Walter L'Estrange.

When Christmas was over Walter returned to his regiment , and that same year the Crimean War broke out , and his regiment was one of the first sent to the East . He received before he started several letters from the earl and the countess and his fair cousins , but her he saw not , and Amy herself , his sister , gentle and unsuspecting as she washad been so sensible of the little constraint and

, drawing back , that this year she had made an excuse for not paying her London visit , ancl had stayed quietly ancl contentedly at the Mote . I need not here dilate on the Crimean War . Walter l'Estrange , though slightly wounded at the Alma , got safely through Inkerman ancl the Redan , ancl in 1857 , found himself , by the " fortune of war , " by sickness , ancl by " death in action , " the youngest captain in the English army .

It was at the very same time that the "Scruncher" was bringing home the regiment from Balaklava that the Morning Post was full of the brilliant marriage in high life , the Marquis of Clanmorris and lady Jane Champney . Amy had been asked to be a bridesmaid , but as it was not pressed , all the others being' sisters and titled cousins , she got out of it as best she could , and stayed quietly at home , looking after her pets ancl seeing to her old people .

Walter read the news when he landed at Gravesend , but said nothing to anyone ; ancl when , soon after , he returned to the Mote , ancl looked the grave , sunburnt , bearded , soldierly fellow he was , no one . could tell by his manner that he had any trouble , or any care . But to the keen sight-of Amy ancl Miss l'Estrange—ancl women ' s eyes are very quick in such matters—there seemed to be a want of interest in matters he formerl y cared much about , and

a sort of wistful look would creep over his eyes ancl face when sitting still , as if he was searching for something- he wanted very much indeed . He had received an invitation from the earl to go for Christmas to Bel Endroit , but for him that period never came . Some of my readers may remember the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857 , and Walter ' s regiment was one of the first sent off to re 23 ress that fearful uprising , wicked , senseless , ancl diabolical in the highest degree .

Perhaps some can hardly remember the excitement of that long- summer in England , when each telegram startled us with deeds of horror , wretchedness , treachery , ancl shame , without a parallel almost in the history of the world . How then were all our nerves strung and our feelings excited as we heard of gallant Havelock ' s noble advance , and the happy audacity of " fiery Neal . " What emotions affected us as we heard of the massacres of Delhi , ancl the slaughter at Cawnporeancl the death of so many gallant menpoor

, , women , and helpless children ! Walter 1 'Estrange ' s regiment reached Calcutta about August and went strai ght up to Lucknow . It is distinguished , as will be seen in Lord Cl yde ' s dispatches , by many an act of steadiness , gallantry , ancl devotion . In a desperate struggle with some detached bands of mutineers , when

forming part of a small moveable column in Onde , sent to clear the country of the mutinous and murderous Sepoys , poor Walter fell in gallant fight . He was buried that same evening , amict the sadness of many gallant comrades and the tears of his whole company . Ancl yet I do not know why we should utter one word of condolence . He fell as he Avished to fall—at the head of his men . He fell doing his duty , and

he lies buried where he fell with many other true-hearted comrades , ancl he has found a soldier ' s grave . It has often occurred to me how little we sometimes think of what Englishmen have clone ancl borne , ancl how they have died in India . To Englishmen , India is sacred ground , for its plains are whitened with the bones of those goodly hosts who have maintained its honour against fearful odds , who have carried its flag triumphantl y in irresistible advance , who , u 2