he
could not bear that the man whom he had
chosen for companion should even so much
as speak to her
Eyes Mary, John and Helen are lost, y
he said at last. as he let the gamester from
his gaze; ''they are lost, and it can't be
helped now; so don't let us have scene a.
bout it."
Il shall not let them co." said Mary firm.
! ly, "and [ shall have a scene about it.
did not say a word about the money. bu
now that you have played them ava y
Oh, Charlie % and she leaned her head OF
her husbands breast.
'Ah here they Gomez said the games
ter, as John and Helen approached
John was powerful and fine looking
mulatto his face indicating unusual intelli
gence and kind-heartedness Helen wa:
much winter than her husband, and remark
ably handsome. The gamester's evil eyes
cleaned as he surveyed her, and turning te
savage-looking man near him he said =
''Pll sell you John in the morning, Ham
mond, but Helen shall keep-at least g
few days"
'sPm agreeable" said the slave-trader
for such he was, ''but I'd like the gal as
soon as possible
A look of indignation ran around the
group at this brutal colloquy. My fathers
grasp grew tighter still and encouraged
thereby, whispered to him to buy John
and Helen himself; but he shook his head
and motioned me to keep silent.
II tell you [ shall not let them CO." re-
peated Mrs. Danton, addressing the stran-
ger. 'sThey were brought up in my faith
er's family besides, they have children at
home, from whom it would be cruel to sepa-
rate them"
The gamester and slave-dealer exchanged
sneers at Mrs. Danton's sentimental reasons
for not letting the slaves go, but her hus-
band said =
''It can't be helped now, Mary, let us go
to our ROOM
| 30, missus, don't 20 and lcab me wild