The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-24
JOURNAL
MONDAY. OCTOBER %, 1870
A POSTAL eOURTBHIP.

She Is really the prettlest little
creature I ever saw" said Mr.. Will
loughby Vane, as no turned from the
window for the fftieth time that
morning. Jane" he added, address
ing 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 OPP
posite?"
well, yes, Sir, if you please" re-
turned the handmaiden. II met their
cook at the goocer's the other day,
and she said that her masters name
was Black-Capsain Choker Black
and that he was staying here on leave
Of absence with his wife and daugh-
@Oh, indeedl Did she happen to
mention the young lady's name?"
Yes, Sir. She called her Miss
Eva"
Eva! What a charming namer'
murmured Willougby to himself; and
then he added, aloud:
"That will do, Jane, thank you"
MIR. Willoughby Vane was a bache-
Tor, twenty. eight years years old, rich,
indolent and toleTabiy good Hooking.
He lived with a widowed mother in a
pleasant house in the Clapham road,
and, having nothing else to do, had
fallen desperately In love with his
pretty Uis-G ais, 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 10 his little study. after many
futile attempts, he succeeded In franz
ing an epistle to the lady to his salts
faction; begging her, if she valued
his peace Of mind, TO return an an
sWer to wv. v. The Post Office, Clap
ham-com non." That done, he went
out for walk, and dropped the letter
In the nearest box.
Regularly three times a day for
week afterWard, he called at the post
Office to see whether an answer had
arrived for him. As the week ad-
varced Willoughby began to lose his
appetite, and grew so restless and irri-
table that Mrs. Vane, like fond moth
er, fancied that her dear boy was un-
well, and begged him to consult their
medical attendant. But her son
laughed at the idea, knowing well that
his complaint was beyond the DOCTORS
skill 20 cure.
He was beginning to despair Of ever
receiving a reply, when, to his great
delight, on the seventh morning, a
letter was handed to him by the post
mistress, written in a dainty female
hand, and addressed to NV. v" Al
most unable to conceal his emotion,
he quilted the shop, broke open the
seal, and drank IN the contents.
They were evidently of a 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 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-
date afterward he bethought himself
that, as he was still iRc0gHitO, the
young lady would, perhaps, feel iu-
suited by his action. Besides, how
could she have any idea that he was
Nv. V.g So he went indoors, aud
amused himself for three hours indit-
ing a reply to her letter, which he
posted the Same afternoon; and IN
due course a second answer arrived.
And so matters went on, constant
interchange of letters being kept up
for fortnight, during which time
Mr.. WilloUghby Vane spent his days
running to aud from the post Office,
writing letters, and watching his fair
neighbor from the window of the din
ing room.
'Confound it'' he would sometimes
say to himself. "Hog very provok-
ing the dear girl isl She never will
look this way. l do wish could
catch her eye, if only for a moment.
What horribly sour. looking old crab
the mother is Depend upon it Will
loughby, that poor child is anything
but happy at home with those two old
fogies. Indeed, 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 in his room and compose an
other note to his Dearest Eva"
At length, three weeks having
flown rapidly awayin this manner, he
received letter one morning from
the young lady, which ran as follows
ITO Wv.
"Sir: As it is useless to continue q
correspondence in this manner, ]
think it is now time for you to throw
offyour incognito, and reveal your true
name and position to one to whom you
are not totally indifferent. Believe
me that nothing inspires love like mu-
tual confidence. Prove to me that
have not been imprudent in answer
ing your letters by at once informing
me who you are. 1t Is with no feel
ing of idle curiosity [ ask this, simply
for our mutual satisfaction.
~ ours, etc.. EVA.
To which Willoughby replied By
return of post:
DEAREST EVA: If you will per.
NIT me to call you sol Have you moi
for weeks past observed young man
with his hair brushed back, auxieusly
watching you from the window of tht
opposite house? And although yer
have apparently never taken tn
slightest notice of him, trust tina
his features are not altogether repul
sive. / am that individual.
"Charmed by the graceful magic Of thin
Day after day watch, and dream, an
watch thee. dream of thee. sigh for tn
Fair star OF Clapham-may add my own
To quote, with some alterations, th
noble stanza of the poet Brown An
now | have favor to ask of you
Whenever you see me at the window
take no notice Of me at present, les
my mother should observe it. 10
few days she will ba going out OF towL
and then we eaa throw off all restraint
Till then adieu! My eyes are eve
on you. Your own
WILLoUGHGY NANE.'
To which epistle came the follow
Jog answer:
DEAR Sra: Your explanation
perfectly satisfactory. l may ais