The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-08-12
HIS OWN EEA.

creature I ever saw. said Mr.. vii.
loughby Vane, - he turned from the
window for the fiftisth time that
morning. 'Jane, :" he 9aaded, ad.
dressing the houssmaid. who VA.
was clearing away the breakfast
thipgs. '.bave you any idea vino the
people are who have taken old Mr..
Adderley's house opposite Z"
"Well, yes. sir, if you please, .
returned the handmaiden. II met
their cock at tho grocer's the oths,
day. and she said that her master,
nane Was Black-Csptain Choke,
Black--and that be was staying here
on leave Of absence with his wife and
daughter, sir" H..
''Oh, indeed !! Did she happen to
mention the young lady's nams?''
. ''Yss, sir. She called her Miss
Eva. ''s."4s rs p ~ III v =
EVA! what charming name!''
nurmured Willoughby to himself;
and then he added, alcud-"That
will do, Jane; thank you.''
Mr.. |Willoughby vans Was bach
elor, twenty eight years old. rich, In
dolent. and tolerably good looking.
He lived witha widowed mother in
. pleasant house in the Chaplain
road; and, having nothing else to do
had fallen desperately in love with
bis pretty vis-a-vis. and anxiously
sought an. introduction. However,
having discovered the name Of bis
enchantress, he determined to ad-
dress her anonymously by letter.
Having decided upon taking this
step. She next thing to be done was
to put it into execution; and having
shut himself up in his little study !,
after many futile attempts. succ oeded
in framing an epistle to the lady to
his satisfaction; begging her. if she
valued his peaceof mind, to return
n answer to Nv. ", the Post-of-
fice, Clsphsm common" That done,
he went out for walk, and dropped
the letter in the nearest box.
Regularly three times q day, for q
week afterwards. be called ct the
post-of6se to see whether IN answer
had arrived for him. As the week
advanced, Willoughby began to loose
his appetite, and grew 90 restless and
irritable that Mrs. Vane, like ! ford
mother. fancied that her. dear boy
VAS unwell. and begged him to con
sult their medical attendant. But
her son laughed at the idea, Knowing
we'll that bis complaint was beyond
the Doctors skill TO cure. Ss ]
He was beginning to despair 81
ever receiving . reply, when. 70 hiu
great delight. on the seventh morning
: letter. Was handed to him BY the
post-mistress, written in ! dainty fe-
male hand, and addressed to .W.
w." Almost unable to conceal his
emotion. he quilted the shop, broke
oper the seal. and drank in the con.
tents.
They were evidently Of . pleasing
nature. for be read the letter ovei
and over sgain. kissed the envelope,
put it into bis breast coat pocket,
and hurried home, to see his insmor-
ata looking out Of the window Of tbs
opposite house, % usual.
Tor moment his first impulse wal
TO salute her respectfully; but imme
distely afterwards he ethought him
teelf thst. A he vas still iuCoxni ito
the young lady would perhaps feel in
suited by the action. Besides. how
could she have any idea that be ~,
lew. VI" So he went indoors, ans
amuscd himself for three hours in ia
diting : reply to her letter. which b
posted tho samc afternoon; and, il
due course, : second answor arrived
And so matters went on . constsn
Interchange Of letters being kept vi
for > fertnight. during which tim,
Mr.. Willoughby Vane spent his day
IN running 20 and from the post Office
writing letters, and wstohing bis fai
neiehbor from the window Of th
dining room. s'i.ie " ftsa
I .'cousound it!' he would some
times say 10 himself. How YER
provoking the dear girl isl She nev
or will look this way. lido wish
could catch her eye. IL only Tor
lpoment. What : horribly, souu
looking old Grab the mother isl DE-
psnd upon Is. Willoughby, that poo
II - g n II 9.s d