"On what ground could you base such an inference?" she asked,
curiously.
"On traditional ground. The history of this old mansion is familiar
to most persons in S----; and some of the incidents connected with
the family have too strong a tinge of romance about them to easily
pass into oblivion. It is well known to us that Captain Allen had an
only sister."
"What is it said became of her?"
"When she was about two years of age her mother carried her off,
sailing, as was believed, to England, of which country she was a
native."
"Is the name of the child preserved in this tradition?"
"Yes. It was Flora."
"My own name," she said.
"And in person you are identical."
"Yes. My mother's early life embraced some dreadful experiences. Her
father and mother, with two brothers and a younger sister, were all
murdered by pirates. She alone was spared, and afterwards became the
wife of a sea captain, who, I fear, was not a man innocent of blood.
On this point, however, my mother was reserved, almost silent. In
the course of time she grew so wretched, as the wife of this man,
that she sent a letter to England, addressed to some remembered
relative, imploring him to save her from a life that was worse than
death.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117