Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-05
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.


district of Maine lying east OF the Penob-
scot Shortly before the arrival OF the
English squadron, Commodore Samuel
Tucker had been sent around to Penob-
scot Bay to protect the American coast
ers, and while the British sailed to Cas-
tine he lay at ThOmaston.
It was % 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 Goth of August Il messen-
ger was sent down from Belfast with
the intelligence that the British trigate
was coming from Castine to take him.
Tucker knew that the British feared
him, and also that Sir John Sherbrooke
had offered large amount for his
capture.
When the commodore received the in
tollgence his vessel was lying at one of
the low wharves, where he would have
to wait two hours for tho tide ; but he
fastened to have everything prepared to
get her )tl' as soon rs possible.
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 u wagon, drawn by one
horse, came rafting down to the spot,
the driver, q rough looking conntryman,
got ont upon the wharf, and assisted n
middle aged woman from the vehicle.
The lady's first inquiry was tor Comma
dore Tucker. He was pointed out to
her, and she stepped upon the schooners
deck and approached him
commodore" she asked, "when do
Won sail from here ?"
ave sail right OFF as soon as possible,
madam"
ooh. then, know you will be kind tc
me- the lady urged, in persuasive tones
any poor husband diedyesterday, and
wish to carry his cornse to Wiscnsset
where we belong, and where his parents
will take care Of it,"
"But my good woman, | shan't go tt
Wiscusset."
"Ifyou will only landme at the moutl
of the Sheescot, will ask no more.
can easily find boat there to take M
up"
"Where is the bodyN asked Tucker.
"In the wagon, "Ireturned the lady. a
the same time raising the corner of he
+ shawl to wipe away the gathering tears
II have a sum of money with me, AM
YOU shall be paid for the trouble"
"Tut, tut woman; if accommodate
you, there won't be any pay about it,
t. The kind-hearted old commodore wa
not the man to refuse a favor and thong
3 he likednot the bother Of taking tn
woman and her strange accompaniment
u on board, yet he could not refused.
Some of the men were sent upon tn
II wharf to bring the body on board.
long buffalo robe was lifted off by tn
man who drove the wagon; beneath
|. appeared neat black coffin. Som
= words were passed by the seamen as the
were putting the coffin on board, whic
went to show pretty plainly that the u
fair did not exactly suit them. But
e may have been but prejudice on the
part, and the seamen should be above
\ q prejudice once in a while, when "
consider the many stern realities the
have to encounter. Ere long the cOill
If was placed in the hold and the woma
was shown to the cabin. In less tina
Z half an hour the schooner was cleart
from the wharf and standing ont fro
the bay. She wind was light from Il
u eastward, but Tucker had no fear Of Il
frigate now that she was once out of t!
b" bay.
In the evening the lady passeng
came on deck, and the commodore a
sured her that he should he able to lal
her early on the next morning. She e
y pressed her gratitude, and remarked tn
rs before she retired she would like to lo'
and see that her husbands corpse W
safe. This was, of course, granted, al
70 one of the men lifted off the hatch th
she might 60 down into the hold.
e ~ declare" said Daniel Carter, an Q
sailor who was standing at the whe
- "she takes on dre'fully.'
at eyes, poor thing" said Tucker, as
heard her sobs and groans.
he ''D'ye notice what'n eye she's got
continued Carter.
NO. said Tucker, 'only 'twasswoll
ed with tears"