Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-06


| tue error when you were introduced to her sis
| ter Jane, as the lady who had SO much attract
ed YOU 7"
= You forget, sir" Lejoined Mr. Streat6eld,
I" that have never beheld the sisters together
until to-day Though both were in the balco-
ny when first looked up at it, it was Miss
Clara Langley alone who attracted my attcn-
ton Had only received the sma Hest hint
that the absent sister of Miss Jane Langley
was her twn-sister, would have seen her, at
any sacrifice. before making my proposals
For it is my duty to confess to you, Mr.. Lang
ley with the tandor which is your undoubted
due, that when | was first introduced to your
daughter Jane, felt an unaccountabe impress
sion that she was the same as, and yet differ
ent from, the lady whom | had seen in the
balcony Soon, however, the impression wore
off Under the circumstances could regard
it as anything but mere caprice, q lovers
wayward fancy ? dismissed it from my mind
it ceased to affect me, until to-day, when first
discovered that it was warning which | had
most unhappilv disregardcd ; that a terrible
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. Streatield, are explanations
which may satisfy yon," said Mr. Langley, in
a miIder tone but they cannot satisfy me,
they will not satisfy the world. You have re-
pudiated in the most public and most abrupt
manner, an engagement in the fulfllment of
which the honor and the happiness of my fam
ilv are concerned You have given me reasons
for your conduct, it is true, but will those rea-
sons restore my daughter the tranquility which
she has lost, perhaps forever will they stop
the whiSperiugs of calumny? will they carry
conviction to those strangers to me, or enemies
of mine, whose pleasure it may be to disbelieve
them 1ou have placed both yourself and
me, sir. in position of embarrassment nay,
position of danger and disgrace, from which
the strongest reasons and best excuses cannot
eXtricate us"
'' entreat you to believe" replied Mr.
Strcatic!d, that | deplore from my heart the
crror:-the fault if Won will, of which | have
been uuconScioasy guilty. | implore your
pardon, both for what | said and did at your
table to-day but | cannot do m0re-I cannot
aud dare not pronounce the marriage vows to
your daughter with my lips, when | know,
that neither my conscience nor my heart can
ratifv them. The commOnest justice, and the
| comnoncst respect towards a young lady who
deserves both, and more than both from every
| one who approaches her strengthen me to per-
severe in the only course which it is consistent
with honor and integrity for me to take"
" You appear to forget" said Mr. Langley,
that it is not merely your own honor, but
the honor of others, that is to be considered in
the course OF conduct which yoa are now to
pursue" .
d" have nv no means forgotten what is due
] - Il l., q.
| responsibilities have incurred from the ma
! ture Of my Intercourse with your family. Do
/ ] put too much trust in Your forbearauce, if |
now assure you, candidy and unreSeryeG!y,
that still place all my hopes Of happiness in
the prospect of becoming connected by mar
| Tiage with daughter of yours, Miss Clara
| Langley 2" Here the speaker paused, His
/ position was becoming delicate and a danger.
| ouS one but he made ne effort to withdraw
/ from it, Almost bewildered by the pressing
and periloIs emergency of the moment, har-
aSSed by such a tumult Of conflicting emotions
within him as he had never known before, he
/ ri>ked the worst. with all the blindfUld deSper-
! alton of love. The angry flush was rising on
4 Mr. Lang,ey'S cheek it WAS evidently costing
him a severe struggle to retain his assumed
! Self-posseSsion hut he did not speak. After
an interval Mr.. Streatfeld proceeded thus =
However unfortunately may express my
self. am sure you will do me the justice to be-
lievc that am now speaking from my heart
on n subject TO mel of the most vital impor.
tance. Place Yourself in my situation con
slider all that has happened consider that
this NAV he, for aught know to the contrary
the last opportunity | may have of pleading
my cause and then say whether it is possible
for me to conceal from you that l can only
look to Your lurbearanCe and sympathy for
permission TO retrieve my error, to-to-Mr.
langley ! cannot choose expressions at such
( q moment as this. | eau only tell YOU that
the feeling with which l regarded ycur daugh-
ter Clara. when first saw her, still remains
what it was. | cannot analyse it; | cannot
reconcile its apparent Inconsistencies and con
tradirton> | cannot explain how, while
NAV seem tn voa and to every one to have
varied and vaciiIated with insolcnt caprice,
have really remained. ia my own heart and 10
MY own conscience trlIe. to my first sensations
and mv first convictions. | can only inplore
voa not to condemn me TO life of diSappoint-
mc4t aul misery, 10y Judging Inc with haSty ir-
ritation. Favor me, 80 far at least, as to re-
late the conversation which has passed between
us II vour two daughters Let me hear how
it fleets each Of them towards me- Let me
know what they are wiling to think aud ready
to do under such unparalleled circumstances as
have now occurred. | will wait your time
aud their time will abide by your decision
and their decision, pronounced after the first
poignant distress aad irritation Of this days
eycntS hare passed over"
Still Mr.. Langley remained silent the an
gry word was on,hi> tongne the contemptuous
rejection Of what lie regarded for the moment
as proposition equally ih-timed and insolcnt,
seemed bursting 10 his lips but once more be
restrained himself lie rose from his seat, and
walked slowly backwards and forwards, deep
in thought Mr. Streatield was too much