The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-10-10

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4 n .-C.,r. gT1Ts.
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THE darkies are mine, said the gamester,
striking bis fist upon the table, sshow 'em
up, and let us see what they look like.'
4 The young PLANTER who had lost, sent one
4 Of the best servants below for John and
Helen. The passeneers awaited the appear
ance Of the servants in silence for long
4 time, but they came not. The servants in
formed them Of the change of owners, and
4 they dreaded to see their now master. They
i were attached to the Young planter and his
wife, and did mot ike to leave them; be-
side, they had children Of their own at home,
and what would become of them?
The winner began to wax impatient at
the delay, and exclaimed: I: sCome Danton,
hurry up the niggers. they must move
quicker than this when send for 'em or
they'll never know what hurt 'em.' s
The young planters aristocratic face
flushed crimson at this rude and brutal ex-
clamation but 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 weeping
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 rs though they had
nearly been wept away; but she was ex-
quisitely lovely, nevertheless. ssa
| Although many years have passed since
| that evening, can see the sorrow stricken
young wife now, as she glided up to the
table and looked her husband in the
eye. Hecould not bear up under her gaze.
He had lost all his money, and in q tit Of
desperation had also staked and lost two
| slaves. Laying her little hand upon his arm,
she said: 20
SIS it true, Charles, that you have lost
John and Helen2 s4 - szrsr-.-zFZ
Her husband made no reply, he could not
even look up. .--...''.-.e
The passengers were now fast gathering
| around, and the scene was growing painful.
My father, (who had come north to fetch me
| from school, was taking the longest possible
| way home, was holding me by the hand,
and knew by the tightening Of his grasp
| that he was becoming excited. f.sss = ~
As Danton did not seem inclined to an
swer his wife's question, the gamester
roughly said:
Eyes ma am, John and Helen are mine,
and want to see 'em quick
DantOn sprane to his feet. and stoopiny
across the table, hissed in the very teeth Of
the gamester:
sVillian! don't you presume to sneak to
nv wife again. - ~ r.
The look which accompanied this menace,
was perfectly blasting, and made the swar-
thy and pitted face Of the gamester fairly
turn white. fs'st5
How inconsistent is man! That accom-.
plished and high-bo husband could de.
tiberately jeopardize the property of and
corrode the happiness Of his wife. hour af-
ter hour, day after day. and night after night;
but could not bear that the man whom he
had chosen for a companion should even
40 much as sneak to her.
Eyes, Mary, John and Helen are lost,'
and it can't be helped now; so don't let US
have a scene about it, .-t@.
sIshall not let them go,' said Mary, firmly;
| sand will have scene about it. / did not
say a word about the money, but that YOU
have PLAYED them awav-O, Charlesr and
she leaned her head on her husbands
breast. -..,.. .-....-. ~ .s..t
'Ah! here they come' said the gamester,
as John and Helen approached them.
John was powerful and fine looking
mulatto, his face indicating unusual intelli-
gence and kind-heartedness. Helen was
much whittier than her husband, and re-
markably handsome. The gamester's eye
cleaned as he surveyed her, and then turn
ing to a savage looking man near him, he
said: ....- .-.. ~
'fll sell you, John, in the morning, Ham,
| mond, but Helen, l shall keep-at least for
few days. "a. .-.-. ....-
I'm agreeable said the slave-trader, for
such he was, 'but I'd like to have the gal
as soon as possible s
A look of indignation ran around the
group at this brutal colloquy. My fathers
grasp grew tighter still; und encouraged
thereby whispered to him to buy John and
Helen both; but he shook his head and mo-
toned me to be silent. a....
q tell you, shall not let them 20, said
Mrs. Danton, addressing the stranger; 'they
were brought up in my mothers family
they have children at home. from whom it
would be too cruel to scperate them.'
The gamester and slave-trader uttered
sneers ut Mrs. Danton's sentiment, and for
letting the slaves 60; her husband said:
1T can't be helped now, Mary; let us 20
to our foom.' D.. -s.....
90 missus! don't 60 and leab me wild dat
man, shrieked Helen, 4 shall die or jump
overheard. o, don't leab your true Helen,
who sabed your life when you fell in de
byoe.' ....- ua- ..... -
Il shall not leave you, Helen, do not be
alarmed; l. ....-
Bress de Lord for dat,' interrupted Helen;
4 know we're safe now; kase you always
does jes' what you say you will ...s~..
Il think it about time this nonsense was
stopped said the gamester, rising from the
table. 'You acknowledge, Danton that
these niggers are my property; consequent
ly they are mine, and have right to do
what please with ZEN; no bill Of sale is
necessary between gentlemen. And now
you nigger, just come along with me, and