Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-02-18
A Postal Courtship.

A Postal Courtship. -
"She is really the prettiest little crea.
ture ever saw" said Mr.. Willoughby
Vane, as he turned from the window for
the iiftieth time that morning. "Jane,"
he added, addressing the houseuaid, 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 haudmaid. {" I met their cook at the
groesr's the other day, and she said that
her masters name was Black-Captsin
Choker Black-and that be was staying
here on leave Of absence with his wife and
daughter, sir" .-. t-.,
"Oh, indeed! Did she happen to men.
ton tho young lady's name ?"
eyes, sir; she called her Miss Eva"
Eva! what charming name" mur.
INJURED Willoughby to himself; and then
he added aloud:
:" That will do, Jane, thank you"
Mr.. Willoughby Vane was bachelor,
twenty.eight years old, rich, indolent and
tolerably good looking. He lived with a
widowed mother in pleasant house in the
Clapham road, and, having nothing else to
do, had fallen desperately in love with his
pretty visa cts, and anxiously sought an
opportunity for an introduction. How.
ever, 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
in his little study, after many futile at
tempts, he succeeded in framing an epistle
to the lady to his satisfaction ; begging
her, if she valued his peace of mind, to re.
turn an answer to" w. ", the Post Office,
Clapham Common" That done. he went
out for walk, and dropped the letter in
the nearest box.
Regularly three times day, for a week
aftcward, he called at the Post.ofice 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 uu.
we'll, aud begged him to consult their med
ical attendant. But her son laughed at
the idea, knowing we'll that his complaint
was beyond the doctors skill to cure.
He was beginning to despair of ever re-
ceiviog reply, when, to his great delight,
on the seventh morning, letter was
handed to him by the postmistress, 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 q pleasing ma
ture, for he read the letter over again and
again, kissed the envelope, put it into his
breast coat-pccket, and hurried home to
see his inamorata looking out of the win
dow of the opposite house, as usual.
For moment, his first impulse was to
salute her respectfully, but Immediately
afterward he bethought himself that, as he
was still! incogito. the young lady would,
perhaps, feel insulted by his action. Be-
sides. how could she have any idea that he
was w. W" So he went indoors, and
amused himself for three hours iuditiug o
reply to her letter, which he posted the
same afternoon +; and in due course q Sec
ond answer arrived. ',.1 .
And SO matters went on, a constant in.
terchange Of letters being kept up for .
fortnight, during which time Mr.. Will
loughby Vane spent his days running to
and from the poskofice, writing letters,
and watching his fair -neighbor from the
window Of the dining. room. 7...H
"Confound itw he would sometimes
say to himself How very provoking
the dear girl is She never will look this
way. do wish I could catch her eye, if
only for moment. Whist horribly sour
looking old Grub the mother is! Depend
upon it, Willoughby, that poor child is
anything but happy at homo with those
two old fogies. Indeed, her letters hint
as much" And having given vent to his
feelings, he would put on his hat, aud
walk to the postofice, or shut himself 10
his room and compose another note to his
Z" Dearest Eva" lSret a} 81 9gei D9s
At length, three weeks having flown
rapidly away 10 this manner, he received
. letter one morning from tho young lady,
which ran % follows: s ,a'.a tri -
"To ". "" 4" ''.', -
"SIR As It is useless to continue corre-
spondeuce in this manner, think It 10 now
time for you to throw OF your incognito, and
reveal your true name and position 10 one "a
whom you are not totally indifferent. Believe
me that nothing inspires love like mutual con-
6dence.. Prove to me that / hare not bean
imptudent In answering your letters by a
once informing ME who you are. II lis With
no feeling Of idle curiosity I ask this, simply
for our mutual satisfaction. 1us y'.7mI >
tGs .9ena1 Yours, etc.f~i7e.iQ 7u EvA."r,
To which Mr.. Willoughby replied BY
return Of poses 2a7ea adl sr.c.-<. 3 -,
.DsAhssr Eva -k you will permit me ID
callyos % Have yoe not for weeks past,
observed young man, with, hair brushed
back, auxiously watching you from Tho window
Of the opposite house And Though you
have apparently never. taken the slightest no.
tics Of him, trust that his features are not al.
together repulsivs. Tam that individual. :
"Chsrmsd BY tho graceful magic Of th,ss sys
Day after day watch, a1d dream, and SIGH