The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-01-15
TIE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

| During the summer oil 1911 the Brltlsl
had not only laid claim to all that portion
of the District of Maine lying east of TIE
PenobscOt. but Admiral Griffith and Sll
John Sherbrooke, the latter then being the
Governor of Nova Scotia, had been sent
with large force to take possession. and
occupied the town of Castlne, which place
commands the entrance to the PenObscot
river. Shortly before the arrival of the
English squadron, Commodore Samuel
Tucker had been sent around to PenObscOt
Bay to protect the American coasters, and
while the British sailed up Castine, he
Law mt ThomastOn. 1t was schooner
that the Commodore commanded, but she
was n heavy end, well armed and mann.
cd and that she carried the true Yankee
"grit" upon her decks, the enemy had re-
ceiyed. from them. rather too many
proofs. On the morning Of the 18th OF
4 August, a messenger was sent down from
Belfast with the intelligence that the
British frigate was coming from Castine
TO take him.-Tucker knew that the Brit
ish feared him, and also that Sir John
Shcrbrooke had offered large amount
for his capture.
When the Commodore received the In.
Itelligence, his vessel was lying Mt one oi
the low wharves where he would have to
wait two hours for the tide to set off; but
he fastened to have everything prepared
to get her off rs soon rs possible, for he
has no desire to meet the frigatc.
The schOoncr's keel was just cleared
from the mud, and one OF the men had
been sent upon the wharftO cast of the
bowline, when n wagon drawn by one
horse came rattllng down to the spot,
The driver, a rough looking countryman
got out upon the wharf, .nd then assisted
n midtlle-aged woman from the vehicle,
The lady's first inquiry was for CommO'
dore Tucker. He was pointed out to her,
aud she stepped upon the schOoner's deck
and approached him.
"COmmodOre," she asked, "when do
you sail from here ~
ave sail right of, rs soon rs possible
madam"
"Oh. then I know you will be kind
to me-" the lady urged, In very persuasive
tones.
"My poor husband died yesterday, and
I wish to carry his corpse to Wiscasset,
where we belong. and where his parents
will take care of It."
"But. my good woman, I shan't so to
wiscasset."
"If you will only land me ut the Sheep
scot. | will ask no more. can easily
find boat to take me up"
where Is the body?" asked Tucker.
'In the wagon" returned the lady, ut
the same time raising the corner Of her
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
'I have sum of money with me, and you
shall be paid for you. trouble"
"Tut, tut. woman; II accommodate
YOU. there won't be any pay about It."
The kind-hearted old Commodore was
not man to refuse u favor, and though
he liked not the bother OF taking the wO-
man and her strange accompaniment OH
board, yet he could not refuse. When he
told her he would do as she had request
ed, she thanked him with many tears In
her eyes.
Some of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. A long
buffalo robe was lifted of by the man who
drove the wagon, and beneath 1t appear
| ed neat black coffin. Some words were
passed by the seamen as they were put
| ting the coffin on board. which went to
show pretty plainly that the affair did not
exactly suit them. Ii may have been but
prejudice on their part, but then seamen
should be allowed prejudice once In
while, when we consider the stern reali-
ties they have to encounter.
| "Husli, my good men," said the Com
modore, rs he heard their murmured re-
monstrances. -'Suppose you were to die
away from home-would you not wish
that your last remains might be carried
to your poor parentss Come, hurry n0w."
The men said no more, and ere long
the coffin was placed In the hold, and the
woman was shown to the cabin. In less
than half an hour the schooner was clear
ed from the wharf. and standing out from
the bay. The wind was light from the
eastward, but Tucker had no fear of the
frigate now that he was once out OF the
bay.
In the evening, the lady passenger came
on deck, and the Commodore assured her
that he should be able to land her early
on the next morning. She expressed her
gratitude and satisfaction, and remarked
that before she retired she would like to
look and see that her husbands corpse
was safe. This was Of course granted,
and one Of the men lifted of the hatch
that she might go down into the hold.
~ declare" muttercd Daniel Carter, an
old sailor who was standing mt the wheel,
"she takes on dre'mlly."
"Yes, poor thing!" said Tucker, rs he
heard her sObbs and grOans.
"D'ye notice what'n eye she's got, con-
tinued Carter.
mo-" said Tucker, 'only twas swollen
with tears"
.My eyes! but they shone though, when
she stood here looking at the compass"
Tucker smiled mt the maa's quaint earn
pI x,,tthnt.s f,trthnr 81. bn
went down to the cabin.
When the woman came up from the
hold, she looked about the deck of the
schooner for few moments, and then
went aft. There was something In her
countcnance that puzzled Carter. He
had been one of those who objected to the
collins being brought on board, and
hence was not prcdisposed to look very
fayorably upon It's owner. The woman's
eve ran over the schooner's deck with
very sharply. Soon she went to the taft.
rail and looked over ut the stern boat and
then she came and stood by the pinnacle
again.
'Iook out, or you'll gibe the boom,"
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that the main
sail was shivering. lie gave the helm a
couple of spokcs aport, and then east his
eyes again upon the woman, whose fea-
lures were lighted by the pinnacle lamp.
"Thank'e. ma'am," said Dan. "Ifa.
hold on-why bless my soul. there's big
spider right on your hair.-No-not there.
This last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the wo-
mans hair, which he threw upon the
deck with the ''ugh" above mentioned.
Shortly amer the passenger went below,
and ere long Tucker came OF deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with re
markablc degree OF carnestness In his
manner. "is the oman turned iny"
81 rather think ss," said Tucker, look
Ing at the compass. "Look out, look
out, Carter! Why, man alive, you're two
points to the southwark Of your course"
"Blow me, so I am," said the man,
bringing the helm snartly apor. "But
say, didn't We notice anything peculiar
Il, a.. ,lI ,,,n.,