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


| Among tloSe WHO attended lnc HfSL OF
the Kings lerees, during the London sea-
son OF IS, was an unmarried gentleman
of large fortune, named StreatGeld While
his carriagc was proceeding slowly down
st. James Street, he naturally sought such
amusementand occupation as he could find
in looking on the brilliant scene around
him. The day was unusually fine; crowds
of spectators thronged the streets and the
balconies of the houses on either side of it.
all gazing at the different equipages with
as eager curiosity and interest, as if fine
vehicles and fine peopleinside ofthem were
the rarest objects of contemplation in the
whole metropolis. Proceeding at a slower
pace. Mr.. Streatfeld's carriage had Just
arrived at the middle ofrhe street, when a
longer stoppage than usual occurred. He
looked carelessl ly up at the nearest balcony;
and there, among some eight or ten ladies',
all strangers to him, he saw one face that
rlvcted his attention Immediately.
He had never beheld anything so beau
tiful, anything which struck him with such
strange, mingled, and sudden sensations,
as this face. He gdzed and gazed on it.,
hardly knowing where he was, or what he
was doing, until the line Of vehicles began
to move on. Then--alter first ascertaining
the number Of the house-he flung himself
back in the carriage, and tried 10 examine
ms own feelings, u reason himsellinto self
possession; but 1t was all in vain. H. was
seized with that aniable form Of social mo-
nomania, called 'lovc at first sight"
He entered thepalace, greeted lis friends
and performed all the necessary Court
ceremonies, feeling the whole time like a
man ina trance. He spoke mechanically,
and moved ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lovely face
In the balcony occupied his thoughts, to
the exclusion of everything else On his
return home, he had engagements for the
afternoon and the evening-he forgot and
broke them all; and walked back to St.
James Street as soon as he had changed
his dress.
The balcony was empty; the sight-seers,
who had filed it but a few hours before,
had eparted-butob obstacles ofall sorts now
tended only to stimulate Mr. Streatfcld; he
was determined to ascertain the parentage
Of the young lady, determined to look on
the lovely face again--the thermometer of
his heart had risen already to Fever Heat
Without loss Of time, the shopkeeper to
whom the house belonged was bribed to
loquacity by apurchase. All that he could
tell, IN answer to inquiries, was that he had
let his lodgings to an elderly gentleman and
his wife, from the country, who had asked
some friends into their balcony to see the
carriages go to the legee. Nothing daunt-
ed, Mr.. Streatfeld questioned and question
ed again. What was the old gentleman's
namel Dimsdae-Could he see Mr. Dims-
dale's servant!-Theobsequious shopkeep-
er had no doubt that he could: Mr.. Dims-
dale's servantshould be sent for immediate
ly.
In few minutes the servant, the all-im
portant link in the chain Of Loves evidence
made his appearance. He was apompous
portly man, who listened with solemn at
tention, with stern judicial calmness, to
Mr. Streatheld's rapid and somewhat CON
fused inquiries, which We're accompanied
by minute description of the young lady,
and by several explanatory statements, all
very fictitious, and all very plausible. Stu
p.d as the servant was, and suspicious as
all stupid people are, he had nevertheless
sense enough to perceive that he was ad-
dressed by a gentleman, and gratitude e.
nough to feel considerably Modified by the
handsome dopcear which was quietly slip
ped into his hand. After much pondering
and doubling, he at last arrived at the CON
clusion that the fair object Of Mr.. Streat-
fields inquiries was Miss Langley, who
had joined the party in the balcony that
morning, with her sister; and who was the
daughter of Mr.. Langley, OF Langley Hall,
in-shire. The family was now staying
in London, at-Street. More informa-
tion than this, the servant stated that he
could not afford-he was certain that he
had made no mistake, for the Miss Lang
leys were the only very young ladies in
the house that nlorning-however, if Mr..
Strestheld wished to speak to his master,
he was ready to carry any message with
which he might be charged.
But Mr.. StrestGeld had already heard
enough for his purpose, and departed at
once for his club, determined to discover
some means of being introduced in due form
to Miss Langley, before he slept that night
though he should travel round the whole
circle Of his acquainiauee-high and low,
rich and poor--in making the attempt
Arrived at the club. he began to enquire
resolutely, in all directions. for a friend
who knew Mr.. Langley. Of Langley Hall.
He disturbed gastronomio gentlemen at
their dinner; he interrupted agricultural
gentlemen who were moaning over the
prospects of the harvest; he startled literary
gentlemen who Were deep in the critical
mysteries of the last Review; he invaded
bilhardroom, dressingroom, smokingroom;
he was more Ike frantic ministerial whip
| perrin, hunting up stray members for d.
vision. than an ordinary man; and the Of.
tener he was defeated in his object, the
more determined he was to succeed. At
last, just as he had vainly inquired Of eve
rybody that he knew, just as he was stan
ding in the hall of the clubhouse, thinking
where he should go next, a friend entered,
who at once relieved him Of all his difficult
ltiss--a precious, an estimahle man, who