Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-21
,HBURG, MONDAY MORNING. APRIL q. ISL.


at once to the library He locked the door
behind him, as soon as he entered the room.
Mr.. Streat6eld was already waiting
there-he was seated at thetable endeav-
onng to maintain an appearance Of com
posure, by mechanically turning over the
leaves Of the books before him. Mr.. Lang
ley drew chair near him; and il low,
but very firm terms, began the converse
ton thus:--
Il have given you two hours, sir, to col
lect yourself to consider your position
fully-I presume therefore. that you are
now prepared TO favour me with an ex-
planation of your conduct at my table. to-
day"
"What explanation can makel-whai
can l say, or think of this most terrible OF
fatalities exclaimed Mr.. StreatGeld,
speaking family and confusedly; and still
not looking up-"There has been an unex-
ampled error committed--a fatal mistake,
which could never have anticipated, and
over which had no control y
Enough, sir, of the language of ro-
nance, interrupted Mr.. Langley, coldly ;
Il am neither of an age nor a disposition
TO appreciate it. l come here to ask plain
questions honestly, and | insist,as my right,
on receiving answers in the same spirit
You, Mr.. Streattield sought an introduc-
ton to me-you proiessed yourself attach
ed to my daughter Jane-your proposals
were Il fear unhappily for us) accepted
your wedding-day was fxed--and now,
after all this, when you happen to observe
my daughters twin-sister sitting opposite
to you--"
"Hertwin-sister !" exclaimed Mr.. Streat-
field and his trembling hand crumpled
the leaves of the book which he still held
while he spoke. why is it, intimate as |
have been with your family, that | now
know for the first time that Miss Jane
Langley has twin-sister q
"Do you descend, sir, to subterfugc,
when | ask you for an explanation p re-
turned Mr.. Langley, anglily. "You must
have heard, over aud over again, that my
children, Jane and Clara, were twins"
"On my word and honour, l declare
that
"Spare me all appeals to your word or
your honour, sir; arm beginning to doubt
both"
81 will not make the unhappy situation
in which we are placed, still worse, but an
swering your last words, as / might, al
other lines, feel inclined to answer them, -
said Mr.. Sreatheld, assuming calmer de-
meanor than he had hitherto displayed
II tell Won the truth, when | tell YOU that
before to-day, / never knew that any Of
YOUR children weretwins. Your daughter
Jane, has frequently spoken to me Of heI
absent sister, Clara, but neverspoke Other
as her twin-sister. Until to-day, have
had no opportunity of discovering the
truth; for until to-day, have never met
Miss Clara Langley since saw her in the
balcony ofthe house in St. Jamcss street
The only one Of your childrea who was
never present during my intercourse with
your family, in London, was your daugh-
ter rClara--the daughter whom now know
for the first time, as the young lady who
really arrested my attention on my way to
the levee-whose affections it was really
my object 10 win in seeking an introduc-
ton to you. To me, the resemblance be-
tween the twin-sisters has been a iata! re-
semblance; the long absence OF one, iatal
absence"
There was a momentary pause, as Mr..
Streatfeld sadly and calmly pronounced
the last words. Mr.. Langley appeared ia
be absorbed in thought. Al length he pro-
ceeded speaking to himself
"lt is strange ! remember that Clara
left London on the day of the levee, to set
out on visit to her aunt and only re-
turned here two days since, to be present
at her sisters marriage Well, sir, che
continued, addressing Mr.. Strcatfeld,
granting what you say, granting that we
all mentioned our absent daughter to you,
as we are accustomed to mentioning her
among ourselves simply as Clara you
have still not excused your conduct in my
eyes. Remarkable as the resemblance is
between the sisters, more remarkable even,
| am willingto admit, than the resemblance
usually is between twins, there is yet dif:
ference, which, slight, indesciibable though
it may be, is nevertheless discernable to
all their relations and to all their friends
How Is it that you, who represent yourself
as SO wildly impressed by your first sigh,
ofmy daughter Clara, did not discover the
error when you We're introduced to her SIS
ter Jane, as the lady who had so much at
tracted you %
"You forget, sir" rcloincd Mr.. Streat-
field, "that have never beheld the sisters
together until to-day, Though both were
in the balcony when first looked up at it,
it was Miss Clara Langley alone who at
tracted my attention. Had only receiv-
ed the smallest hint that the absent sister
ofMiss Jane Langley was her twin-sister,
| would have seen her, at any sacrifice,
before making my proposals. For tits my
duty to confess to you, Mr.. Langley, with
the candour which syour undoubted due, J
that when | was first introduced to your
daughter Jane, L felt an unaccountable i'm
preston that she was the same as. and yet
different from, the lady whom had seen
IN the balcony. Soon, however, this inn
preston wore off. Under the circumstan-
ces, could I regard it anything but mere
caprice, a lovers wayward fancy dis
missed it from my mind F.; it ceased to af-
feet me, until to-day, when l first discov-
cred that it was warning which l had
most unhappily disregarded; that terri
Bile error had been committed, for which
no one of US was to blame, but which was
fraught with misery. undeserved misery.
to us ALL"
"These, Mr.. Streatfeld,are explanations
which may satisfy you, said Mr.. Langley,
in milder tone, "but they cannot satisfy
me, they will not satisfy the world. You
have repudiated, in the most public and
most abrupt manner, an engagement, in
the fulhlment Of which the honour and the
happiness Of my family are concerned-
You have given me reasons for your con
duct, it is true; but will those reasons re-