Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-08-02
MI : G. T. l. l. A " Y.
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

Sir John L. SherbrOoke. the latter being
then the governor Of Nova Scotia, had been
.sns with heavy force to take possession.
and had occupied the town Of Castine, which
place Commanded the entrance to the Pc
nobscoi river. Shortly after the arrival Of
the English squadron. Commodore Samuel
Tucker bad been sent arOund TO PenobseO,
Bay 10 protect the American coasters, and
while the British sailed up Cas,ine be lay
with his vessel AZ ThOmastOn.
IL Was a schooner that the COmmodore
commanded, but she was q heavy one, and
well armed and manned and that she car
riei ibe true Yankee "gri upon her
decks the enemy had reserved. for them.
rather too many proofs. On the morning
Of tho 2SIh Of August, messenger came
down from Belfast with the iniellissnee iba,
the British friga,e was coming from Cas,ius
% take him. Tucker knew tha, tbs British
feared him. and that Sir John Shsrbrooke
had offered large amour, for hls capture.
When the Commodore received the intel
lisenes. hi, vessel was lying Ai one OF the
Low wharycs where he would have TO wai,
nearly two hours fos the tide TO ses him OF;
bu, be FASTENED to have every thing prepared
to ge, Of a. soon as possible, for be bad no
desire to meet the frsate.
The -chOonsr's keel was JUS, cleared from
the mud, and one Of the men had be'n sent
upon the wharf TO cast of the bow.line,
when u wagon. drawn by one horse, came
rafting down to the spot. The driver.
rough looking eOunirymAn, got out upon
the wharf. and then assisted 4 middle aged
lady from the vehicle. The lady's hr., in.
quiry was fJr Commodore Tucker. Hewa
pointed out to bcr, she stepped upon the
schooner. deck and approached him.
Commodore, she asked, "when DO you
sail from here'"
Right OF. Is soon as possible. madam"
go. then. know you will 30 kind to
me-" the lady urged, in persuasive tones,
My poor husband died Yesterday, and |
wish to carry hi. corpse TO wiscassct. where
We belong. and where his parents will take
care Of it,"
But, my good woman, .han's 50 to
wisrassei."
III you only land me a, the mouth oi
the Shecpsco,, will ask no more. l can
easily find boat there 10 take me up"
"where i. the body ," asked Tucker.
"ln the wagon" returned the lady, at
the sane time raising the corner Of her
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
- have q small sun Of money with me.
cir. and You shall Be paid FOR your trouble"
Tut. tut. woman # accommodate
you, there won't be any pay about it,
The kind hearted old commodore was not
the man to refuse favor, and though he
liked not ihe bother Of taking the woman
and her strange ascomTanimsn, on board.
yet be could not refuse and when be told
her be would DO as she had requested, che
thanked hin with many tears in her eyes.
Some Of the men were sen, upon tho
wharf TO bring the body on board. 4 long
buffalo robe was lifted Of by the man who
drove the wagon, and beneath il appeared a
neat black eofhn Some word were passed.
by the seamen. as they bore the COIN on
board which wen, 10 show pretty plainly
tia, the affair did Dot exactly sui, them.
Il may have been bu, .prejudise on their
part, but Vet seamen should be allowed a
prejudice once In while. when We eonsid-
or the many stern realities they have to en-
counter,
e Hush, nv good men" said the eomno-
d0re. - be heard their murmured remou.
strsnees. "Supposs some Of you were to
die away from home-would you no, wish
that your last remains nigh; be carried to
your poor parents? Come, hurry now
The men said no more, and ere long the
COIN was placcd in tie hold, and the wo'
man Was shown TO the cabin. 10 less than
hAll an hour the schooner was cleared from
the wharf and staining out from the bay
The wind vas light from the eastward. bu,
Tucker had no fear Of the frisl,e DOW ,ha,
be was once out Of the bay.
10 the evening the lady passenger came on
deck, and the Commodore assured her that
he should De able to land her early on the
mex, morning She expressed her gratitude
and satisfaction. aud remarked that before
she retired she should like 10 look and see
that her husbands corpse was safe. This
was OF course granted. and one Of them lIii-
el od the hatch that she might 20 down in-
10 the hold.
IL declare" mut,erst Daniel Carer, an
old sailor. who had the wheel, 4" she take.
on dre'fuly."
"Ye.-poor thing" responded Tucker.
as he heard the woman's sobs and grOans.
"D'ye notice wha,'n eye che. go;'''
continued Carter.
NO. said the Commodore. +" only tia;
it was swollen with tears
"My eyes but they 'hone, though, when
she stood here looking at the compass"
Tucker smiled AZ the mans quaint ear
ns.,nes.. and without further remark he
went down 10 the cabin.
When the woman came up from the hold
she looked about the deck Of the schooner
Tor lew moments. and then went ai;
There vas something in her cOuutsnancs
that puzzled Carter. lie had been one Oi
those who objected to the cofhn's being
brought on board, and hence he wa. no,
.L------I A. IL