The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-10-14
MISCELLA NY.
L o 8 II ND w ON.
BY MERL LEE.

like.
The young planter who had lost, sent
one of the boat servants below for John
and Helen. The passengers awaited the
appearance of the servants in silence for
long time; but they came not. The SER
want had informed them of the change CT
owners, and they dreaded to see their new
master. They were attached to the young
planter and his wife, and did not like to
leave them; besides them, 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 up the niggers.
They must move quicker than this when l
send for them, 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 Mrs. Danton. Her husband
had been gambling, and she had been
weeping ever since the boat left Ohio, and
we were far down the Mississippi. No
wonder, then, that she was pale and wan,
and her eyes looked as though they had
been nearly wept away; but she was
exquisitely lovely, nevertheless.
Although many years have passed since
that evening, | can see the sorrow strick-
en- young wife now as she glided up to
the table and looked her husband in the
eve. He had lost all their money and in
fit of desperation had also staked the
two slaves. Laying her little hand upon
his arm, she said =
:. Is it true, Charles, that you have lost
John and Helena"
Her husband made no reply, he could
not even look up.
The passengers were now fast gather
ing around, and the scene was growing
painful. My father, (who had been north
to bring me from school, and was taking
the longest possible way home, was hold
ing me by the hand, and | knew by the
tightening grasp that he was becoming ex-
cted.
AS Danton dill not seem inclined to an
aver his wifc's question, the gamester rug
gediy said:
f" Ycs'ln, John and Helen are mine,
ami / waat 10 see EN- quick.
Danton sprang to lis feet, and STOPPING
across the table, Kissed in the very teeth
Of the gamester:-
"ViIainl don't You presume to speak
to my wife again. P"
The look with which this was accompa-
MED was perfectly blasting, and made the
swarthy and pitted face OF the gambler
fairly turn white.
How consistent is man. That accom-
plished and high born husband could de-
leberatey ieopardize the property and cor
lode the happiness of his wife, hour after
hour; but he could not bear the man
whom he had chosen for a companion
should even so 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 it can
not be helped, now, so don't let us have
a scene about it.
II shall not let them 60, F" said Mary
firmly, "and [ will have a scene about it.
[ did not say word about the money;
but now that you have played them away,
oh, Charles ~ and she leaned her head on
her husbands breast.
"Ah, here they comet" said the game
ster as John and Helen approached.
John was powerful and fine looking
mulatto and his face indicated unusual in
telligence and kind heartedness. Helen
was much winter than her husband, and
remarkably handsome. The gamesters
evil eye cleaned as he surveyed, her and
turning to a savage looking man near him,
said L.
sI'll send you John in the morning,
Hammond: but Helen | shall keep at least
for day."
81 am agreeable said the slave ira
der, 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 faith
er's grasp grew tighter still; and encour-
aged thereby, 1 whispered to him to buy
John and Helen himself, but he shook bus
head aud motioned me to keep silent.
81 tell you | shall not let them go, re-
peated Mrs. Danton, addressing the stran-
ger: "they were brought up in my moth
eer's family; besides they have children at
home from whom it would be cruel to sep
arate them.
The gamester and the slave-trader ex-
cbanged sneers at Mrs Danton's sentiment
tai reasons for not letting the slaves 60,
and her husband said: at can't be help
ed now, Mary, let us go to our room"
"Oh, Misses! don't go and leab me
wild dat man. shrieked Helen; 81 shall
die or jump overload. Q, don't leab
yer own true Helen who sabed your hfe
when you fell into the bayou"
81 shall not Lave you, Helen. Do moi
he alarmed. --" @h
aBress de Lord for dat" interrupted
j Helen, 81 knows we're safe, now, kase
you alters does jes' like you say you WILL
81 think it's about time this nonsense
was stopped" said the gamester, rising
from the table.