The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-05-24

and sisters removed her from, the room,
aided by the servants. AS they dlsap-
peared, dead silence again sank over
the company-they all looked with one
accord to the master of the house.
Mr.. Langley's lace and manner suffi-
ciently revealed the suffering aud Sus-
pense that he was secretly enduring
But he was man of the world-neither
by word nor action did he betray what
was passing within him. He resumed
his place at the table and begged his
guests to do the same. He affected to
make light of what had happened; en-
treated everv one to forget II, or II they
remembered it q. all, TO remember 1t
only as mere incident which would
no doubt be satisfactorily explained
Perhaps it was only jest on Mr.. Streat-
fields part-rather too serious one he
must own. AT any rate, whatever was
the cause of the interruption which had
just happened, it was not important
enough to require everybody to fast
around the table Of the feast. AS a
favor to himself, he begged that no
further notice would be taken of the
occurrence. While Mr.. Langley was
speaking thus, he hastily wrote few
lines on piece of paper and gave 1t to
one of the servants. The note was
directed to Mr.. Streat6eld, and only
these words: "Two hours hence | shall
expect to see you alone in the library"
The dinner proceeded; the places
occupied by the female members of the
Langley family, and by the young lady
who had attracted Mr.. StreatfeId's at
tention in so extraordinary manner,
being left vacant Every one present
endeavored to follow Mr.. Langley'S ad-
vice, and go through the business OF the
dinner as if nothing had occurred, bnt
the attempt failed miserably. Long.
blank pauses occurred in the conyersa-
ton; general topics were started but
never pursued; it was more like an as
sembly Of strangers than a meeting OF
friends; people neither eat nor drank
as they were accustomed to cal and
drink; they talked in altered voices.
and sat with unusual stiffness, even IN
the same positions. Relatives, friends,
and acquaintances. all alike perceived
that some great domestic catastrophe
had happened; all foreboded that some
serious if not fatal explanation of Mr..
Streatfeld's conduct would ensue: and
it was vain and hopeless-a mockery OF
lf-possession-to attempt to shake OF
the sinister and chilling influences that
recent events had left behind them, and
resume at wilfthe thoughtiessness and
hiiarity of ordinary life.
Still, however, Mr.. Langley persisted
in doing the honors of his table, in pro-
ceeding doggedly through all the fes-
tive ceremonies of the hour, until the
ladies rose and retired. Then, after
looking at his watch. he beckoned to
one of his sons to take his place, and
quietly left the room. He only stopped
once. as he crossed the hall, to ask news
of his daughter from one of the servants.
The reply was, that she had had hy-
stericaI-fit; that the medical attendant
of the family had been sent for, and
that since his arrival she had become
more composed. When the man had
spoken, Mr.. Langley made no remark,
but proceeded al 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 the table, EN-.
deavoring 10 maintain an appearance oi
composure, by mechanically turning
over the leaves of the book before him
Mr.. Langley drew chair near him
and in low, but very firm tones, began
the conversation thus:
"I have given you two hours, SIR; te
collect yourself, to consider your posi-
ton fully presume, therefore, thai
YOU are now prepared to favor me with
an explanation of your conduct at my
table to-day"
"What explanation can | make r
what can | say, or think of this mos
terrible of fatalities?" exclaimed Mr.
Streatfield, speaking family and con
fusedly, still not looking up-"ther'
has been an unexampled error com
mitted. Ia fatal mistake, which coult
never have anticipated, and over whlci
| had no control p
Enough of this romantic language
sir,D interrupted Mr.. Langley, coldly
"I am neither of an age nor disposition
to appreciate it. | come here TO asl
plain questions honestly, and insist
as my right, on receiving answers in
like spirit. You, sir, sought an intro
duction to me-you professed yoursel
attached to my daughter Jane-you
proposals were 4 fear unhappily for us
t accepted-your wedding-day was 6xe
and now, after all this, when yo
happen TO observe my daughters twin
sister sitting opposite to you"
"Her twin-sisterw exclaimed MI
, Streatield; and his trembling han
crumpled the leaves of the book whic
he still held while he spoke. "Why
| it, intimate as | have been with you
/ family, that l now know for the frs
| time that Miss Jane Langley has
twin-sisterp
"Do you descend, sir, to subterfug
| when ask you for an explanation %
!, returned Mr.. Langley, angrily. Yo
must have heard, over and over agair
| that my children, Jane and Clara, wer
, twins
"on my word and honor, declar
: that