The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-24
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.


creature lever saw, said Mr.. Willough-
by Vane, as he turned from the window
for the fiftieth time that morning.
"Jane," he added, addressing the house
maid, who was clearing away the
breakfast things, ''haVe you any idea
who the people are who have taken old
Mr.. AdderIy's house opposite?''
"Well, yes, sir, if you please" re-
Udrned the hand-maiden. 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 leave of alb
sence with his wife and daughter, sir. {"
"Oh, indeed; did she happen to men
jon the young lady's nameP''
Eyes, sir; she called her Miss Eva"
eva! What a charming namem
murmured Mr.. Willoughby to himself;
and then he added aloud:
THAT will do, Jane, thank you"
Mr.. Willoughby Vanewas bachelor,
twenty-eight years old, rich, INDECENT
and tolerably good-looking. He lived
with a widowed mother in a pleasant
house in Albany, and, having nothing
Else to do, had fallen desperately in
love with his pretty UtS-G-Vjs, and anx-
iously sought an opportunity for an in
PRODUCTION. However,, having discov-
cred the name of his enchantress, he de-
termined to address her anonymously
by letter.
Having decided upon taking this step,
Che 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 return an answer to "W. v,
Post-office, Albany" 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 ar
rived for him. AS the week advanced
Wllloughby hogan to lose his appel tie,
and grow so restless and irritable that
Mrs. Vane, like fond mother, fancied
that her dear boy was unwell, and
begged him to consult their medical
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
receiving reply, when, to his great de-
light, on the seventh morning a letter
was handed to him by the postmaster,
written in a dainty female hand, and
addressed to ''W. "" Almost unable
to conceal his emotion he quilted the
post-oIfice, broke open the seal and
drank in the contents.
They were evidently of a pleasant
nature, for he read the letter over again
and again, kissed the envelope, put it
into his breast-pocket and hurried
home to see his inamorata looking out
of the window Of the opposite house as
usual.
For moment his first impulse was to
salute her respectfully; but Immediate
ly afterward he bethOught himself that,
as he was still incognito, the Young
lady would perhaps feel insulted by the
action. Besides, how could she have
any idea that he was wv. w" So he
went indoors and amused himself for
three hours in inditing q reply to her
letter, which he posted the same after
noon, and in due course a second an
swer arrived.
And so matters went on, a constant
interchange of letters being kept up for
q fortnight, during which time Mr..
Willoughby Vane spent his days in run
ming to and from the post-oifice, writ
ing letters and watching his fair neigh
Dor from the window of the dining
ROOM
"Confound itr' he would sometimes
say to himself. 'How provoking the
dear girl is! She never will look this
way. | do wish | could catch her eve,
If only for a moment. What horribly
sour-looking old crab the mother is.
Depend upon it. Willoughby, that poor
child is anything but happy at home
with these two old fogies. Indeed,
her letters hint as much" And having
giving vent to his feelings, he would
put on his hat and walk to the post-of-
flee, or shut himself in his room and
compose another note to his dearest
Eva"
At length three weeks having flown
rapidly away in this manner he re-
ceived letter one morning from the
young lady, which ran as follows:
10 Wv. ".
''Sir-As it is useless to continue a CORE
spondence in this manner, l think it is now
time for you to throw of your incognito and
reveal your true name and position to one tc
whom you arc not totally indifferent Believe
me that nothing inspires love like mutual
confidence Prove to me that have not beer
imprudent in answering your letters, by al
once informing me who you are. 1t is with n
feeling of idle curiosity that | ask this but
simply for our mutual satisfaction. Yours
ETC., EVA"
p To which Willoughby replied by re.
turn of post:
DEAREST EVA df you will permit me to cal
you SOY: Have lou not for weeks past OBJ
served q 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 81 ght
est notice of him. trust that his features are
not altogether rcpulsive to you. am that in
dlvldual.
Charmed by the graceful magic OF thine
eye,
Day after day watch and dream and sigh;
Watch, thee, dream of thee, sigh for thee
alone,
Fair Star of Albany-may Iadd-mine ownY
Ito quote with some alterations the noble
stanza of the poet Brown. And now have .
favor to ask you. Whenever you see me nj
the window take no notice of me at present
lest my mother should observe it. In a lew
days she will be gone out of town, and then
wo can throw off all restraint. Till then
Rdieu Adieu my adorable one, adieu! MY
eyes are ever on you. Your own,
"WLLoUGHBY VANE,"
To which epistle came the following
answer:
DEAR SIR: Your explanation is perfectly
satisfactory; l may also add, your feature:
are notat all repulsive to EVA"
"Bless her! what a delightful little
soul she Isl" calculated WilIoughby.
And he went out, ordered a new suit
of clothes and had his hair cut.
willy" said Mrs. Vane to her son
the next morning, IL wish you would
do something to improve your mind,
and not waste your time looking out Of
the window all day as you have lately
aene. Come and reed tho Assembly