The Red Cloud chief., 1878-06-13
A STRANGE STORY.
ny AN ENGLISH OfYiCER.

~ ~ shklS hhNttlk Inv
Cabal disaster in 1871. one u n mere
handful Of British troops, left in charge
Of the wives. sisters and daughters III
the actors in tina, most unhappy cNpc-
dition. And n weary. heart. breaking
time II was. The Lieu,cpan, Governor.
who had prayed and besought the Cal
cutta authorities not to risk the ven
ture. had the worst forcbodings for Its
fate; and although he did all an able.
kindly and well.mannercd man could
do to maintain the spirits III the circle.
those who knew him could read too well
what his fears were. Words could not
describe-indccd II is painful for me
even now to rccall--the drcary wretch
edness Of that fatal month. during which
no tidings came Of the devoted army.
Evening after evening saw the roads
crowded by anxious women, sitting for
hours that they might hear the first
news III those who were dear tn them,
and evening after evening saw them re-
turn in despair. And when ut last the
news came that the sole survivor had
staggered. half-alivc, back Ia his u
trymen. with the tidings Of the great
disaster. the wall which assembled from
JnOSt UttIt-bEphtu tItNtuItS, . uNtt
never while | live forget.
There had been a captain In one Of
the native regiments, An old acquaint-
ance Of mine. Of the name Of Donnelly
Jerry Donnelly. as he was called by
every one. He was careful 10 explain
To all his friends that his name was
jerome. and not Jeremiah. although
why he so unduly preferred the saint IN
the prophet I never understood. Jerry
Donneliy, however, he was. and ~
strange and eccentric u creature as ev-
or breathed.
He was a very good-looking fellow,
and n first-rate officer, but u careless,
rollicking, half-insane. mad.cap Of q
man, with an amazing flow Of spirits,
little education or culture. n great, al
most miraculous talent for languages,
with a soft heart and An easy temper
1t was impossible to make him angry
and in all circumstances, however un
pleasant, he maintained a placid sercn
ity, which seemed to imply that he wa
on intimate terms with Fortune. an
knew the very worst she could do.
Among the other tricks which tn
tickle goddess had played him was tina
she had married him. Why he eve
married as he did no one could imag
! inc. The lady was neither handsome
clever nor rich. She was simply pas
sable AS 10 looks, with the liveliness q
good health and youth-a quality no
unapt to develop i.self in a vivacity O
temper when those other attributes dis
appear. But, on some impulse. Jerr,
Donnelly had asked her the momentou
question, and had been favorably ans
wered.
A most uncomfortable couple the
- were. Jerry, from the very first, neg
lectcd her-nOt Intentionally. | believe
but simply because for the moment b
forgot her existence. II never SCENE
to him necessary to alter his forme
bachelor round in any respect; and q
the lady had no notion OF being neg
;ected. she resented his indifference, an
chalked out a line for herself. II ma
be easily supposed that the one was M
adverse to brandy and water, or u
other to gossip and Irritation. The
} Q auarreled Outwardly. but wei
hardly ever together.
So stood the domestic circle, II M
II could be called. Of Captain Donnell,
when he wa ordered on General y
phinstone's expedition. His wife woul
lain have remained at Calcutta, but
An the IS were going to Agra. 81
for vel ma was obliged to go thcI
.iso' vt rumors of the disa
tara " indifferent-said 81
": ,v.,,s. ,s ';%s, turn ass Up Up, 4 !, 4
was happy, she was. When. hcweve
the tidings were confirmed. . u W
certain that Jerry had persisted with b
comrades, great change came over he
ShaIshut herself up for months, saw
one? and went nowhere. And when
b the end Of nearly . year she beg
once more to look ut the world, she W
grave. thoughtful. softened woms
She went up to Calcutta after thst al
never saw her again until came hor
ON furlough in lSi7. She was then u
ing in . pretty place in Somersetshii
And was known as Mrs. Courtney,
Rernley Hall. -
T met her accidentally, but she v
very Glad To see me, and explained
me what I had not heard. that VII
abe had arrived at Calcutta she fou
nat poor Jerry had. four months |
fore he left Agra, succeeded 70 Y
place Of Barnley Hall. by the dsaih o
Iaistant relation. He had Prsvioul
made . will, leaving her all his world
goods. then slender enough. 80 tia
the end this fine estate hsd come 70 o.
And q new name with IT, She a.ksd
10 come down and see her, which Id
and learned more Of her history.
\ Sorrow and prosperity had grse
changed her for the better. Even
pleasant, thoughtful. agreeable wom'
She had remained four years in Gale
Ia before she returned. but st once
sumed the name of Courtney. VII
was q condition on which the bequ
was made.
..You know, Colonel Hastings
could not have lost the estate. for VI
would poor Jerry have said when
came back?"