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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 reputation, 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 fortune. 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