The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-08-25

WHICH HE READER MAY EELIENE OR NOT, AS
he OR SHE rLEAsES.
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.
During the summer Of 1911 the British
had laid claim to all that portion Of the
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 Pcn0h-
scot Bay to protect the American coast
ers, and while the British sailed to Cas-
tine he lay at Thomaston.
1t was a schooner that the commodore
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 Goth of August a messcn-
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 Slerbr0Oke had offer
ed Il 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
7
fastened to have everything prepared to
get her OFF as soon as possible.
The schuUner's keel was Just cleared
from the mud, and one of the men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast off the
| bowlinc, when wagon. drawn by one
horse, came rattling down to the spot.
the driver, rough looking c0untrynan.
got out upon the wharf, and assisted a
middle aged woman from the vehicle.
The ladys first inquiry was for Colnmo-
dore Tucker. He was pointed out to her,
and she stepped upon the schooncr's deck
and approached him:
"Commodore," she asked. "whcn do
you sail from here ~
eve sail right of as soon as possible,
madam"
"Oh, then, know You will be kind to
me-" the lady urged, in persuasive tones.
"My poor husband died yesterday, and
wish to carry his corpse to WisCasset,
where we belong, and where his parents
will take care Of it."
"But my good woman, | shan't 60 to
/ Wiscasset"
"It you will only land me at the mouth
of the Sheepscot, will ask no more.
can easily find a boat there to take me
/ up"
"Where is the body ?" asked Tucker.
"In the wagon returned the lady. at
the same time raising the corner of her
1 shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
"I have a sum Of money with me, and
you shall be paid for the trouble
''Tut, tut woman; if | accommodate
You, there won't be any pay about it,
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, vet he could not refuse.
Some Of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. \
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 rs they
were putting the coffin on board, which
went to show pretty plainly that the af-
fair did not exactly suit them. But it
may have been but prejudice on their
part, and the seamen should be allowed
prejudice once in while, when we con
slider the many stern realities 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.
! he wind was light from the eastward,
! bat Tucker had no fear of the trigate now
! that she was once out OF the bay.
In 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 husbands corpse was safe.
! This was, of course, granted, and one of
! the men lifted off the hatch that she
might go down into the hold.
~ declare" said Daniel Carter, an old
sailor who was standing at the wheel,
''She takes on drefully."
'les, poor thing" said Tucker, rs he
heard her sobs and groans.
"D'ye notice what'n eye she's got p
continued Carter.
"No," said Tucker, "only twas swollen
with tears"
"My eyes! but they shone, though,
when she stood here, looking at the com
pass"
Tucker smiled at the mans quaint ear
ncstness and went down to the cable
When the woman came up from the
hold she looked about the deck of the
schooner for few minutes and then
went aft. There was something in her
countenance that puzzled Carter. He
had been one of those who objected tC
the coffin being brought aboard. The
Woman's eyes ran over the schOoner's
| deck with a strange quickness, and Car
ter eyed her very sharply. Soon she
went to the tat1rail and came and stood
| by the pinnacle again.
"Look out, or you'll iibe the boom,
uttered the passenger.
Carter started, and found that the
mainsail was shivering He gave the
helm a couple Of spokes apart, and then
cast his eyes again upon the woman.
''Thank'e maam," said Dan 'Ha,
hold on-why bless my soul. there's a big
spider right on your hair. No-not there.
Here-Tll-Ugh"
The last ejaculation Dan made as he
seemed to pull something from the wo-
mans hair, which he threw upon the
deck with the !" above mentioned.
Shortly after the passenger went be-
low, and ere long Tucker came on deck.
Commodore" said Carter, with Il re-
markabe degree of earnestness in his
manner, sis that 'oman turned in ?"
'f rather think so," said Tucker, look
ing ut the compass. 'Look out, hook
out, Carter Why, man alive, you're two