St. Landry democrat., 1878-06-29
A STRANGE STORY.
BY AN ENGLISH OFFICER

of the wives, sisters and daughters of
the actors in that most unhappy expe-
dition. And weary, heart breaking
time it was. The acknowledgement,
who had prayed and besought the CAL
cutta authorities not to risk the adven-
ture, had the worst forebodings 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 too well
what his fears were. Words could not
describe Gndeed it is painful for me
even now to recalD the dreary wretched-
ness of that fatal month, during which
no tidings came of the devoted army.
Evening after evening saw the roads
crowded by anxious women, sitting there
for hours that they might hear the first
news of those who were dear to them,
and evening after evening saw them re-
turn in despair. And when at last the
news came that the sole survivor had
staggered, half alive, back to his coun-
trymen, with the tidings of the great
disaster, the wall which assembled from
those heart-broken creatures I shall
never, while l live, forget.
There had been a captain in one of the
native regiments, an old acquaintance Of
mine, of the name of Donnelly, Jerry
Donnelly, as he was called by every one.
BE was careful to explain to every one
that his name was jerome, and not Jere-
miah, although why he so unduly pre-
ferred the saint to the prophet I never
understood. Jerry Donnelly, however,
he was, and as strange and eccentric a
creature as ever bresthed.
He was very good looking fellow and
8 frst-rate officer, but a careless, rollick-
ing, half insane madcap of a man, with
an amazing flow of spirits, little educa-
ton Or culture, a great, almost miracu-
lous talent for languages, with a soft
heart and an easy temper. It 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 intimate
terms with fortune, and knew the very
worst that 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 paasable as to
looks, with the liveliness of good health
and youth. a quality not unapt to de-
velop itself into vivacity of temper
when those other attributes disappear.
But, on some impulse, Jerry Donnelly
had asked her the momentous question,
and had been favorably answered.
A most uncomfortable couple they
were. Jerry, from the very first, neg
lected her--not Intentionally, I believe,
but simply because for the moment he
forgot her existence. It never seemed to
him necessary toaIter his former bachelor
round in any respect; and as the lady
had no notion of being neglected, she
resented his Indifference, and chalked
out a line for herself: 1t may be easily
that the one was not adverse to
brandy and water, or the other to gossip
md Irritation. They never quarreled
but were hardly ever to-
sether.
So stood the domestic circle, if such it |
'ould be called, of Captain Donnelly, |
when he was ordered on General Elphin. |
tones expedition. His wife would fain
lave remained at Calcutta, but as all the
wives were going to Agra, she for very
hame was obliged to go there also. On
he first rumors of the disaster she
vas very Indifferent - said. she was sure
'erry would turn up at the most
nconverient time, and that if he was
Apply, she was. When, however, the
idings were confirmed, and it was
ertain that Jerry had persisted with his
omrades, great change came over her.
he shut herself up for months, saw no
ne, and went nowhere, And when at
ne end of nearly year she began once
lore to look at the world, she was
grave, thoughtful, softened woman.
he went up to Calcutta after that, and
never saw her again until came home
, furiough in 1874. She was then
wing in pretty place in somersetshire,
Id was knewn as Mrs. Courtney, of
ranley Hall.
I met her accidentally, but she was
ny glad to see me, and explained to me
hat had not heard, that when she had
rived at Calcutta, she found that poor
try had, four months before he left
gra, succeeded to this place of Branley ,
all, by the death of distant relation. .
e had previously made will, leaving
r all his worldly goods, then slender
ough, 90 that in the end this fine estate
ID come to her, and new name with :
She asked me to come down and see
r, which did, and learned more of /
r history. b
Sorrow and prosperity greatly changed . :
r for the better. Even her looks had y
.- ..