The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-09-16
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.
During the summer of 1911 the Brit
ish had laid claim to all that portion o
the district of Maine lying east of the
PcnObscot. Shortly before the arriva
of tho English squadron, Commodore
Samuel Tucker had been sent aroun(
to PenObscot Bay to protect tho Ameri'
can coasters. and while the British
sailed up to Castine he lay at Thomas
ton.
1t was a schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but he was a heavy ons
we'll armed and manned ; and she car
ried the true Yankee ''grit" upon hei
decks. of which the enemy had received
from them rather too many proofs. On
the morning of the 2Sth of August 9
messenger was sent down from Belfast
with the intelligence that the British
frigatc was coming from Castine tC
take him. Tucker knew that the Brit
ish feared him. and also that Sir John
Sherbrooke had offered q large amount
for his capture.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence. his vessel was lying at one
| of the low wharves, where no 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's keel vas just cleared
from the mud, and II of tho men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast of
the bOwline, when a wagon, drawn by
one horse. came rafting down to the
spot. Tho driver. a rOugh-looking
countryman, got out upon the wharf,
and then assisted q 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 up.
preached him.
Commodore" she asked. "when dc
you sail from here"
1--WE sail right off as soon as possible
madam"
20, then, I know you will bo kind t.
me-" the lady urged. in persuasive
tones. MY poor husband died ycster
day, and l wish to carry his corpse Il
Wiscasset, where we belong, and where
his parent will take care of it,"
'But. my good woman, | sha'n't g
to Wiscasset."
eff you only will land me at tn,
mouth of the Sheepscot, | will ask NJ
more. can easily find q boat there t.
take me up"
.'Whcre is the bodyP" asked Tucker
''In the wagon" returned the lady
at the same time raising II corner o
her shawl to wipe away the gathering
tears. 81 have q sum of money will
me. and you shall be paid for thu
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 a favor, an
though he liked not the bother oftakins
the woman and her strange cOmpani
ment on board, yet he could not refuse
Some of the men were sent upon tn,
wharf to bring the body on board. A
long buffalo robe was lifted off by tn,
man who drove the wagon; beneath
appeared q neat black coffin. Som,
words we're passed by the seamen a
they were putting tho coffin on board
which went to show pretty plainly tina
the affair did not exactly suit them
But it may have been but prejudice OF
their part, but the seamen should be al
lowed a prejudice n in q while
when we consider the many stern real
tiles they have to encounter. Ere lon.
the coffin was placed in the hold, ant
the woman was shown to the cabin. II
less than half an hour the schooner wa
cleared from tho wharf, and standing
out from tho bay. The wind was ligh
from the eastward, but Tucker had NJ
fear of tho frigate now that she wa!
ono out Of the bay.
In the evening tho lady passenge
came on deck, and the Commodore as
sured her that he should be able to liant
her early on the next morning. Sh'
expressed her gratitude. and remarked
that before she retired she should lik'
10 look and see that her husband
corpse was safe. This was, of course
granted, and ono lifted off the hatcl
that she might go down into the hold
Il DECLARE" muttered Daniel Car
ter, an old sailor. who was standing o.
the wheel, she takes on d~re'fullyr'
Eyes. poor thingr' said Tucker. a
lie heard her sobs and grOans.
"D'ye notice what'n eye she's gotP'
continued Carter.
mo" said Tucker, "only 'twa
swollen with tears"
my eyes! but they shone, though
when she stood here looking at tn
compass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quain
esrnestness, and then went down Il
the cabin.
When the woman came up from tn
hold, sho looked about the deck of thu
schooner for a few moments, and thel
went aft. There was something In he
c~ountenance that puzzled Carter. HI
had been one of those who objected Il
the collin being brought aboard. Th'
wOman's eyes ran over the schooner
deck with q strange quickness, ant
Carter eyed her very sharply. Sooi
she went to the t~affrail, and then sh'
came and stood by the pinnacle again
Look out, or you'll jibe the BOOM
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that tn,
mainsail was shivering. Ho gave tn
helm a couple of spokes aport, and the
cast his eyes again upon the woman.
.'Thank'e, ma'am," said Dan. "Ha
hold on-why, bless my soul. there's
big spider on your hair. Mono
there. Here-Pn ughT
The last ejaculation Dan made as h
seemed to pull something from tn
woman's hair, which he threw upOl
the deck with the ugh" above men
toned.
Shortly after tho passenger went be
low. and ere long Tucker came o.
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