The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-10-28
The Game Of Cards.
4 MISSISSIPPI STORY.


"The darkies are mine," said the gamester,
striking his fist upon the table, "show 'em up,
and let's see what they look like" f4sa.
The young planter who had lost, sent one
of the boat servants below for John and Hell
On. The passengers waited the appearance of
the servants in silence, for long time, but
they came not. The servants had informed
them of the change of owners. They were
attached to the young planter and wife, and
did not like to leave them; besides they had
children OF their own at home, and what was
to become of them? 7.R
The winner began to wax impatient at the
delay and exclaimed:
"Come, Danton, hurry up the niggers.-
They must move quicker than this when /
send for them, or they'll never know what
hurt them"
The young planters aristocratic face flush
ed crimson at this brutal exclamation, but he
made no reply. He was about to send anoth-
er servant Tor John and Helen when his pur-
pose was stayed by the appearance of Mrs.
Danton. Her husband had been gambling
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 as
though they had been wiped away, but she
was exquisitely lovely, nevertheless.
Although many years have passed since that
evening, can see the sorroW-striken young
wife now, as she glided up to 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 a flt of despe-
ration had also staked and lost the two slaves.
Laying her little hand ON his arm she said:
is it true, Charles, that you have lost John
and Helen ?" a-5' 4 as4s
Her husband made no reply; he could not
even look up. 5a#a4 -df
The passengers were now fast gathering
round and the scene was growing painful
Ny father lwho had been north to fetch me
from school was holding me tight by the
hand, and l knew by the Tightening Of his
grasp that he was becoming much excited.
As Danton did not seem inclined to answer
his wite's question, the gamestsr roughly
said: aIa
"Yes, ma'am, John and Helen are mine
and want to see 'em quick" ir.f +
DAnton sprang to his feet, and STOPPING
across the table, hissed in the teeth of the
gamester:
"Villainl don't presume to speak to my
wife again. aesisst 8aa AA ga5e
The look with which the menace was ac-
companied was perfectly blasting, and made
the swarlhy and pitted face OF the gamester
fairly turn white. l e sHaa
How inconsistent is mani That accom-
plished and high-born husband could deliber-
ately jeopardlze the property and corrode the
happiness of his vile, hour after honr, day
after day, year after year, but he could not
bear that the man whom he had chosen for a
companion should even SO much as speak to
her.
"Yes, 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't be helped
now, SO don't let us have scene about it."
81 shall not let them go,' said Mary, firmly
Sand shall have scene about it," Asa
Il did notsay word about the money but
now that you have played them away-Oh,
Charlie p and she leaned her head on her hus-
bands breast. [ sA
''Ah, here they come," said the gamester as
John and Helen approached. -
John was powerful and fine looking mu-
latto; his face indicating unusual intelligence
and kind heartedness. Helen was much
whittier than her husband, and remarkably hand
some. M
The gamester's evil eyes cleaned as he sur
yeyed her, and turning to savage-looking
man near him, he said, e sb ase
'Ill sell you John in the morning, Ham
mond, but Helen / shall keep-at least few
days. sea4sssb yfasa.3 lga. ss.
2 "I'm agreeablS,n said the slave trader, fol
so he was; "but I'd like the gal as soon as pos
sible." iis 6gasst.a
A look of indignation ran round the group
at this brutal colloquy. Ny fathers grasp
grew tighter still ; and encouraged thereby
whispered to him to buy John and Helen him
self but he shook his head, and motioned me
to keep silent.
81 tell you shall not let them CO." replied
Mrs. Danton, addressing the stranger, "they
were brought up in my mothers family; be-
sides they have children at home from whom
IL mniild ha orIlnl t0 saDarate tlem,'
The gamester and slave dealer exchanged
glances at Mrs. Danton's reasons for no
letting the slaves go, and her huspant
said:
SIT can't be helped now, Mary, let us 60 tt
our ROOM" @A
SO, Missus, don't go and leab us wild da
man. shrieked Helen; l shall die or JUMP
oberboard. Oh don't leab your own true
Helen, who sabed your life when you fell ir
de byoo."
n shall not leave you, Helen. Do not be
alarmed, -" Il .yqsssslis i i1.
"Bress de Lord for dat," interrupted Helen
81 knows we're safe now; kas yon alters doel
jus what you say you will.' m
81 think it's about time this nonsense wa
stopped" said the gamester, rising from tn
table. @You acknowledge, Danton, that thes
negroes are my property; consequently the.
are mine, and / have right to do what
please with them; no bill OF sale is necessar
between tgo gentlemen. And now, you nig
gers, come along with me, and don't max
fuss, or I'll have you hogged or put
irons" s1aft
The scene now became extremely exciting
John called Helen to his side, and clenche
his teeth and fist, while their young mistres
= stood close in front, as if with her feeble arr
she would protect them from the clutches
the gamester. was wild with excitemen
ana oeggeo my father either to buy the slave
OF snoot the ganester, | did not care whlci
A bloooy nght seemed inevitable; when
young New Englander, who had been yer
quiet during the whole trip, elbowed his wa
to tho table, and asked the gamester at wha
sum he valued his slaves. a0's''-G
Two thousand dollars" said he, ado 20
at have only thousand dollars,' the voun
man answered; g will give you that fo
them" sdf a .sg6a
mo, sir, but Pll stake them against tho
sand dollars, and play you a game OF pok
for the pile"
Il don't understand the game" said 4
New Englander. 81 have played few gam
at all fours, but never gambled for a cent
my life.n 1 lsiE EliiIhTr ga r..a
"Well, I'll play you game OF all fours thu
If you like, and stake the niggers against 20
thousand dollars"
To the surprise of every one present
young man accepted the challenge, called
q new pack Of cards, staked his thousand d
lars, and the game commemorative games'
having the first deal. gas94 aat .aasi5l4
As the company drew more closely arou
the table, it seemed as though watchmake
shop was in our midst, so distinctly We hes
the tick Of the watches. ae7i