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

servant could afford no more insorma-
tion-he was certain that he had made
nomistake, for the Misses Langley were
the only very young ladies' IN the house
that morning-however if Mr.. Streat-
field wished to speak to his master. he
was ready TO carry any message which
might be charged to him.
But Mr. Streatfield 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 have to
travel round the whole circle of his ac-
quaintance-high and low, rich and
poor-in making the attempt. Arrived
at the club, he began to inquire in all
directions for friend who knew Mr..
Langley, of Langley Hail. He dis
turbed gastronomic gentlemen at their
dinner; he interrupted agricultural gen.
tlemen who were lamentlng over the
prospects of the harvest; he startled a
knot of literary gentlemen who were
deep in the critical mysteries of the last
Review; he invaded the billiard-room:
dressing-room, smoking-room; he was
more like frantic ministerial whlpper-
in, hunting up stray members for a divi-
sion, than an ordinary man; and the
oftener he was defeated in his object,
the more determined he was to succeed.
At last. Just as he had yainly inquired
of everybody that he knew, and he was
standing in the hall of the clubhouse,
thinking where he should go next, a
friend entered, who at once relieved
him of all his difficulties-a precious,
an inestirnable man, who was on inli-
mate terms with Mr. Langley, and had
been lately staying al Langley Hail.
To this friend all the lovers cares and
anxiaties were at once conhded, and a
filter depository for such secrets of the
heart could hardly have been found
He made no jokes-for he was not a
bachelor; he abstained from shaking
his head and recommending prudence,
for he was neither a seasoned husband
nor an experienced widower; what he
really did was TO enter heart and soul
into his friends projects-for he was IN
that position, the only position, in which
the male sex generally take a proper
interest in matchmaking; he was a
newly married man.
Two days after, Mr.. Streatfeli was
the happiest of mortals-he was intro
duced to the lady of his love, TO Miss
Jane Langley. He really enjoyed the
priceless privilege of looking once more
at the face on the balcony, and looking
on it almost as often as he wished. Ii
was a perfect Eiysium. Mr. and Mrs.
Langley saw little or no company
Miss Jane was always accessible, never
monopoIised-the light of her beauty
shone for her adorer alone; and his love
blossomed in it. fast as flowers III hot
house. Passing quickly by the minor
details of the wooing, to arrive sooner
at the grand fact of the winning, let US
simply relate that Mr.. Streatfeld's OBJ
iect in seeking an introduction to Mr..
Langley was soon explained, and was
indeed visible enough long before the
explanation. He was handsome, ac-
complished and rich. His first two
qualifications conquered the daughter.
and his third the father. In six weeks
MIR. Streatfeld was the accepted suitor
of Miss Jane Langley
The wedding-day was fxed-lt was
arranged that the marriage should take
place at Langley Hall, whittier the
| family proceeded, leaving the lover un-
willingly in London, prey to all the
inexorabIe business formalities of the
occasion. For ten days did the ruthless
lawyers-those dead weights that bur.
den the back of Hymen-keep thell
victim imprisoned in the metropolis
occupied over settlements that seemed
never likely to be settled. But even
the long march of the law has its enc
like other mortal things: at the explra
ton of the ten days all was completed
and Mr.. Streatfeld found himself a
liberty to start for Langley Hall.
A large party was assembled at the
house to grace the approaching nup
tials. There were to be tableaux, cLar
ades, boating-trips, riding-excnrsions
amusements of all sorts-the whole tt
conclude lin the play-bill phrase) will
the grand climax of the wedding. Mr.
Streatfield arrived as dinner was ready
he had barely time to dress, and thel
bustle into the drawing-room just as thu
guests were leaving ii, to offer his arm
to Miss Jane-all greetings with friend
and introductions to strangers beins
postponed till the party met around th'
dining-table.
Grace had been said the covers wer'
taken off; the loud, cheerful hum 0
conversation was just beginning, wher
Mr.. Streat6eld's eyes met those of ;
young lady who was seated opposite a
the table. The guests near him, oh
serving at the same moment that h
continued standing after every one els
had been placed, glanced at him in
quiringly. To their astonishment an,
alarm, they observed that his face ha'
suddenly become deadly pale-his rigi
features looked struck by paralysis
Several of his friends spoke to him, bu
for the first few moments he returne
no answer, Then, still fixing his eye
upon the young lady opposite, ne sud
j denly exclaimed in a voice, the altere
tones of which startled every one VIII
i heard him. That is the face saw i
tha h,Ioonv vi-thnt woman is the onl