The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-09
A Strange Story.

sisters and daughters of the actors IN that
most unhappy expedition. And weary,
heart-breaking time it was. The Lieutenant
Governor, who had prayed and besought the
Calcutta authorities not to risk the adven.
tuye, 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 dcscribe-indeed
1t ls painful for me even now 10 recall
the dreary wrctchedness Of that fatal
month, during which no tidlngs 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, aud 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 great disaster, the
wall which assembled from those heart
.brokon 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 Don
nelly, as lie 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 80 unduly preferred the
saint to the prophet never understood.
l.
strange and eccentric a creature as ever
brcathed.
He was very good looking fellow, and
frst-rate officer, but a careless, ,rollicking,
half insane mad.cap Of a man, with au
amazing flow of spirits, little education or
culture, great, almost miraculous, talent
for languages, with soft heart, and al
easy temper. 1t was Impossible 10 make
ntiu angry, anu III oil virCuiuslances, 4Uw-
ever unpleasant, 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 fickle
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 tho live
: illness Of good health and youth-a quality
not unapt to develop itself in vivaclty of
temper when those other attributes dis
appear. But, on same impulse, Jerry Don
nelly had asked her the momentous Ques-
tion, and had been fayorably answered.
=. A most uncomfortable couple they were.
Jerry, from the very first, neglected her
= MT Intentionally I believe, but simply be-
cause for the moment he forgot her exist
ence. 1t never seemed to him necessary to
alter his former bachelor round in any re-
spect; and as the lady had no notion of be-
Ing neglected, she resented his indifference,
and chalked out a line for herself. 1t may
be easily supposed that the one was not
adverse to brandy and water, or the other
togosslp and filtration. They mover quar-
relied outwardly, but were hardly eyer to-
gether.
So stood the domestic circle, If such it
could be called. of Captain Donnelly, when
he was ordered on General Elphinstone's-
expedition. His wife would fain have re
maincd at Calcutta, but as all wives were
going to Agra, she for very shame was
obliged to 90 there also. On the rumore
OF disasters she was very Indifferent-sald
she was sure Jerry would turn up at the
most inconvenicnt time, and that If he was
happy, che was. When, however, the
tldings were confirmed, and it was certain
that Jerry had perished with his comrades,
great change came over her. She shut
herself up for months. saw no one, and
went nowhere. And when at the end ol
nearly year she began once moro to look
at the world, she was grave, thoughtful,
softcned woman. She went up to Calcutts
after that, and never saw ner again until
came home on a furlough in 1867. Sin
: was then living In pretty place in Sor
ersetshire and was known US Mrs. Court
nay. of Branley Hall.
met her accldently, but she was very
glad to see mo, and explained to me what
had not heard, that when she arrived al
Calcutta she found that poor Jerry had
four r,ou;lls before lie left Agra succeeded
to this place of Branley Hall by tho dcatl
of distant relation. He had prcviousl,
made will leaving her all his worldl,
goods, then slender enough, so that in th
end this fine estate had come to her, and
now namo with 1t. She asked mo to com.
down and SEQ her, which did, and learned
moro Of her history.
Sorrow and prosp Gritty greatly changce
.ol Wv oo.'o,' 'inted lambrequin'
AniPfoVeu' "nu siie was G. On the shelf
full, agreeable woman. white vases of
four years in Calcutta b, from herself, and
but had q. onoe aasrma y sprays Of Ira
g,~' ' -" ,I1e scarlet, green