Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-24
A STRANGE STORY.

OF the wives, sisters and daughters oil
the actors in that most unhappy expe-
dition. And a weary, heart-breaklng
time il was. The Acknowledgements,
who had prayed and besosght the Cal
cutta authorities not to risk the adyen-
ture, had the worst fo-ebodings of its
fate and although he did all an able,
kindly, and well-mannered man could
do TO maintain The spirits OF the circle,
those who knew him could read 100
well what his fears were. Words could
not describe (indeed it is painful for
me even now to recalD the dreary
wretchedness of that fatal month, dur
inc which no tidings came Of the devoted
army. Evening after evening saw the
roads crowded by anxious women, Sit
ting there for hours that they might
hear the first news Of those who were
dear to them, aud evening after evening
saw them return in despair. And when
at last the news came that the sole
survivor lad staggered, half alive, back
to his countrymen, with the tidings OF
great disaster, the wall which ascended
from those heart-broken creatures l
shall never, while l live, forget.
There had been a captain IN one oil
the native regiments, an old acquan'
of mine, by the name of Donne!ly,
Jerry Donnelly, as he was called by
every one. He was careful to explain
TO every ono that his name was jerome,
and rot jeremiah, although why he so
unduly preferred the saint TO The pro
phet never understood. Jerry Dom
nelly, however. he was, and as strange
and eccentric a creature as ever breath
ed.
He was very good looking fellow
and a frst-rate officer, but careless,
rollicking, half insane madcap of a man
with an amazing flow of spirits, little
education or culture, a great, almeet
miraculous talent for languages, with a
soft heart and an easy temper. 1t was
impossible to make him angry, but in
all circumstances, however unpleasant
he maintained a placid serenity, which
seemed to imply that he was on inti-
mate terms with fortune and knew the
very worst that she could do.
Among the other tricks which the
fcklc GODDESS had played him was that
she had married him. Why he ever
married as he die no on could i'm
agine. The lady was neither hand
some, clever, nor rich. She was simply
passable as to looks, with the liveliness
Of good health and youth, a quality not
unapt to develop Itself into a viyacity OF
temper when those other attributes dis
appear. But, on some impulse, Jerry
Donnelly had asked her the mOmen-
tous question, and had been favorably
answered.
A most uncomfortable couple they
were. Jerry, from the very first, neg
lected her-not Intentionally, l believe
but simply because fer the moment he
forgot her existence. 1t never seemed
to him necessa ry to alter his former
bachelor round in any respect ; and as
the lady had no notion Of being neg
lected, she resented his indifference. and
chalked out a line for herself. 1t may
be easily supposed that the one was not
adverse to brandy and water, or the
other to gossip aud Irritation. They
never quarelled outwardly, but were
hardly ever together.
So stood the domestic circle, if such ii
could be called, of Captain Donnelly,
when he was ordered on General
Elphinstone's expedition. His wife
would fain have remained at Calcutta,
but as all the wives were going to Agra
she for very shame was obliged to go
there also. On the first rumors OF the
disaster she was very indiflerent-said
she was sure Jerry would turn up at
the most inconvenient time, and that i
he was happy, she was. When how
ever, the tidings were confirmed, and
it was certain that Jerry had perished
with lis comrades, a great change came
over her. She shut herself up fol
months. saw no one and went nowhere
And when at the end Of nearly a yeal
she began once more to look at the
world, she was a grave, thoughtful
soitened woman. She went up tc
Calcutta after that, and never saw
her again until l came home on fur
Tough IN 1874. She was then living il
a pretty place IN Somersetshire, anC
was known as Mrs. Courtnay, o
Branley Hall.
Imet her accidentally, but she wal
very glad to see me, and explained tt
me what l had not heard, that whel
she had arrived at Calcutta, she foun(
that poor Jerry had, four months bef9.
he left Agra, succeeded to this place o
Branley Hall, by the death Of a distan
relation. He had previously made {
will, leaving her all his worldly goods
then slender enough, so that in the en-
this fine estate had come to her, and
t. new name with it. She asked me I
come down and see her, which 1 did
and learned more of her history.
Sorrow and prosperity greatly chang
ed her for the better. Even her look
had improved, and she was pleasant
thoughtful and agreeable woman. Sh
had remained for years in Calcutta be
fore she returned, but at once assume