The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-05-24
STRANGELY REUNITED.

handful of British troops, LETT in charge
of the wives, sisters snd daughters of
the actors i'm that most unhappy expe-
dition. And q weary heart-breaking
time it was. The Lieutenant Governor,
who had prayed and besought the Cal
cutta authorities not to risk the adven-
ture, had the worst forebodings for its
fate and although he did all an able,
kindly and well hammered 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-indeed it is painful for me
even now to recall-the dreary 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
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 survi-
Vor had staggered, half alive, back to- his
countrymen, with the tidings of the
great disaster, the wall which assembled
from those heartbroken creatures l
shall never while live forget.
There had been 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 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
/ never understood Jerry Donnelly,
however, he was, and as strange and
eccentric creature as ever breathed.
He was a very good-looking fellow,
and first-rate officer, but careless
rollicking, half insane, madcap of
man, with an amazing flow of spirits,
little education or culture, a 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 placid serenity
which seemed 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
t,, Ipnl-o tuitI ha r.
health and youth-a quality not unapt
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 had been favorably answered.
A most uncomfortable couple they
We're. jerry from the first, neglected
her-nOt Intentionally, L believe, but
simply because for the moment he for
got 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 his indifference, and chalk
ed out a line for herself. 1t may be
easily suppose that the one was not ad-
verse to brandy and water, or the other
to gossip and filtration. 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 Elphin-
stones expedition. His wife would fain
have remained at Calcutta, but as all
wives were going to Agra, she for shame
was obliged to go there also. On the
rumors of disasters she was very indif-
ferent-said she was sure Jerry would
turn up at the most inconvenient time,
and that If he was happy, she was.-
When, however, the tidings were con-
frmed, and it was certain that Jerry
had perished with his comrades a great
change came over her. She shut herself
up for months, saw no one, and went
nowhere. And when at the end of near
ly year she began once more to look at
the world, she was grave thoughtful,
softened woman. She went up to CAL
cutta after that, and L never saw her
again until l came home on a furlough
in 1867. She was then living in pretty
place in Somersetshire and was known
as Mrs. Courtnay, of Branley Hail.
l met her accidently, but she was very
glad to see me, and explained to me
what had not heard, that when she
arrived at Calcutta she found that poor
Jerry had, four months before he left
Agra succeeded to this place of Branley
Hall by the death of distant relation.-