Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-26
A STRANGE STORY.
BY AN ENGLISH OFFICER.

was stationed at Agra during the
Cabul disaster in 1941, one of a mere
handful OF British troops, left in charge
Of the wives, sisters and daughters Of the
actors in that most unhappy expedition
And weary, heart breaking time it was
The Lieutenant Governor, who had PRAYED
and besought the Calcutta authorities
not to risk the adventure, had the worst
forebodings for its fate; and although he
did all an able. kindly and well-manner-
cd man could do to maintain the spirits
of the circle, those who knew him could
read too we'll what his fears were. Words
could not describe-1ndeed it is painful
for me even now to recall-the drearv
Indebtedness of that fatal month, during
which no tidings came of the devoted
army. Evening after evening saw the
roads crowded with anxious women, sit
ting there for hours that they might hear
the first news of those who were dear to
them, and evening after evening saw them
return in despair. And when at last the
news came that the sole survivor had
staggered, half alive, back to his country
men,wlth the tidings of the great disaster,
the wall which assembled from these heart
broken creatures shall never while I
live forget.
There had been captain in one of the
native regiments, an old acquaintance of
mine, of the name of Donnellv-Jerrv
Donnelly, as he vas called by every one.
He was careful to explain to all his
friends that his name was Jerome, and
not jeremiah, although why he so unduly
preferred the saint to the prophet I never
understood. Jerry Donnelly, however,
he was. as strange and eccentric crea-
ture as ever breathed.
He was very good-looking fellow
and irst-rate officer, but careless, roll
licking, half-insane madcap of man,
with an amazing flow of spirits, little ed
ucation or culture, great, almost mirac-
ulous talent for language, with soft
heart and an easy temper. It was i'm
possible to make him angry; and in all
circumstances, however unpleasant, he
maintained placid serenity, which seem
ed to imply that he was On intimate terms
with Fortune, and knew the very worst
she could do.
Among the other tricks which the tickle
goddess had played him was that she had
married him. Why he ever married as
he did NO one could imagine. The lady
was neither handsome, clever nor rich.
She was simply passable as to looks,
with the liveliness of good health and
youth-a quality not unapt to develop it.
self ia vivacity of temper when those
other attributes disappear. But, on some
impulse, Jerry Donnelly had asked her
the m omentous question, and had been
favorably answered.
A most uncomfortable couple they
were. Jerry, from the very first, neglect
ed her-not Intentionally, 1 believe, but
simply because for the moment he forgot
her existence. 1t never seemed to him
necessary to alter his former bachelor
round in any respect; and as the lady had
no notion of being neglected. she resented
his indifference, and chalked odt line
for herself. It may be easily supposed
that the one was not adverse to brandy
and water, or the other to gossip and flirta-
ton. They never quarrelled outwardIy,
but were hardly ever together.
SO stood the domestic circle, if such it
could be called, of Captain Donnelly
when he was ordered on General Elphin-
stones 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 60 there also. On
the first rumors of disaster she was very
indifferent said she was sure jerry would
turn up at the most inconvient time, and
that If he was happy, she was. When,
however, the tidings were confirmed, and
it was certain that Jerry had persisted
with his comrades, great change came
over her. She shut herself up for months,
saw NO one, and went nowhere. And
when at the end of nearly year she
began once more to look at the world, she
was grave, thoughtful, softened woman.
She went upto Calcutta after that, and
never saw her again until I came home
on furlough in 1S47. She was then living
in pretty place in Somersetshire, and
was known as Mrs. Courtney, Of Branley
Hall.