The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1879-04-16
A STRANGE STORY.

was stationed at Agra during the
Cabul disaster in l84l, one ofa mere hand
full of British troops, left in charge of the
wives, sisters and daughters of the actors
in that unhappy expedition. And a
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-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-indeed it is painful
| for me even now to recall-the dreary
wretchedness of that fatal month, during
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, and evening after evening saw
them return in despair. And then, at
last, the news came that the sole sur
vivor had staggered, half alive, back to
his countrymen with the tidings of the
great disaster, the wall that ascended
from those heart-broken creatures shall
never, while live, forget.
There had been 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.
lie was careful to explain to all his
friends that his name was Jerome, and
not jeremiah, although why he so un-
duly preferred the saint to the prophet, /
never understood. Jerry Donnelly, how
ever, he was, and as strange and eccen-
trlc creature as ever breathed.
He was very good-looking fellow
and first-rate officer, but careless, roll
licking, half-insane madcap of man,
with an amazing flow of spirits, little
education or culture, a great-almost
miraculous-talent for languages, with
soft heart and easy temper. 1t was i'm
possible to make him angry; and in all
circumstances, however unpleasant, he
maintained a placid serenity, which
seemed to imply that he was on init
mate 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 passable as
to looks, with the liveliness of good
health and youth-a quality not inapt
to develop itself in vivacity of temper
when those other attributes disappear.
But, on some impulse, Jerry Donnelly
had asked her the momentous question,
and been favorably answered.
A most uncomfortable couple were
they. Jerry, from the very first, neglect
ed her-not Intentionally, I believe, but
simply because for the moment he for
cot her existence. 1t never seemed to
him necessary to alter his former bache-
lor round in any respect; and, as the
lady had no notion of being neglected,
she resented the indifference, and chalked
out line for herself. They never quar-
relied outwardly, 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 Algra, she for
very shame was obliged to go there also.
.On the first rumors of the disaster she
was very indifferent-said she was sure
Jerry would turn up at the most incon-
venient time; and if he was happy, she
was. When, however, the tidings were
confirmed, and it was certain that jerry
had perished with his comrades, great
change came over her. She shut her.
self up for months, saw no one and went
nowhere. And when, at the end of a
year, she began once more to look at the
world, she was grave, thoughtful, soft
ened woman. She went up to Calcutta
after that, and / never saw her again
until / came home on furlough in
l647 She was then living in pretty
place in Somersetshire, and was known
as Mrs. Courtnay, of Branley Hall.
l met her accidentally, but she was
very glad to see me, and explained to