The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-11-25
HIS OWN EVA.

loughby Vane, as he turned from the
window for the fiftieth time that MORN
ing. Jane" he added, addressing
the housemaid, who was clearing away
the breakfast things, ''have you any
idea who the people are who have Ia
ken Mr.. Adderly's house opposite?"
"Well, yes, sir, il you please" re-
turned the handmaiden, II met their
cook at the grocer's the other day, and
she said her masters name was Black
Captain Cooker 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 ladys name?"
'Yes, sir. She called her Miss
Eva" ~ iss
Eva! What charming namer'
murmured Willoughby to himself; and
then he added, aloud-"That will do,
Jane; thank you"
Mr.. Willoughby yane was bache-
lcr, twenty-eight years old, rich, in
dolent and tolerably good-looking.-
He lived with widowed mother in
pleasant house in the Clapham road;
and having nothing else TO do, had
fallen desperately in love with his
pretty ris-a-ris, 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 into execution; and having shut
himself up in his study, after many
futile attempts he succeeded in franz
ing an epistle to the lady to his salts
faction, begging her, il she valued his
peace of mind, to return an answer TO
"W. ", the post Office, Clapham
Common. That done, he went out
for walk, and dropped the letter in
the nearest box.
Regularly, three times day, for a
week afterwards, he called at the post
Office TO see whether an answer had
arrived for him. As the week nd-
vanced, Willoughby began to lose his
appetite, and grow so restless and ir-
ritable that Mrs. yane. like fond
mother, fancied that her dear boy was
unwell. and begged him TO consult
their medical attendant. But her son
laughed ut the idea, knowing well
that his complaint was beyond the
doctors skill to cure.
He was beginning TO despair of
ever receiving n reply, when to his
great delight, on the seventh morning,
n letter was handed 10 him by the
postnistress, written in a dainty fe-
male hand. and addressed TO "W. V"
Almost urable TO conceal his emotion,
he quilted the shop. broke open the
seal, and drank in the contents.
They were evidently of pleasing
nature, for he read the letter over
again and agian, kissed the envelope,
put into his breast coat pocket, and
hurried home, to see his inamorata
looking out of the window of the op-
posite house, as usual.
For a moment his first impulse was
to salute her respectfully; but imme-
diately afterwards bethought himself
that as he was still incognito, the
young lady would perhaps feel insult
red by the action. Beside, how could
she have any idea that he was "W.
W." So he went indoors and amused
himself for three hours in inditing n
reply TO her letter, which he posted
the same afternoon; and, in due course
second answer arrived.
And so matters went on, o constant
interchange of letters being kept up
for fortnight, during which time Mr..
Willoughby Vane spent his days in
running to and from the post office,
writing letters, and watching his fair
neighbor from the window of the din
ing-room.
"Confound itr' he would sometimes
say to himself. "How very provoking
the dear girl is! She never willlook this
way. do wish could catch her eye,
| if only for 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 oil fogies. In
deed, 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 up in his
room and compose another note to his
dearest Eva"
| At length three weeks having flown
rapidly away in this manner, he re-
ceived letter one morning from the
young lady, which ran as follows:
| Sod TO 't'w. v" ,
"Sm:-As it is useless to continue
a correspondence in this manner, l
think it is now time for you to throw
off your incognito, and reveal your
true name and position to one to
whom you are not totally indifferent
Believe me that nothing inspires love
like mutual confidence. Prove to me
that have not been impl udent in an
swering your letters, by at once in
forming me who you are. It is with
no feeling of curiosity I ask this, but
simply for mutual satisfaction.
| Yours, &c. EVA.
To which Willoughby replied by re-
turned post: " 2e f44'
DEAREST EyA:-H you will permit
me to call you 80, have you not for
weeks past observed young man
with his hair brushed back, anxiously
watching you from the opposite house?
And although you have apparently
never taken the slightest notice of him,
I trust his. features are not altogether
repulsiye to you. | am that individu-
al. ,pHss s3 q 4
Charmed by the graceful magic Of thine eye,
| Day aft wutch and II ron m ND ai0h.