The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-17
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

ish had laid claim to all that portion of
the district of Maine lying east of the
Penobscof. Shortly before the arrival
of the English squadron, Commodore
Samuel Tucker had been sent around
to Penobscot Bay to protect the Ameri-
can coasters, and while the British
sailed up to Castine he lay at Thomas
ton.
1t was schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but he was heavy one,
well armed and manned and she ear
ried the true Yankee ''grit" upon her
decks. of which the enemy had received
from them rather too many proofs. On
the morning of the 28th of 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
Sherbrooke had offered a large amount
for his capture.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence, his vessel was lying Mt one
of the low wharves, where he would
have to wait two hours for the tide /; but
he fastened to have everything pre-
pared to get her off as soon as possible.
The schooner keel was just cleared
been sent upon the wharf to cast off
the bowline, when q wagon, drawn by
one horse. came rafting down to the
spot. The driver. feugh-looking
countrvInan, got out upon tho wharf,
and then assisted a 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 ap-
preached him.
Commodore" she asked, .'when do
you sail from here pr
1--WE sail right off as soon rs possible,
madam"
20, then, I know you viii 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 parent win take care of it. -
'fBut, my good woman, sha'n't 60
to Wiscasset."
IF you only will land me mt the
mouth of the Sheepscot, L will ask no
more. can easily find boat there to
take me up"
s'Where is the bodyPs asked Tucker.
I'm the wagon" returned the lady.
at the same time raising one corner of
her shawl to wipe away the gathering
tears. 81 have sum of money with
me, and you shall be paid for the
trouble"
'STut, tut, woman If accommodate
you. there won't be any pay about 1T.
The kind-hearted old Commodore
was not the man to refuse favor. and
though he liked not the bother Of taking
the woman and her strange compani-
ment 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 but prejudice on
their part, but the seamen should be al
lowed prejudice once in a 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 standing
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 remarked
that before she retired she should like
to look and see that her husband
corpse was safe This was, of course.
granted, and one lifted off the hatch
that she might go down into the hold.
| II Declare, muttered Daniel Car
ter, an old sailor. who was standing at
the wheel, she takes on DIRE fullyr'
t'Yes. poor thingr' said Tucker, as
he heard her sobs and groans.s IS
/ Dye notice what'n eye she's gotP'
continued Carter $500
NO. said Tucker, s'only twas
swollen with tears. !"
my eyes! but they shone, though
when she stood here looking at Tho
compass"
| TuckeEssmiled at the mans quaint
earnestness, and then went down te
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 llel
conntenance that puzzled Garter. de
/ had been one of these who objected &c
| the coffin being brought aboard. The
woman's eyes ram over the schooner
deck with a strange quickness, and
Carter eyed her very sharply. Soon
| she went to the taffrail, and then she
| came and stood by the pinnacle again
Look ont. or you'll jibe the boom,' =
| uttered the passenger. 0n