Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-08-10

A POSTAL COURTSHIP.

"She is really the prettiest little crea-
ture l ever saw" said Mr.. Willoughby
Vane, as he turned from the window for
the fifteenth time that morning. ''Jane,"
he added, addressing the housemaid, who
was clearing away the breakfast things,
"have YOU any idea who the people are
who have taken old Mr.. Adderly's house
opposite?"
"Well, yes, Sir. if you please" return
ed the handnaiden. II met their cook at
the grocers the other day. and she said
her masters name was Black-Captain
Choker Black-and that he was staying
here on leave of absence, with his wife
and daughter, Sir"
"Oh, indeed! Did she happen to men
ton the young lady's namep"
Eyes sir, she called her Miss Eva.
Eva! What charming name!" muir
INJURED Willoughby to himself; and then he
added, aloud:
THAT, will do, Jane, thank you"
Mr.. Wiloughby Vane was bachelor,
twenty eight years old, rich, indolent and
tolerably geod-looking. He lived with
widowed mother in a pleasant house in
the Clapham road, and, having nothing
else to do, had fallen desperately in love
with his pretty Uis-d-Uts, and anxiously
sought an opportunity for an introduction.
However, having discovered the name OF
his enchantress, he determined to address
her anonymously by letter.
Having decided upon taking this step,
the next thing to be done was to put it in
to execution; and having shut himself in
his little study, after many futile attempts,
he succeeded in framing an epistle to the
lady to his satisfaction; begging her. if
she valued his peace of mind, to return an
answer to "W. ", The Post Office, Clap
Uncommon" That done, he went out
fora walk, and dropped the letter in the
nearest box. Regularly three times a
day, for week aiterward, he called at
the post Office to see whether an answer
had arrived for him. As the week ad-
vanced Willoughby began to lose his ap-
petite, and grew so restless and irritable
that Mrs. Vane, like fond mother, fan
cied that her dear boy was unwell, and
begged him to consult their medical at
tendant But her son laughed at the idea,
knowing well that his complaint was be-
yond the doctors skill to cure.
He was beginning to despair of ever re-
ceiving a reply, when, to his great delight,
on the seventh morning, a letter was
handed to him by the postmistress. writ
ten in a dainty female hand, and address
ed to "W. "" Almost unable to conceal
his emotion, he quilted the shop, broke
open the seal, and drank in the contents.
They We're evidently of pleasing ma
ture, for he read the letter over again and
again, kissed the envelope, put it into his
breast coat-pocket, aud hurried home to
see his inamorata looking out of the win
dow of the opposite house, as usual.
For moment his first impulse was to
salute her respectfully, but Immediately
afterward he bethought himself that, as
he was still incognito, the young lady
would, perhaps, feel insulted by his ac-
ton. Besides, how could she have any
idea that was "W. "? So he went in
doors, and amused himself for three hours
inditing a reply to her letter, which he
posted that afternoon; and in due course
second answer arrived.
And so matters went on, a constant in
terchange of letters being kept up for q
fortnight during which time Mr.. Will
loughby Vane spent his days running to
and from the post office, writing letters,
and watching his fair neighbor from the
window of the dining-room.
"Confound it !" he would sometimes say
to himself. How very provoking the
dear girl is She never will look this way.
| do wish l could catch her eye, if only for
a moment What horribly sour-looking
old crab the mother isl Depend upon it,
Willoughby, that poor child is anything
but happy at home with those two old
fogies. Indeed, her letters hint as much" ="
And having given vent to his feelings. he
would put on his hat and walk to the post
office, or shut himself in his room and COM
pose another note to his dearest Eva"
At length, three weeks having flown
rapidly away in this manner, he received
a letter one morning from the young lady,
which ran as follows:
ITO w. v"
''Sir: AS it is useless to continue cor
respondence in this manner, l think 1t Is
now time for you to throw off your in
cognito. and reveal your true name and
position to one TO whom you are not totally
Indifferent. Believe me that nothing in
spires love like mutual confidence. Prove
to me that have not been imprudent in
answering your letters by at once inform
ing me who you are. 1t is with no feeling
of idle curiosity ask this simply for our
mutual satisfaction.
"Yours. etc. Eva
To which Willoughby replied by return
of post:
dearest Eva; If you will permit me
to call you so! Have you not for weeks
past observed a young man, with his hair
brushed back, anxiously watching you
from the window of the opposite house !?
And although you have apparently never
taken the slightest notice of him, trust
that his features are not altogether re-
pulsiye. am that individual
Charmed by the graceful magic of thine eye,
Day after day watch, and dream, and sigh;
Watch thee dream of thee, sigh for thee alone,
Fair star of Clapham-may add my OWN
To quote with some alterations, the noble
stanza of the poet Brown! And now l
have favor to ask of you, Whenever
you see me at the window, take no notice
of me at present, lest my mother should
observe it. In few days she will be
going out of town, and then we can throw
off all restraint. Till then, adieu! my
adorable one, adieu! My eyes are ever on
YOU Your own WILLOUGHBY VANE."
To which epistle came the following an
swer: