He had long been an intimate friend and acquaintance of Capt.

Helm, and as the reader is already informed of the death of Mrs.Helm, they will not be surprised to know that he began to look earnestly after the widow of his late friend.

It become apparent that his solicitude for the loneliness of Madam Thornton was not so much as a disconsolate widow, as that of making her the future Mrs.Helm; nor was it less observable that the new-made widow accepted the Captain's attentions with great favor, and more as a lover than a comforter.
The result was, after the Major had been dead six weeks, Capt.

Helm was married to his widow, and brought her and her servants in great triumph to his house, giving her the charge of it.

His own servants were discharged, and hers took their places.
All went on pleasantly for a while; then the slaves began to grow sullen and discontented; and two of them ran away.Capt.Helm started a man named Morrison, a Scotchman, in pursuit, who hunted them ten days, and then returned without any tidings of the absconding slaves.