The beautiful young wife showed signs of change, also. Much of the
old sweetness had left her mouth, which was calmer and graver. Her
manner towards Captain Allen, noted before, was of the same quiet,
distant character, but more strongly marked. It was plain that she
had no love for him. The great mystery was, how two so wholly unlike
in all internal qualities, and external seeming, could ever have
been constrained into the relationship, of man and wife. She was,
evidently, an English woman. This was seen in her rich complexion,
sweet blue eyes, fair hair, and quiet dignity of manner. Among the
many probable and improbable rumors as to her first meeting with
Captain Allen, this one had currency. A sailor, who had seen a good
deal of service in the West Indies, told the following story:

An English vessel from Jamaica, richly freighted, had on board a
merchant with his family, returning from a residence of a few years
on the island, to the mother country.

They had been out only a day, when a pirate bore down upon them, and
made an easy capture of the ship. The usual bloody scenes of that
day followed. Death, in terrible forms, met the passengers and crew,
and the vessel, after being robbed of its costliest treasures, was
scuttled and sent down into the far depths of the ocean, from whence
no sign could ever come.

But one living soul was spared--so the story went. An only child of
the English merchant, a fair and beautiful young girl, whose years
had compassed only the early spring-time of life, flung herself upon
her knees before the pirate Captain and begged so piteously for
life, that he spared her from the general slaughter he had himself