The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-08-18
THE GAME OF CARDS.
A 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"
The young planter who had lost sent
one Of the boats servants below for John
and Helen. The passengers awaited 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 we're attached to the
young planter and wife. and did not like
to leave them; besides they had childreu
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 these niggers
They must move quicker than this when
l send for them, or they'll never know
what hurt them"
The young planters aristocratic face
flushed crimson at this brutal excama
ton. He was about to send another SER
want for John and Helen. When his pur-
pose was stayed by the appearance of Mrs
Danton. H r husband had been gambling
and she had been weeping ever since the
boat left Cincinnati, and we were nov
far down the Mississippi. No wonder,
then, that she was pale aud wan, and that
her eyes looked as though they had been
nearly wiped away: but she was exquisi
lively 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 face
He could not bear her gaze. He had
lost all sbeir money. and in fit Of des-
perstion had also staked and lost the two
last slaves. Laying her little hand on
his arm. she said :
rs it true, Charles, that you have lost
John aud Helen
Her husband made no reply-he could
not even look up.
The passengers we're now fast gathering
round, aud the scene was growing pain
full. My father, who had been North to
fetch me from school, and was taking the
longest way home, was holding me by
the hand and knew by the tightening
OF his grasp that he was becoming much
excited.
As Dsnton did not seem much inclin-
ed TO answer his wife's question, the
gamester roughly said
Eyes ma'am, John and Helen are
mine. ard wait to see 'em quick"
Danton sprang to his feet, and stoop-
a TAIL = Al IL r
the gamester
"Vilain don't you presume to speak
to my wife again."
The look with which the menace was
accompanied was perfectly blasting, and
made the swarthy and pitted face OF the
gamester fairly turn white.
How inconsistent 10 man That ac.
compished and highborn husband could
deliberately jeopardize the property and
corrode the happiness Of his young wife,
hour after hour, day after day, year after
year, but he could not bear that the man
whom he had chosen for q companion
shonld even so much as speak to her.
eyes. Mary, John and Helen ere lost. -
he>said At last, as he let the pamestsr from
under bis gaze; "they are lost, and il can't
be helped now, so don't let us have anv
scene about it,"
u shall not let them Co." said Mary.
firmly, s'and | shall have scene about
it."
Il oid not say word about the money:
but nov that you have played them sv.y
oh, Charlie |" and she leaned her ha. !
on her husbands breast. ~
'"Ah here they come" said the game
ster, as John and Helen approached
John was powerful and Zoe lo,kino
mulattc, bis face indicating unueual intel.
hgeuce and kind-heartedness. Helen -.
much whittier than her husband, and r..
markably handsome.
The mester's evil eyes cleaned as q
surveyed her, and turning to q savage
looking man near him, he said
I'll sell you John in the morning.
Hammond. but Helen l shall ieep-st
least rev days.
lin agreeable" said the slave trader
for SO he was; "but I'D like the cal 40
soon ~ possible." =
A look of indig n alton ran rouna u,
group ills b,usal o,lloquy. Nv -.
Tiers grasp grew tighter still; and en-.
coursged thereby, l whispered to him
to bay John and Helen himself ~
he shook his head and motioned me 70
keep silsst.
"Iteil you ! shall not let them Co." 70.
peated Mrs. Daoton, addressing the
stranger. "Tbey vers bronghs mp il ny
mothsr's family: besides, they have chif.