The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-08-26
TIE GAME At CARDS.
A MISSISSIPPI STORY.


'The darkies are mine, - said the game
ster, striking his fist upon the table;
show EN- up, and let us see what they
look like. :"
The young planter, who had lost, sen,
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 rot. The ser~
want had informed them Of the change Of
owners. They were attached to the young
fplaEter and wife, and did not like to leave
hem; besides they had children 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
SEMI for en-, or they Il never know what
hurt EN- :"
The young planters aristocratic face
! flushed crimson at this rude ana brutal cx
ciamatioD, but he made no reply. lie was
about TO send another servant for John
and Helen, wh:n bis purpose was stayed
| 10y the appearance of Mrs Dinon. Her
husband had been gaming, and she had
/ been weeping ever since the boat left Gin
clnnati; and we were now far down the
! Mississippi. No wonder, tLen, that she
was pale ana wan, and that her eyes look
ed though they had been nearly wepi
away; but she Was made exqulsltely lovely
nevertheless.
Although many years have passed since
that evening, | can see the sorrow stricken
/ young wife now, as she gllded up to the
table AMI looked her husband in the face.
lie could not bear up under her gaze He
| had lost all their money, and in a iii Of des
peraton had also SAX ed and lost the las
two slaves. Laying her little hand on his
arm, she said:
is it trqe,, Ch.rles that you have LOST
john and Helen?'
Her husband made no reply; he could
not even look up.
The passengers were now fast gathering
rolnd and the see e was growing painful
| Ny father (who had come North to fetch
me from school, and 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 much
1 excited
/ As Danton did not seem inclined to an,
swer his wite's que t on, the games er
ruu ghIy said
Yes, ma am, John and Helen are nine;
aud want to see EN- quick. p"
| Danton sprang to bis feet, and STOPPING
across the table, Kissed in the teeth of the
| gamester:
Villain don't you presume to speak to
my wife again.
The look with which the menace was &C
! companied was perfectly blasting, and
made the swarthy and pitted face of the
samester fairly turn white.
How Inconsistent is man That accom-
/ pll>hed aud higt-born husband could de
IberaeIy jeopardtz3 The property aud cor
rode the happiness Of his wife, hour after
hour. day riter day, and year after year,
/ but he could not bear that the man whom
he had chosen for companion should even
50 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
b. helped now; so don ct us have u scene
/ about it =
Il shall not let them CO." said Mary,
/ firmly; and | shall have a scene about it
did not say word about the money; but
now that you have played them away
Oh, Charlie T. and she leaned her head
on her husbands breast
( ''Ah here they come - said the game
ster, as john aud Helen approached.
John was a powerful and fine looking
mulatto, his face indicating unusual intelli
gencc and kiDdheartednesS. Helen was
much whittier than her husband, and re-
markably handsome. The gamester's evil
eyes cleaned as he surveyed her, and
turning to a savage looking man near him,
he SAID:
Ill sell you John in the morning, Ham
mond but Helen shall keep-at least for
few days"
I'm agreeable" sad the Slave trader,
for such he was; ''but d like tie gal as
soon as posi- le
/ A look Of indignation ran around the
group at this brutal col.oquy. My father
1 grasp grew tighter still; nd encoura red
/ thereby, | whispered TO him to luy John
and Helen himself; but he shook his head
and nIotloned me TO keep silent.
Il tell you | shall not let them GO, re-
peated Mrs Danfon addressing the straD-
ger. They were brought mp III my moth
er family, besides hey have child en- at
home, from whom it would be cruel to
separate them"
/ The gamcst6r and The slave dealer ex
chang sneers at Mrs. Danton's sentiment
tai reasons for not letting the slaves go
and her husband said:
. 1t can't be helped now, Mary; let US go
10 our room.
/ 20, Nllssus don't go and leab me wild
dat man, shrickcd Helen; Il shall die or
j app oberboard. ., don't leab your own
true Helen, who sabed your lie wien you
fell in de hyoo."
i shall not leave you, Helen. Do not
be alarmed ="
Dress de LORD for dat" interrupted
Helen; Il knows we re sale now, kaSc you
alters does jus wha! you say You will .
Il think it's about time this nonsense
was stopped, said the gamester, rising
from the table. You acknowledge, Dan
ton, that those negroes are my property;
consequently they are mine, ani I've a
right to do what please with them; no
bill OF sale is necessary between two gentle>
men. Aud now, you niggers, come along
vii Ii and don't x,naE.. f.iSs | Ii