Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-06
TWO MAINE STORIES.
WHICH THE READER MAY BELIEVE OR not
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

During the summer of lS4l the Brit
sh had laid claim TO all that portion o.
the district of Maine lying cast of the
Penobscot. Shortly before the arrival OF
the English squadron. Commodore Sam
uel Tucker had been sent around to Pc
nobscot Bay to protect the American
coasters, and while the British sailed to
Castine he lay at Thomaston.
1t was a schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but she was 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 20th of August a messen-
ger was sent down from Belfast with the
intelligence that the British frigate was
coming from Castine TO take him. Tuck
er knew that the British feared him,
and also that Sir John Sherbooke had
offered large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received the IN
telligence his vessel was lying at one OF
the lower wharves, where he would have
to wait two hours for the tide; but he
hastencd to have everything prepared to
get her Oft as soon as possible.
The sChooners keel was just cleared
from the mud, and one of the men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast OFT the
bowline. when wagon, drawn by one
horse, came rattling down 10 the spot.
The driver. rough looking countyman,
got out upon the wharf, and assisted Il
middle aged woman from the vehicle.
The lady's first inquiry was for Commo-
dore Tucker. lie was pointed out 10 her,
and she stepped upon the schooner 5 deck
and approached him.
Commodore" she asked, "whcn do
YOU sail from here =
1--WE sail right of as soon as possible,
madam"
"Oh, ;hen, know YOU will be kind
to me" the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. My poor husband died ycSter-
day, and wish 10 carry his corpse to
Wiscas>e,, where we belong, and where
his parents Will take care OF it.
&" Bat my good woman, | shan't 90 to
Wiscasset."
"lf YOU will only land me at the mouth
of the Shecpscot, | will ask no more. |
can easily find boa, there TO lake 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 gathering
tears. 81 have sum of money with
me, and you shall be paid for the trol-
bic
The kind hearted old Commodore was
not the man TO refuse favor and though
he liked no; the bother Of taking the wo-
man and her strange accompaniment 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 il
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. Bat it may have
been but prejudice on their part, and the
seamen should be allowed prejudice
once in while, when We consider the
many stern realities they have 10 encoun-
tea. 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 tearOf the frigate now that she was
once out Of the bay.
Ia the evening the lady passenger came
on deck, and the Commodore assured her
that he should be able TO land her early
the next morning. She expressed her
gratitude, and remarked that before she
retired she would like TO look and see
that her husbans corpse was safe. This
was, of course, granted, and one of the
men lifted off the hatch that she might
20 down into the hold.
Il declare" said Daniel Carter, an old
sailor, who was standing 1t the wheel,
"she takes on dre'fully."
Dye notice what'n eye she got :"
continued Carter.
No." said Tucker, ''only twas swol-
len with tears"
My eyes, but they shone, though,
when she stood here, looking at the COM
pass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint
earnestness and went down to the cabin.
When the woman came up from the
hold she looked about the deck OF the
schooner for a few minutes and then went
aft. There was something in her coun-
tenance that puzzled Carter. He had
been one of those who objected to the
coffin being brought aboard. The wo-
mans eyes ran over the schooner's deck
with strange quickness, and Carter eyed
her very sharply. Soon she went to the
taffrail and came and stood by the binna
Gle again.
Look out, or you'll jibe the boom,
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that tho
mainsail was shivering. He gave the
helm {. couple of spokes apart, and then
cast his eyes again upon the woman.
"Thanke ma am" said Dan. Ha
hold on-why, bless my soul, there's {