The Republican journal., 1870-08-04
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.


l ever saw said Mr.. Willoughby Vane, us
he turned from the window for the fftieth
time that morning. "Jane," he added, ad-
dressing the house maid, who was clearing
away the breakfast things, have you any
idea who the people are who have taken old
Mr.. Adderley's house opposite 20
'Well, yes, sir, if you please returned
the handmaiden. 81 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
sir"
"Oh, indeed! Did she happen to mention
the young lady's name" ?"
Eyes, sir. She called her Miss Eva
Eva! what a charming name " murmur
ed Wiloughby to himself, and then he added
aloud:
That will do, Jane, thank you"
Mr.. Willoughby Vane was Il bachelor,
twenty-eight years DID, rich, indolent and
tolerably good looking. He lived with a
widowed mother in pleasant house in the
Cladham road, and having nothing else to
do, had fallen desperately in love with his
pretty yis-a-vis, and anXiously sought an op-
portunity 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 p it in execu-
! ton; and having shut himself in his little
| study, after many futile attempts, he sue
seeded in framing on epistle to the lady to
his satisfaction; begging her, if she valued
his peace of mind, to return an answer to
''W. ", The Post-otiice, Clapham common" !"
That done, he went out for a walk, and
dropped the letter in the nearest box.
Regularly three times a day tor a week af-
terward he called at the post-office 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 fond mother,
fancied that her dear boy was unwell, and
begged him to consult their medical attend
ant. But her son laughed at the idea, know
ing we'll that his complaint was beyond the
doctors skill to cure.
He was beginning to despair of ever re-
ceivng n reply, when to his great delight,
on the seventh morning, Il letter was handed
to him by the post-mistress, written in dain-
| tv female hand, and addressed to ''W. ""
Almost unable to conceal hls emotion, he
quilted the shop, broke open the seal, and
drank in the contents.
| They We're evidently of u pleasing nature.
for he read the letter over again and again,
kissed the envelope, put it in his breast coat
pocket, and hurried home, to see his in
amorata looking out of the window of the
opposite house, as usual.
For u moment, his first impulse was to s;a-
lutte her respectfully; but Immediately after
ward he bethought himself that, as he was
still incognlto, the young lady would, per
haps, feel insulted by the action Besides
how could she have any idea that he was
''W. V. ?" SO he went indoors and amused
himself for three hours in indting reply to
her letter, which he posted the same after
noon; and, in due course, a second answer
arrived.
And SO matters went on, Il constant inter
change of letters being kept up for Il fort
ight, 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
dining-room.
"Confound it ~ he would sometimes say
to himself; chow very provoking the deal
is! She never will look this way. | do wish
| could catch her eye, if only for a moment
What horribly sour-looking old crab tht
mother is! Depend upon it, Willoughby, tina
poor child is anything but happy at home
with those two old fogies Indeed her let
ters hint as much" And having given ven
to his feelings. he would put on his hat anc
walk to the Post office, Or shut himself in his
room and compose another note to hi:
''Dearest Eva"
AL length three weeks having flown rap
idly away in this manner, he received a let
ter one morning from the young lady, whicI
ran as follows: -
'tSlK As it is useless to continue a cor
respondence in this manner, think it is now
time for you to throw off your incognito ant
reveal your true name and position to one tC
whom you are not totally Indifferent. Be
lieve me that nothing inspires love like mu
tual confidence. Prove to me that have MOI
been imprudent in answering your letters by
at once informing me who you are. 1t is
with no feeling of idle curiosity l ask this
but simply for our mutual satisfaction.
Yours, &c, EVA"
To which Willoughby replied by return OF
post -
"DEAREsr 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 win
dow of the opposite house And although
You have apparently never taken the slight
est notice of him. trust that his features are
not altogether repulsive to you. l am thai
Individual
"Charmed by the graceful magic OF tnlne 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 own ~
To quote, with some alterations, the noble
stanza of the poet Brown! And now have
Il favor to ask you. Whenever you see me
ut the window, take no notice of me at pres
ent, lest my mother should observe it. In a
few days she will be going out of town, and
then we can throw off all restraint Til
then, adieu! Adeu my adorable one, adieu
My eyes are ever on you. Your own.
WILLOUGHBY VANE."
To which epistle came the following an
swer:-
DEAR SIR: Your explanation is perfectly
satisfactory. | may also add that your feat
ures are not at all repulsive to Eva"
''Bless her What delighted little soul
she is " calculated Willoughby.
And he went out, ordered new suit OF
clothes and had his hair cut.
"Willy," said Mrs. Vane to her son the
next morning, II wish you would do some
thing to improve your mind, and not waste
your time by looking out of the window al