The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-19

cOqnito, and reveal your true name an
position to one to whom you are not total
Indifferent. Believe me that nothing III
spires love like mutual confidence. Prov
to me that have not been imprudent i
answering your letters and by at once in
forming me who you are. 1t is with II
idle curiosity ask this, simply for ou
mutual satisfaction.
Yours, &c, EVA
To which Willoughby replied by returl
of post:
DEAREST EVA: If you will permit me {,
call you so J Have you not for weeks pas
observed a young man with his hair brush
ed back, anxiously watching you from tn
window of the opposite house And, al
though you have apparently never takel
the slightest notice of him, trust that hi
features are not altogether repulsive to you
l 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, mine OWL?
To quote with some alterations, the noble
stanza of the poet Brown. And now have
a favor. Whenever you see me at the win
| dow, take no notice OF me at present, lesf
my mother should observe it. In few
days she will be going out of town, and
then we can throw off all restraint. Til
then, adieu Adieu, my adorable one,
adieul My eyes are ever on you. Youl
own. WMLoUGHBY YANE
To which epistle came the following an,
swer:
DEAR SIR: Your explanation is perfectly
satisfactory. I may also add that your fea-
lures are not at all repulsive to EVA
Bless herl What a delightful little soul
she is L calculated Willoughby.
And he went out. ordered a new suit of
clothes, and had his hair cut.
Willy, said Mrs. Vane to her son the
next morning, L wish you would do some
thing to improve your mind, and not waste
your time by looking out of the window
all day as you have lately done. Come and
read the Parliamentary debates to me, if
you have nothing else to do
The worthy lady was a red-hot politi-
clan, and for three mortal hours she kept
him at this delightful task: at the expira-
lion of which time he succeeded In escap-
ing to his own room, where he wrote thu
following note to Eva:
DEAREST EVA: 1 am overjoyed at the
contents of your brief communication. If,
as you say, my features are not altogether
repulsive to you, may hope that you will
consent to be mine-mine only?
WuLoUGHBY.'
Back came the reply next morning:
DEAR WnLoUGHBY Your reply has
made me feel very happy. 1t is very dull
here. No society except father and mother.
| long for more congenial cOmpanionship.
Thine. Eva
In this delightful manner the days few
on-halcyon days, too, they were for Will
loughby, and sweetened by the interchange
Of this and similar lover-hke correspon-
dence. On the following Monday morning
Mrs. Vane left town on a visit to some
friends IN Devonshire, leaving her son to
keep house at home That same afternoon
one of Capt. Blacks servants brought the
following note for Willoughby:
WILLIE: Have you any objection to my
telling my dear father all? Matters have
gone so far that it will be impossible for
either of us to retract what we have written.
Let us take papa into our confidence. 1
know his kind and generous nature well,
and have no fear that he will oppose our
union. Pray send me line by bearer.
Eva
The answer was as follows:
MY Own Eva: Do whatever you consid-
er best. My fate is in your hands If your
papa should refuse his consent, L But l
will not think of anything so dreadful.
Fear not that l shall ever retlact. Life
without you would be desert with no oats
to brighten it.
Yours until death, WnLoUGHBY.'
That evening, just as Willoughby had
finished his dinner, he heard loud double
knock at the street door; and on its being
opened strange voice inquired, in loud
tone:
is Mr.. Willoughby Vane at homer
His heart beat violently as Jane, enter
ing the room, said:
"A gentleman wishes to speak to you in
the library, SIR
And she handed him a card, inscribed
Capt. Choker Black, C.B., H MS l, 794th
foot.
4 will be with him in a moment, said
Willoughby; and he swallowed couple of
glasses of sherry to nerve him for the in
terview.
Capt Choker Black, believer he said,
as he entered the library
Your servant, sir, said the gallant cap
tain, who, glass in hand, was busily en-
gagged in scrutinizing an engraving of the
battle OF Navarlno.
Your servant, sir. Have the pleasure
of addressing Mr.. WilIoughby VaneY
Willoughby bowed.
Then, sir, Of course you know the busi-
ness that has brought me hereY
Terribly nervous, and scarcely knowing
what answer to make, our hero bowed
again.
Come, come, sir, don't be afraid to
speak outl My daughter has made me
her confdant, so let there be no reserve
between us. Eya has told me all 10
- Here poor Nilloughby blushed up to the
roots OF his hair
You see know all about it; you have
fallen desperately in love with the poor
girl; and although you have never ex-
changed two words together, you are al
ready engaged to be married. Mighty ex-
peditious, upon. my word Ha ha ha 7
Pray excuse for laughing, but the idea is
comical.' -
As the captain appeared to be in very
good bumor, Willoughby's courage began
to rise.
Dom n'tmentienit, sir. You are her father,
and have right to do what you please.
But sincerely trust that you have no OBJ
lection to offer g..
4? None Believe me, 1 shall be delight
ed to see my Eva comfortably settled. But
harkye, sir, business is business. l am a
plain, blunt MAJ, and Is years sojourn with
ones regiment in India doesn't help to pol
ish one. First of all, then, what are your
2
And the captain drew a note book from
his pocket, and proceeded to, examine our
hero as if he was in a court of justice.
You are an only son, believe?
4 am -H
Good And down went the note in the
pocket-book.
Your ageP
'Twenty-eight next birthday.
"Twenty-eight. Good. Is your constitu-
ton healthy?'
4 believe so. L have had the measles,
and mumps.'
Disorders peculiar to Infancy. Good
And the captain scribbled away again.
Are you engaged in any business or pro-
fession ?" rat T.l---
None"
Then how on earth do you liver
'On my private income, captain
Then all can say is, you're an uncom-
monty lucky fellow to be able to subsist on
that. I only wish could. What is the
amount of your income?
About seven hundred year.
q 9sH,iu house prOpertv Shares in 6rnitad