Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-24

MISC ELAN NEOUS,
\ TRUE STORY.
by W. wtIKiy COLLINS, AUTHOR OF "Asros1sA."


Immediately after the departure Of his
guests, Mr.. Langley had long interview
with his wife. He repeated to her the con-
versation which had taken place between
Mr.. Sueatheld and himself and received
from her IN return such an account of the
conduct Of his daughter, underthe trial that
had beiallen her, as filed him with equal
astonishment and admiration. 1t was a new
revelation to him ofthc characterofhis own
! child.
Gas soon as the violent symptoms had
subsidized" said Mrs. Langley, in answer
to her husbands first inquiries, "as soon as
the hysterical tit was subdued, Jane seem
ed suddenly to assume a new character,
to become another person. She begged
that the doctor might be released from his
attendance, and that she might be left alone
with me and with her sister Clara. When
every one else had quilted the room she
continued TO sit in the easy chairwhere we
had first placed her, covering her face with
her hands. She enreated Us not to speak
te her for a short time, and except that she
shuddered occasionally, set quite still and
silent When she at last looked up, we
were shocked to see the deadly paleness
Of her face, and the strange alteration that
had come over her expression but she
spoke to Us socoherently, so so solemnly even,
that we were amazed; we knew not what
to think or what to do /; it hardly seemed
to be or Jane who was now speaking to
u.s."
"What did she say 2" asked Mr.. Lang
ley, eagerly.
"She said that the first feeling of her
heart, at that moment, was gratitude on
her account. She thanked God that the
terrible discovery had not been made too
late, when her marriage life might have
been a life ofestrangement and misery. Up
to the moment when Mr. StrcatGcd had ut
tered that one fatal exclamation, she had
loved him fondly and fervently; nor, no
explanation, no repentance, Gf either were
tcndered) no earthly persuasion or com
mand Cn case Mr.. Streaticld should think
himself bound, as matter of atonement,
TO hold to his rash engagement) could ever
induce her to become his wife"
"Mr Streatfeld will not test the resolu-
non" said Mr. Langley, bitterly .he de-
liberately repeated his reputation Of bis
engagement in this room; nay, more, he
Il have something important to say to
you from Jane on this point" interrupted
Mrs. Langley. after she had spoken
the first few words which | have already
repeated to you, she told US that she had
been thinking-thinking more calmly per-
haps than we could imaginc-on all that
had happened on what Mr. Streatheld
had SAID at the dinner-table on the mo-
mentary glance of recognition which she
had seen pass between him and her sister
Clara, whose accidental absence, during
the whole period Of Mr. Streatfelds inter
course with us in London, she now remcm-
bered and reminded me of. The cause OF
the fatal error, and the manner in which it
had occurred, seemed to be already known
TO her, as if by intuition. We cntreatcd
her to refrain from speaking on the subject
for the present but she answered that il
was her duty to speak on it-her duty to
propose something which should alleviate
the suspense and distress we were all en-
during on her account No words can de-
scribe to you her fortitude, her noble en-
durance-" Mrs. Langley's voice faltcred
as she pronounced the last words. 1t was
some minutes ere she became sufficiently
composed TO proceed thus:
Il am charged with a message to YOU
from Jane-I should say, charged with her
entreaties, that you will not suspend our
| =,
his conduct in any other than a merciful
light-as conduct for which accident and
circumstances are alone to blame After
she had given me this message to you, she
turned to Clara, who sat weeping by hel
side, completely overcome; and kissing
her, said that they were 10 blame, if any
one was to be blamed in the matter. for be-
ing SO much alike as to make all who saw
them apart doubt which was Clara and
which was Jane. She said this with a
faint smile, and an effort to speak plavfiillv,
which touched US to the heart Then. in
a tone and manner which | can never for
| get. she asked her sister-cEarging her on
their mutual affection and mutual conf
dence, to answer sincerely-if she had
noticed Mr.. Streatfeld on the day Of the
levee, and had afterwards remembered him
at the dinner table, as he had noticed and
remembered her f! 1t was only after Jane
had repeated this appeal, still more earn
estly and afectionately, that Clara sum.
moned courage and composure enough to
confess that she hadnoticed Mr.. Streatfeld
on the day of the levee, and thought Of
him afterwards during her absence from
London, and had recognized him at our
table as he had recognized her."
''ls it possible! l own that | had not an
ticipated-not thought for one moment oi
that" said Mr.. Langley.
Perhaps" continued hisw wife, ait is best
that you should see Jane now, and Judge
for yourself. For my part, her noble re
signation under this trial, has so astonished
and impressed me, that only feel cornpe-
| tent m "A ,-,.e ne she advises IN acf A. rbe