The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-16
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

tlon OF the district OF Maine lying eaS
of the Penobscot Shortly before th,
arrival of the English squadron, Com
modore Samuel Tucker had been sen
around to Penobscot Bay to protect th'
American coasters, and while th'
British sailed up TO Castine he lay a
Thomaston.
1t was schooner that the Commo
dOre commanded, but she was q heavy
one, well armed and manned; and she
carried the true Yankee grit upor
her decks, of which the enemy had re-
ceived from them rather too many
proofs. On the morning of the 28th OF
August messenger was sent down
from Belfast with the intelligence that
the British frigate was coming from
| Castine to take him. Tucker knew that
the British feared him, and also that
Sir John Sherbrooke had offered a
large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence, his vessel was lying at
one of the low wharves, where he
would have to wait two hours for the
tide; but he hastened to have every
thing prepared to get her off as soon us
possible. y
The schooner's keel was Just cleared
from the mud, and one of the men had
been sent upon the wharf TO cast off
the bowline, when wagon, drawn by
one horse, came rafting down to the
spot. The driver, a rough-looking coun-
tryman, got out upon the wharf, and
then assisted middle-aged woman
from the vehicle. The lady's first in
quiry was for Commodore Tucker. He
was pointed out to her, and she stepped
upon the schooner's deck and approach.
ed him.
Commodore she asked, when do
you sail from here?'
we sail right off as soon as possible,
madam.'
o, then, know you will be kind to
me- the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. My poor husband died yester-
day, and l wish to carry his corpse to
Wiscasset, where we belong, and
where his parents will take care Of it,
But, my good woman. I sha'n't go
to Wiscasset.'
If you will only land me at the
mouth of the Sheepscot, will ask no
more. I can easily find boat there to
take me up
Where is the body?' asked Tucker.
In the wagon returned the lady, at
the same time raising one corner of
her shawl to wipe away the gath
ering tears. Il have a sum Of money,
with me, and you shall he paid for the
trouble
Tut, tut, woman; if I 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 the bother Of TAX
ing the woman and her strange ac-
compartment on board, yet he could
not refuse.
Some of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. A
long buffalo robe was lifted off by the
man who drove the wagon; beneath it
appeared neat black coffin. Some
words were passed by the seamen as
they were putting the coffin on board,
which went to show pretty plainly
that the affair did not exactly suit
them. But it may have been prejudice
on their part, but the seamen should
be allowed prejudice once in while,
when we consider the many stern real
tiles they have to encounter. 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 cleared from the wharf, and stand
ing out from the bay. The wind was
light from the eastward, but Tucker
had no fear of the frigate now that she
was once out of the bay.
In the evening the lady passenger
came on deck, and the Commodore as
sured her that he should be able to
land her early on the next morning.
She expressed her gratitude, and re-
marked before she retired she should
like to see that her husbands corpse
was safe. This was, of course, granted,
and one of the men lifted off the hatch
that she might go down into the hold.
Il declare muttered Daniel Carter,
an old sailor, who was standing at the
wheel, she takes on de'fullyp
Yes, poor thing said Tucker. rs
he heard her sobs and groans.
Dye notice what II eye she's got?'
continued Carter.
No. said Tucker, only twas swollen
with tears
My eyes but they shone, though,
when she stood here looking at the
compass