The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-01-05
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.

ture l ever saw said Mr. Willoughb
Vane, as he turned from the windo
for the tiftieth time that morning
Jane, he added, addressing the hous'
maid, who was clearing away the breal
fast things, ''have you any idea VIII
the people are who have taken old Nj
Adderly's house oppositeP''
''Well, yes, sir, if you please" II
turned the hand-maiden. II met thei
cook at the grocer's the other day, an
she said that her masters name wa
Black-Capting Choker Black-an
that he was staying here on leave O
absence with his wife and daughter
sir.''
''Oh, indeed; did she happen to men
ton the young lady's nameP"
Eyes, sir; she called her Miss Eva"
eva! What charming name!'
murmured Mr.. Willoughby to himself
and then added aloud:
''That will do, Jane; thank you"
Mr.. Willoughby Vane was bachelor
% years old, rich, INDECENT and tolera
bly, good-looking. He lived with g
widowed mother in pleasant house in
Albany, and, having nothing else to do,
had fallen desperately in love with his
pretty vis-a-vis, 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
in his little study after many futile at
fQnonfc bQ c,1oooaIad IN ~,
epistle to the lady to his satisfaction,
begging her, if she valued his peace of
mind, to return an answer to ''W. ",
postoffice, Albany" That done, he
went out for walk, and dropped the
letter in the nearest box.
Regularly three times day for
week afterward he called at the postof-
flee to see whether an answer had ar
rived 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 unwell. and
begged him to consult their medical at
tendant. But her son laughed at the
idea, knowing well 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 letter
was handed to him by the postmaster,
written in dainty female hand and adj |
dressed to ''W. "" Almost unable to
conceal his emotion he quilted the post |
office, broke open the seal, and drank
in the contents.
= They were evidently of a pleasant
>ature, for he read the letter over and |
over again, kissed the envelope put it |
into his breast pocket and hurried |
home totee his inamorata looking out
of the windcv ofthe opposite side as
usual.
For a moment his first impulse was
to salute her respectfully; but immedi-
ately afterward he bethought himself
that as he was still incognito the young
lady would perhaps feel insulted by his
action. Besides, how could she have
any idea that he was "W. w" So he
went indoors and amused himself for
three hours in inditing a reply to her
letter, which he posted the same after
noon, and in due course second
answer arrived.
And so matters went on, constant
of letters being kept up for
a fortnight, during which time Mr.. Will
oughby Vane spent his days in running
10 and from the postotfice, writing let
ers and watching his fair neighbor
rom the window of the dining-room.
"Confound it!'' he would sometimes
say to himself 'How very provoking
he dear girl is! She never will look
his way. / do wish could catch her
Eye, if only for moment. What hor
idly sour-looking old crab the mother
S! Depend upon it, Willoughby, that
Door child is anything but happy at
,ome with those two old fogies Indeed,
Ter letters hint as much" And having
,iven vent to his feelings, he would put
IN his hat and walk to the postoffice,
II shut himself in his room and COM
,ose another note to his Dearest Eva"
At length, three weeks having flown
apidly awayin this manner, he received
letter one morning from the young
ady, which ran as follows:
o 6W. ""
SIR-As it is useless to continue correspond I
nee in this manner, think it is now time for a
on to throw off your incognito, and reveal
our own name and position to one to whom =,
on are not totally Indifferent. Believe me I
nat nothing inspires love ike nutual cOHil-
ence. Prove to me that have not been i'm
rudent in answering your letters, by at once
lforming me who you are. 1t is with no feel
lg of idle curiosity that ask this, but simply
or our mutual satisfaction. Yours, etc, G
~ EVA. s
To which Willoughby replied by re- '
I'm of post:
DEAREST EVA Gf you will permit me to call
~ SOY: Have you not for weeks past OBJ !;
rived young man, with his hair brushed r
.ck, anxiously watching you from the window
the opposite housel And. although you 81
I'VE apparently never taken the slightest no Il
,e of him, trust that his features are not al
gether repulsive to you. l am that individ-
il. VI
Charmed by the graceful magic of thine eye, "
av after day watch and dream and sigh;
atcb thee, dream of thee, sigh for thee ii
IN star of Albany-may / add, mine own! -
10 quote with some alterations the noble no IL
, stapza Of the poet Brown. And now lhave
ayor to ask you. Whenever you see me at Il
! window take no notice OF me at present, te
/ NV mother should observe 1t. In a few e.
vs. she will be going out OF town, and then ~
can throw of all restraint. TIL then, adieu Pl