The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-08-01

Sorrow and prosperity greatly changed |
her for the better. Even her looks had
improved, and she was a pleasant,
thoughtful and agreeable woman. She
had remained for years in Calcutta
before she returned, but at once assumed
the name Of Courtney, which was q con-
dition on which the bequest was made.
"You know, Colonel Hastings, could
not have lost the estate, for what would
poor Jerry have said when he got back?''
j thought the weman's head must have
been affected by her troubles, and said
nothing.
81 see Won think me deranged, but /
knew be was alive all the time"
s Why, what could have led you to
think 80 p 49,
81 saw him, Colonel Hastings. 1t was
ia our old bungalow at Calcutta, about
two years after got back. Late in the
evening ! heard footstep outside which
strangely affected me. / was lying half
asleep, and, starting up in a drowsy
state, ! heard voice at the yeranda,
and, as thought, inquiring of my stupid
old native whether j lived there. The
steps then turned away. Idarted to the
easement, and although the figure was
clad in the most extraordinary compound
of European and Asiatie garments, ! am
sure it was Jerry. i darted down stairs
and rushed out, but the man had disap-
peared. The servant said he was bad
fakir, and wished to get in the bungalow,
but could or would tell nae nothing OF
what he had said. But am quite sure
it was Jerry. 30 / am certain be will
come back. But you remember he never
was punctual," she added, with faint
emile.
did not say to her that if Jerry was
alive she must have heard of him in
some other way; but ] took leave of her,
and shortly afterwards returned to In
dia.
In 1868, was appointed to an embas'
sy to Nepaul, a very striking country,
governed by a powerful warlike race.
The first minister or yizier of the eoun.
try met US, as in the Nepaulese fashion.
outside the capital, and we had very
courteous and gratifying reception. He
was tall, handsome man, with flowing
black beard, and cenyersed with me In
Persian, which / spoke fuently. After
our interview, one of the attendants in.
\ formed me that the yizier wished to see
me alone, and he accordingly conducted
nae to an inner apartment. He ordered
the attendants to withdrew, and then, In
tones only too familiar, he exclaimed:
"Well, Hastings, my boy, how go the
Plungers 2"
II was Jerry Donnelly, by all that WA
miraculous had observed him staring
earnestly at me during the interview
and something in his gestures seemed
not unfamiliar to me; bat his fowins
beard, solemn air, and Oriental dress, ~
well disguised him, that, even when
heard his well-remembered voice, coult
scarcely realize his identity.
\ "But what on earth are YOU doini
here, Jer1y?" said 1, "and why dom
you go home to your wife, like
Christian p
"My wife! well, that's The whole at
fair. You see, she's somebody else
wife, 80 I'm better out of the ways j
would be pity that poor Sophy shout
commit bigamy."
" assure you, you are entirely mls
taken. Mrs. Donnelly has not marie
again
/" Hasn't she, though ?" said hs
/" Don't / know better2 Didn't 1 90 t
my bungalow and 6nd6ut that she ha
married that starched fool Courtney
, when abe knew j never could endur
him
To his intense astonishment, ] told biz
, how the truth was, and In return b
! related to me his own adventures. II
4 had been carried into Tartary, and thei
J detained for three years, when he wa
} allowed To accompany caravan or bod
Of pilgrims tosNepsul. Being BY tbs
! time proficient 10 the Language, he VA
was taken notice Of at court, but yer
, strictly watched. He effected his escap
/ however, disguised as q fakir, and mad
J bis way to Calcutta; bnt finding, ~ !
! thought, his wife married again TO ms