Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-07-19
4 srlctt Gale.
A MISSISSIPPI STORY.
The Game for Life.

striking his fist upon the table. "shuw em up
and let us SEQ what they lock like"
The young jlauter who had lost, sent one
OF the boat servants below for j Ohm anu Helen
The Passengers awaited the appearance OF
The servants III silence, tor long time; but
| they canIe not. The servant had informed
them OF the change Of owners. They were
attached TO the young planter aud wife, aud
did not like to leave them; bat they had chi
dren Of their own at houe, und what was to
! become Of them?
! The winncr began TO wax impatient at the
| delay, and exclaimed:
Come, Danton hurry up the niggers.
They must move quicker than this when
send for 'em Or they'll never know what hurt
'em."
The young planters aristocratic face
1nshed crimson ut this rude and brutal eX-
camation, but he made no reply. He was
about to send anOther servant for j John aud
Helen when his purpose was stayed by the
appearance Of Mrs Dnnion. Her husband
had been gaming, and She had been weeping
ever since the boat left Cincinnati, and we
were now far down the Mississippi. No
wonder thcr that she was pale and wan. and
that her eyes looked as though they had been
nearly wcpt away; bnt she was exquisiiely
lovely nevertheless.
Although many years have passed siuce
that evening", l.. can see the sorrow-strcken
young wife now. as she glded up to the table
aud looked her husband in the face He
could not bear up uEder her gnzc. lie had
lost all his money, and in a fit Of desperation
had also stnkcd and lost the last two slaves.
"ls it true that you have lost John and
Helpn?"
Il"r hasiand made no reply he could not
even look mp
The passengers were ROW fast gathering
rouud, aud the scene was growing painful.
My father iwho Ead come North to fetch me
tcoG school, and was taking the longest
possible way homr,l was holding me by the
hand, and kncw 10y the tightening of his
grasp that he was becoming muca excited.
As naniou did not seem inclined to answer
his wi'r's question, the gameSlrr roaghIy
said -
Yes, ma'am, John and Helen are mine,
and want to see eni quick"
panton sprang to his feet. and STOPPING
across the table, hssed in the teeth Of the
gamester -
VILLAIN don't you presume to speak to
my wife apain."
! The look with which the menace was ac-
comranicd was perfectly blasting. and made
the swarthy and pittcd face Of the gamcster
! fairly turn white.
, How inconsistent is man, That accom-
! plished and hIel-born husband could delber.
ateiy jeopardse 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 50 much ae
speak to her.
YES Mary. J Ohm and Helen are lost" he
! \ l,.pt L., 4 4
gaze "thry are lost, and it cant he hclpcd
now: so don't let Us have scene about it,
Il shall not let them 90" snid Mary firmly.
| "and shall have scene about it, | did not
say a word about the money but now that
you have played them awNy-Oh. Charlie ~
and she leaned her head on her husbands
breast.
"Ah here they come r. said the gamester
as John and Helen approached.
John was powerful aud fine looking mu-
latto; his lace indicating unusual intelligence
and kind heartednpss. Helen was much
whittier than her husband. and remarkably
handsome. The gamesier's evil eyes CLEANED
as he surveyed her, and turning 10 savage
looking man near him he said -
III sell you John in the morning, Ham
mond but Helen shalt kcep-at least few
days"
"I'm agreeable" said the slave trader, rol
such he was, but Id like the gal us soon q!
possible"
\ look Of Indignation ran around the grouJ
at this brutal coloquy. My fathers erasI
grew tighter still A; aud encouraged thereby
| whispered to him to buy John and Helen
himself; but he shook his head and mention
ed me to keep silent.
II tell you ] shall not let them CO." repeat
Ia1 h,. III a.
"They were brought up in my fathers family
besides, they have children at home, from
whom it would be cruel to separate them"
The gamester and slave dealer exchanged
sneers at Mrs. Danton's sentimental reasons
for not letting the slaves go, bat her HUSBAND
said -
1T cantt be helped now, Mary, let us g.
to our ROOM"
20, Missus, don't 20 and leub me wit da
man." shrieked Helen Il shall die or juml
overheard. o. don't leab your own tru,
Helen, who sabsd your life when you fell il
de byoo" =
81 shall not leave you, Helen. Do not b.
alarmed. l."
Dress de Lord for dat, interrupted Helen
II know we're safe now kase you alters doe
jus what says you will"
81 think its about time this nonsense wa
Stopped" said the gamester rising from tn
table-"You acknowledge. Danton, tina
these negroes are my property; consequent
, they are mine, aud I've right to do what
please with them; no bill OF sale is necessar
between two gentlemen. And now, you mig
gers, come along'with me, and don't make
fuss. or I'll have you degged and put in irons
The scene now became extremely exciting
John drew Helen to his side, aud clenche,
his Este while their youug mattress st 90.