Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-21

with honour and integrity for me to take :
You appear to ioget." said Mr.. Lang
ley, that it is not merely your own hon
| our, but the honour Of others that il 10 be
considered in the course of conduct which
you are now to pursue"
"I have by no means forgotten what is
due t. yon," continued Mr.. Streatield," or
what responsibilities | have incurred from
the nature Of my intercourse with your
family. Do l puttoo much trust IN your
iorbearance.ifI now assure you, candidly
and unreservedly, that | sull place all my
hopes of happiness in the prospect Of be-
coming connected by marriage with a
daughter of yours Miss Clara Lang
ley"
Here the speaker paused. His position
was becoming delicate and dangerous
one; but he made no effort to withdraw
from it. Almost bewildered by the press
ing and perilous emergency Of the mo-
ment, harassSd by such a tumult of con-
flicting emotions within him as he had
never known before, he risked the worst,
with all the blindiold desperation Of love.
The angry flush was rising on Mr. Lang
lcy's cheek it was evidently costing him
severe struggle to retain his assumed
selfpossession; but he did not speak
After an interval MIR. Streat6eld proceeded
thus
However unfortunately may express
myself, am sure you will do me the JUS
tice to believe that l am now speapking
from my heart on subject TO me) ofthe
most vital importance. Place yourself in
my situation, consider all that has happen
ed, consider that this may be, for aught
knowto the contrary, the last opportunity
| may have Of pleading my cause-and
then say whether it is possible for me to
conceal from you that | can only look to
your torbearance and sympathy for per
mission TO retrieve my error, to--to-Ir.
Langley | cannot choose expressions at
such moment as this. lean only tell you
that the feeling with which | regarded yonr
daughter Clara, when first saw her. still
remains what it YVES. l cannot analyse it;
| canrot reconcile its apparent inconsis-
tencies and contradictions;I cannot explain
how, while may seem to you and to eve
rv one to have varied and vacilatcd with
insolent caprice. l have really remained,
in my own heartand to my own conscience,
true to my first sensations and my first
convictions. can only implorc you not
to condemn me to a life OF disappointment
and misery, by.jndging me with hasty irri-
tanon. Favor me, so far at least as to re-
late the conversation which has passed be-
tween us to your two daughters. Let me
hear how il affects each Of them towards
me. Let me know what they are willing
to think md ready to do under such un-
| paralleled circumstances as have now oc-
Cured viii wait your time, and Meiy
time; | win abide by goar decision and
tteir decision, pronounced after the first
poignant distress and irritation Of this day Is
events has passed over"
Still Mr. Langley remained silent; the
angry words was on his tongue the con
temptuous rejection Of what he regarded
for the moment as proposition equally i'll
timed and insolent seemed bursting to his
| lips; but once more he restrained himself
He rose from bis seat, and walked slowly
backwards and forwards, deepin thought
| Mr.. Streatfield was too much overcome by
his own agitation TO plead his cause further
by another word. There was silence in
the room now, which lasted for some
| time.
We have said that Mr.. Langley was a
man ofthe world. He was strongly at
tached to his children; but he had a little
Of the selishness and much ofthe reverence
for wealth of man Of the world. As he
now endcavoured to determine mentally
on his proper course Of ac,ion-to olsen
tancle the whole case from all its mvsteri-
ous intIicacies--to view it, extraordinary
as 1t was,in is proper bearings,his thoughts
began gradually 10 assume what is called
"a practical turn" He reflected that he
had another daughter, besides the twin
sisters to provide for; and that he had two
sons to settle in life. He was not rich e.
nough to portion three daughters; and he
had not interest enough to start his sons
favourably in career Of eminencc. Mr..
Streatfel1, on the contrary, was a man Of
! great wealth, and of great connection"
among the people in power. Was such a
son-in-law to be rejected, even after all
that had happened, without atleast consul
ting his wife and daughters first He
thought not. Had not Mr. StreatGcld, in
truth, been the victim Of a remarkable IA
tality, Of an incredible accident, and were
no allowances, under such circumstances,
to be made for him : He began to think
there were. ReAecting thus, he determin.
cd at length to proceed with moderation
and caution at all hazards; and regained
tonposure enough to continue the con
versation in cold, but still in a polite tone.
Il will commit myself, sir, to no agree
ment or promise whatever" he began,
"nor will consider this interview in any
respect as a conclusive one, either on your
side or mine; but if ! think, on considera-
ton, that it is desirable that our conversa-
ton should be repeated TO my wife and
daughters, | will make them acquainted
with it, and will let you know the result.
In the meantime, thi'k you will agree
with me, that it is most fit that the next
communications between US should take
place by letter alone"
Mr.. Streat6eld was not slow in taking
the hint conveyed by Mr.. Langleys last
words. After what had occurred, and
until something was definitely settled, he
felt that the suffering and suspense which
he was already enduring would be in
creased tenfold If he remained longer in the
same house with the twin-sisters--the be-
troth Of one, the lover ofthe other! Muir
muring few inaudible words Of acquies-
cence in the arrangement which had just
been proposed to him, he left the room
The same evening he quilted Langley
Hall.
The mex. morning the remainder Of the
guests departed, their curiosity 10 know
all the particulars Of what had happened
remaining ungratiied. They were simply