The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-08-27
4 STRANGE STORY.

disaster in 1871, one of a mere handful 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 Gov
ernor, who had prayed and besought the Cal
cutta authorities not to risk the adventure,
had the worst forcbodings for its fate and
although he did all an able, kindly and we'll
hammered man could do to maintain the spir-
its of the circle, those who knew him could
read too well what his fears were. Words
could not aescribe-indeed, it is too painful
for me even now to recall-the dIeary wretch
edness of that fatal month. during which no
tidings came of the devoted army. Evening
after evening saw the roads crowded by anX-
ious 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 return in despair. And when, at last,
the news came that the sole survivor had stag
gered half alive, back to his countrymen with
the tidings of the disaster, the wal that as
cended from those heartbroken creatures /
shall never, while live, forget.
There had been captain in one of the ma
tive regiments, an old acquaintance of mine,
by the name of Donnelly-Jerry Donnelly, as
he was called by every one. He was careful
to explain to all his friends that his name was
JeTOIine. and not jeremiah, although why he
so unduly preferred the saint to the prophet
1 never understood. jerry Donnelly, how
ever, lie was, and as strange and eccentric q
creature as ever breathed.
He was very good looking fellow and a
frst-rate officer, but a careless, rollicking,
I,,I 4
amazing flow of spirit, little education or cul-
ture, great-amost miraculous-talent for
language, with a soft heart and easy temper.
1t was impossible to make him angry; and
in all circumstances, however unpleasant, he
maintained a placid serenity which seemed
to imply that lie was on intimate terms with
fortune, and knew the very worst she could
do.
Among the other tricks that the tickle god
dess had played him was that she had mar
ried him. Why he married as he did no one
could imagine. The lady was neither hand
some, clever or rich. She was simply paSSa-
bic as to looks, with the livelineSs of good
health and youth-a quality not inapt to de
velop Itself in vivacity of temper when those
attributes disappear But, on some impulse,
Jerry DOnnelly mad asked her the momen-
/ tous question, and had been favorably an.
swered.
I \ most uncomfortable couple they were
Jerry, from the first, had neglected her-noi
Intentionally, | believe, but simply because
for the moment he forgot her existence. 1t
! never seemed to him necessary to alter his
former bachelor rounds in any respect and
: as tine lady had no notion of being neglected
IL, II.
out a line for herself 1t may be easily sup
posed that the one was not aversc to brandy
and water, nor the other to gossip and flrta
/ ton. They never quarreled 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 Elphistone's expedition
! His wife would fain have remained in Cal
cutta, but as all the wives were going to Agra
foT very shame she was obliged 10 go there too
: On the first rumOrS of the disaster she was
very Indifferent, said she was very sure jerry
would turn up at the most convenient time
and if he was happy She was. When, how
ever, the tidings were confirmed, and it was
certain that Jerry had perished with his com
rades a great change came over her. She
went no where. And when, at the end OF
nearly year, she began once more to loob
/ upon the world, she was grave, thoughtful
/ softened woman. She went up to Calcutta
I after that, and l never saw her until came
home on furlough in 1917. She was then
/ living i'll pretty place in Somersetshire, and
was known as Mrs. Courtney, of BranIy
/ Hail.
| met her accidentally, but she was very
! glad to see me, and she explained to me whal
/ l had not heard, that when she arrived al
Calcutta she found that poor Jerry, foul
months before he had left Agra, had succeed
/ ed to this place, Branly Hall, by the death o
I a distant relative. lie had previously made
: a will leaving her all his worldly goods, then
! slender enough, so that in the end this fine
estate had come to her and a new name witt
( it. She asked me to come down and see her
( which did, and learned more of her history
/ Sorrow and prosperity had greatly changed
Z her for the better. Even her looks had i'm
proved, and she was a pleasant, thoughtful
! agreeable woman. She had remained foul
years in Calcutta before she returned, bu
! had at once assumed the name of Courtney
which was one of the conditions on which the
/ bequest was made
! 'You know, Colonel Hastings could no
have lost the estate, for what would Jerry
/ say when he comes tack %
! | thought the woman'S Lea must have
been eHec5cd Dy h5t Lou5:es, AMI said moth
ing.