A STRANGE STORY OF EVERY DAY

1·13.2 MB·English

by  KENNEDY, WILLIAM

A Shove Snir eng Dye
By ihinm Kennedy

is arhan

Wreerpars My kosna, Puts Cit ragy
Gow. DN vet Hoapas

A STRANGE STORY OF EVERY DAY.

BY WILLIAM KENNEDY,

Anthor of" My Barky Dye” “ Flat Feacleay” $e.

No officer of his rank and standing, in the scrvice of
the East India Company, possessed a mare brilliant re-
putation, er had more elevated prospects, than Cofonet
St.George. In him the ective intrepidity of the ad-
venturous soldier was united to the calculating coolness
of the veteran commander. Hin knowledge of Eastern
languages and customs, and his popularity with the
natives, had secured bim posts of equal trust and difi-
culty; in each of which bis name acquired new Iustre,
Just in the meridian of manhood, with a frame that
seemed proof agains: the perils of Asiatic life, there
was no distinction within the range of Oriental honours
to which he might not have reasonably aspired. The
frankness of his address, and the decision with which
4 A STRANGE STORY

he pronounced his opinions, gave him the air of a
person who knows that he, is valued, and feels that
he ig yecure. Whatever dowlty concerning his future
ascentlaney might have existed at an ewlier period of
his career, wee annihilated by his marriage with the
daughter of ove of the richest suerclants in the Bengal
presilency. His futher-in-law died three weeks alter
the wudding-day, leaving him heir to 2 pouderous for-
tune. A change of name formed a condition of the
union, and to his paternal designation of Campbell, he
added St. George, in compliment to the Indy und her
house, A government mission, of greater splendour
than importance, afforded him vasy-occupation for two
yeats subscquent to his nuptials, His return to Cae

cutta was cbnsidered a recall to the serious duties of
his profession, in which his promotion to the rank of a
General afticer, wis expected ty be immediate, Strong
then was public incredulity, when the story was whis-
pered that Colonel St. George had resigned employ-
ment of cvery kind, and was om the eve of quitting
India tor ever. Stronger was the astonishment when
events proved the story to he true, Curiosity, busy
ubout the cause of this extraondinary resolve, made
numberless surmises, more or less wide of the mark.
Osteusible reason thece wus none, His health—it
could not be his health—his constitution displayed
small abatement of its irou vigoue. With his acqui-
Zitions and expectations, it was impossible to attribute
to hopelessness of success or disappointed ambition,
OF EVERY DAY, 5

‘What then could urge a daring and high-spirited man
to forego the lronours with which fortune seemed pre+
Pared to crown him,—honours too, the well-won meed
of 9 course trying and hazardous in dhe extreme? ‘The
world, which always furnishes marvellgus causes. 15
unexpected occurrences, adjusted the matter with its
accustomed veracity. The only person who could
have enlightened it, was St. George himself, and he
net sail for Europe, Jeaving his Indian friends wo un-
riddle the mystery at their leisutc

Ilow litele men know of each other, and yet how
readily they desl forth judgment on circumstances, to
comprehend which the most intimate wequaiutance with

ure,

the secret springs of action is absolutely nycessary.
‘Mrs. St. George sickened and breathed hei last on the
pasrage te England, A vessel brought the news to
Caleutta, in time to gain the Colonel the reputation of
having been a model of conjugal «fection. His retire-
ment from votive life was now attributed to an over=
whelming regard for the deceased lady, whose health
had demanded an European atmosphere. Every body
Pitied the broken-hearted husband, who bad in vain
sacrificed the brightest pledges of personal aggrandize-
ment at the shrine of connubial tenlerness, The
applause of the multitude, like its condemnation, * no
cold medium knows,” and the wonder of the hour
either a demigod or @ demon.

St. George wae neither, although his history and
character were of no common order, Twenty yeurs

us