The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-31
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.
During the summer of 1871 th'
British had not only laid claim t.
all that portion of the district o
Maine lying east of the Penobscot
but Admiral Griffet and Sir Johr
Sterbrooke, the latter being the Gov
ernor General of Nova Scotia, had
been sent with a large force TO take
possession, and occupied the town
of Castine, which place command;
the entrance to Penobscot river
Shortly before the arrival of the
English squadron Commodore Sam
uel Tucker had been sent around to
Penobseot Bay to protect the Amer
lean coasters, and while the British
sailed up to Castine. he lay at Thorn
aston.
1t was a schooner that the Com
modore commanded, but she was a
heavy one, well armed and manned
and she carried the true Yankee
"grit" upon her decks, of which the
enemy had received from them
rather too many proofs. On the
morning of the 2Sth OF August a
messenger was sent down from Bel
fast 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 offer
ed a large reward for his capture.
When the Commodore received
the intelligence, his vessel was ly-
ing at one of the low wharves, where
he would have towait two hours for
the tide to set him off; but he hast
ened to have everything prepared to
get her off as soon as possible, for
he had no desire to meet the frig-
ate.
The schooner's keel had Just clear
ed from the mud, and one of the
men had been sent upon the wharf
to cast off the bowline, when a wa
gon, drawn by one horse, came rat
Ting down to the spot. The driver,
rough looking countryman, got
out upon the wharf, and then as
sisted middle-aged woman from
the vehicle. The lady's first inqui-
nv was for Commodore Tucker. He
was pointed out to her, and she
stepped upon the schooner's deck
and approached him.
Commodore" she asked, when
do you sail from here ?"
"We1l sail right off, as soon as
possible, madam"
"Oh, then, i know you will be
kind to me-" the lady urged, in per-
suasive tones. MY poor husband
died yesterday, and | wish to carry
his corpse to Wiscasset, where we
belong, and where his parents viii
take care of it."
"But my good woman, ! shan't go
to Wiscasset."
"If you will only land me at the
mouth of the Sheepscot, | will ask
no more. ] can easily find boat
there to take me up"
"Where is the body ?" asked Tuck
er.
'In the wagon" returned the la
DIV, at the same time raising the cor
ner of her shawl to wipe away the
tears. Il have a sum of money with
me, and you shall be paid for the
trouble"
"Tut, tut, woman; if ! accommo-
date you there wont be any pay
about"
The kind-hearted old commodore
was not the man to refuse a favor,
and though he liked not the bother
of taking the woman and her strange
accompaniment on board, yet he
could not refuse. When he told her
he would do as she had requested,
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 off by
the man who drove the wagon be-
meath itappeared a neat black coffin.
Some words were passed by the sea-
men as they were putting the coffin
on board, which went to show pref
ty plainly that the affair did not ex-
actiy suit them. 1t may have been
but prejudice on their part, but the
seamen should be allowed a prelu-
dice once in a while, when we con-
slider the many stern realities they
have to encounter. Hush, my good
men," said the commodore, as he
heard their remonstrance. Sup
pose YOU were to die away from
home-would you not wish that
your last remains might be carried
to your poor parents (? Come hurry
now"
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 cleared of the
wharf and standing out from the
bay. The wind was right 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 passen-
-