Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-08-18
S,Irltf0 MisffIIann.
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.

'Sne Is really the prettlest little creature
I ever saw, said Mr.. Willoughby Vane, as
he turned from the window for the fftieth
time that morning. Jane, he added, ad-
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?
We'll, yes, sir, if you please, returned
the housemaid. i met their cook at the
grocer's, the other day, and she said that
her masters name was Black-Capting
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,
tion the young lady's name?'
Yes sir. She called her Miss Eva
'Evai What charming name = mur-
INJURED Willoughby to himself; and then he
added aloud: --
'That-will do, Jane; thank YOU ~
Mr.. Wihoughby Vane was bachelor, %
years old. rich, indolent and tolerably good
looking. He Ii sed with a widowed mother
in a pieassHt-heuse on the Claphaa road,
and hsvine.nothing else to do, had fallen
desperatslyin love with his pretty neigh
Dor, and anxiously sought an opportunity
for an introduction. However, having dis
covered the name of his fair enchantress, he
determined to address her anonymously by
letter. i.l
Having decided upon taking this step, the
next thing to be done was to put it into
execution; and, having shut himself up. m
his httle study, alter many futile attempts,
he sCceeedtd In Trainings an epistle to the
lady 10 his satisfaction; Begging her, if she
valued her peace of mind, to return an
answer to w. ", The Postofice, Clapham-
common That done, he went out for a
walk, and dropped the letter in the near
est box.
Regularly three times a day, for a week
afterward, he called at the postofice 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 fond mother,
fancied 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 deli Il &,
on the seventh morning, q letter was hand
ed to him by the post-mistress, written in
dainty female hand, and addressed to
w. " Almost unable 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 and over again,
kissed the envelope, put it into his breast
coat pocket, and hurried home to see his
inamorata looking out of the windc y OF
the opposite house, as usual
For moment his first impulse was to
salute her respectfully; but Immediately
afterward he bethoueht himself that as he
was still iIscOgnita. the young lady would,
perhaps, feel insulted by the action. Be-
sides, how could she have any idea that he
was w. w So he went indoors, and
amused himself for three hours in inditing
reply to her letter, which he posted the
same afternoon aid, in due course, q sec
ond answer arrived.
And SO matters went on. constant in
terchange of letters being kept up for a
fortnight, during which time Mr.. Will
louehby Vane spent his days in running to
and from the postofice, writing letters
and watching bis fair neighb0r from tht
window of the dining room.
.Confound it he would sometimes say
to himself. How very provoking the deal
girl isl She will never look this way. dc
wish could catch her eye, if only for I
moment. What a horribly sour-looking
old crab the mother isl Depend upon It
Willoughby, that poor child anythins
but happy at home with those old fogies
Indeed her letters hint as much. Ant
having given vent to his feelings, he would
put on his hat and walk to the postofice
or shut himself in his room and compose
another note to his Dearest Eva
At length, three months having fow1
rapidly away in this manner, he received |
letter one morning from the young lady
which ran as follows:
To w. V.-Sir: As it is useless to con
tinue correspondence in this manner,
think it is now time to throw on your TIA