Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-21
SELECTED STORY
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.
FROM ONCE A WEEK.

She is really the prettiest little creature ]
ever saw, said Mr., Willoughby Vane, as
he turned from the window for the fftieth
time that morning, Jane be added, a1-
dressing 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 2
We'll, yes, sir, if you please returned
tho handmaidsn. L met the cook at the
grocer's the other day, and she said that 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 mention
the young lady's nameY
Eva! What charming name = MUIR
INJURED Willoughby to himself; and then
added, aloud:
THAT will do, Jane, thank YOU
Mr.. Willoughby Vane was bachelor,
twenty-eight years old, rich, INDECENT and
tolerably good looking. He lived with a
widowed mother IN pleasant house in the
Chaplain Road, and, having nothing else to
do, had fallen desperately in love with his
pretty vis a vis, and an1iously sought an
opportunity for an introduction. However,
having discovered the name Of his enchan-
tress he determined to address her anony-
mously by letter.
Having decided upon taking this step,
the next thing to be done was to put it into
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 val
ued his peace of mind, to return an answer
to w. v, the ,Postohice, Chapman com.
mon. That done, he went out for walk,
and dropped the letter in the nearest box
Regularly three times day, for week
afterward, he called at the postoffice to see
whether an answer had arrived for him.
As the week advanced, Willoughby began
to lose his appetite, and grew so restless
and irritable that Mrs. Vane, like a fonc
mother, fancied that her dear boy Was I'M
well, and begged him to consult their medi
cal attendant. But her son laughed at the
idea knowing we'll that his complaint was
beyond 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. letter was hand
ed to him by the postmistress, written in ,
dainty famale hand, and addressed to w
" Almost unable to conceal his emotion
he quilted the shop, broke open the seal
and drank the contents.
They were evidently of pleasing nature
for he read the letter over again and again
kissed the envelope, put it in his breast Goa
pocket, and hurried home to see his inamo
rata looking out of the window of the oppo
site house, as usual.
| For month his first impulse was to sa
lutte her respectfully; but Immediately at
terward he bethought himself. that, as b
was still inoognito, the young lady would
perhaps feel insulted by his action. Besides
how could she have any idea that he wa
w. w So he went In doors and amuse
himself for three hours, inditing reply t
her letter, which be posted the same after
noon and in due course second answe
arrived.
And so matters went on, constant in
terchange of letters being kept up for . fort
night, during which time Mr.. Willoughb
Vane spent his days running to and fro1
the postoAice, writing letters and watchin
his fair neighbor from the window of tn
dining room.
'Confound i'll" be would sometimes sa
to himself. GLOW very provoking the des
girl is She never will look this way.
do wish could catch her eye, if only for amt
ment. What a horribly sour looking Of
crab the mother is! Depend upon it, Wi
loughby, that poor child is anything br
happy at home with those two old fogies.-
Indeed, her letters hint as much An
having given vent to his feelings, he woul
put on his hat, and walk to the postofice, {
shut himself in his room and compose anotl
+ or note to his Dearest Eva
At length. three weeks having flown raj
idly away in this manner, he received lie
t ter one morning from the young lad,
! which ran as follows:
'To w. v"
S1R.-As it is useless to continue co
respondsnce In this manner, l think it
!. now time for you to throw off your incogn
to, and reveal your true name and posltit
to one.to whom you are not totally indlfte
ent. Believe me that nothing inspires lo'
+ like mutual confidence. Prove to me tn
I have not been imprudent in answerir
your letters by at once informing me WI
you are It is with no feeling of idle cur
i osity I ask this, simply for our mutual sati
faction.
), "Yours. etc.. Eva"
To which Willoughby replied by rstul
Of post:
l. DEAREST EvA-If you will permit me
l. call YOU so Have you not for weeks pa