Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-23
Tales and Sketehes.
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.


only laid claim to all that portion of the
district of Maine lying east of the Penob-
scot, but Admiral Griffith and Sir John
Sherbrooke, the latter then being Cover
nor of Nova Scotia, had been sent with
heavy force to take possession, and occupy
the town of Castine, which place COM
mands the entrance to Penobscot river.
Shortly before the arrival of the Eng
lish squadron, Commodore Samuel Tuck
er had been sent around to Penobscot Bay
to protect the American coasters, and while
the British sailed up to Castine he lay at
Thomaston.
1t was a schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but she was a very heavy
one, well armed and manned; and
that she carried the true Yankee grit
upon her deck the enemy had many proofs.
On the morning of the 29th Of August a
messenger was sent down from Belfast
with the intelligence that the British frig-
ate was coming from Castine to take him.
Tucker knew that the British feared him,
and also that Sir John Brookshead offered
large amount for their capture.
When the Commodore received the in
! telligence his vessel was lying at the low
er wharves, where he could have every
/ thing in readiness to get her off, for, be
sure, he had no desire to meet the trigate.
The schooners keel was just cleared
of the mud, and one of the men had been
sent upon the wharf to cast off the bow
| line, when wagon, drawn by one horse.
came rafting down to the spot. The dri-
yer, rough-looking countryman, got out
on the wharf and then assisted middle
aged woman from the vehicle. The lady's
first inquiry was for Commodore Tucker
He was pointed out to her, and she slipped
at once upon the schooner's deck and ap-
preached him.
Commodore, she asked. when do
You sail ?n
"We sail right off-as soon as possible,
madam"
'Oh then. | know you will be kind to
| me-" she urged, in persuasive tones. My
poor husband died yesterday, and | wish
to carry his corpse to Wiscasset, where we
belong, and where his parents will take
"But, my good woman, shant 60 to
| Wiscasset''
"If you will land me at the mouth of the
| Sheepscot, ! will ask no more; can easi-
" find boat there to take me up"
"Where is the body?" asked Tucker
"In the wagon" returned the lady, at
the same time raising the corner Of her
shawl to wipe away the gathered tears.
II have sum of money with me and you
shall be paid for the trouble"
Tut, madam, if | accommodate you
there won't be any pay about it."
The kind-hearted Commodore was not
the man to refuse favor and though he
asked not the bother of taking the woman
on board yet he could not refuse. When
| he told her he would do as she requested,
| she thanked him with tears in her eyes.
Some of the men We're sent on the wharf
to bring the body on board. A long buf-
falo robe was lifted off by the man who
drove the wagon, and beneath lay neat
coffin
Some words were passed by the men as
they were putting the coffin on board,
which went to show very plainly that the
affair did not exactly suit them. 1t may
have been from prejudice on their part ;
but then seamen should be allowed little
prejudice once in while, especially when
we consider the stern realities they have to
encounter.
Hush, my good men," said the Com
modore as he heard their murmurs. Sup
pose YOU were to die away from home
would YOU not wish that your remains
might be carried home to your parents ?
Come, hurry now "
The men said no more, and ere long the
coffin was put in the hole. and the woman
was taken into the cabin. In less than
half an hour the schooner was cleared
from the wharf and standing out to sea.
The wind was light from eastward. but
Tucker had no fear of the frigate, now
tbot ba yyas we'll pnt of the DaV
In the evening the lady passenger came
on deck, and the Commodore assured her
that he would be able to land early the
next morning. She expressed her graft
tude and satisfaction, and remarked that
before she retired she would like TO look
and see that her husbands corpse was safe.
This request was of course, readily grant
ed, and one OF the sailors lifted of the
hatch that she might 60 down into the
hole.
81 declare" muttered Dan Carter, an old
sailor, who was at the Wheel "she takes
on dreadfully"
Yes, poor thing?" said Tucker, when
he heard her sobs and groans.
Dye notice whatn eye she's got'" con-
tinued Carter.
NO" said Tucker, "only it was swol-
len."
..My eyes! but they shone though, when
she stood here looking at the compass
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint ear
nestness, and without further remark he
went down into the cabin.
When the woman came up irom the
hole. she looked about the deck OF the
schooner few moments, and then went
aft. There was something in her counte-
nance that puzzled Carter. He had been
one of those who objected to the coffin
being put on board, and hence was not
predisposed to look very tavorably upon
its owner,
The woman's eye ran over the schooner's
deck with strange quickness, and Carter
eyed her very sharply. Soon she went to
the tatf-rail and looked over at the stern
boat and then she came and stood by the
binnacle again.
"Look out, or you'll jibe the boom," ut
tered the woman.
Carter started and found that the mail
sail was shivering. He gave the helm a
couple of spokes aport and then cast his
eyes again on the woman, whose features
were lighted by the pinnacle lamp.