Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-04-15
A POSTAL COURTSHIP.

"She really is the prettiest little
creature lever saw" said Mr.. Wnlough
by Vane, as he turned from the window
for tho fiftieth time that morning
"Jane," he added, addressing the house
maid, who was clearing away the
breakfast things, "have you any ides
who the people are who have taken ole
Mr.. Addorly's house opposite?"
+ "Well, yes, sir, if you please" re
turned the hand-maidcn. III met theil
cook at the grocer's the other day, ant
she said that her masters name wa,
Black Capting Choker Black - and
that he was staying here on leaveof ab
sence with his wife and daughter, sir.
"Oh, indeed; did she happen to men
tion the young lady's namep"
Eyes, sir; she called her Miss Eva"
"Eva! What n charming namer
murmured Mr.. Willoughby to himself
and then he added aloud:
That will do, Jane. thank YOU"
Mr.. Willoughby Vane was bachelor
twcnty-eight years old, rich, indolcnl
and tolerably good-looking. He lived
with a widowed mother in pleasan,
house in Albany, and, having nothing
else to do, had fallen desperately ii
love with his pretty rtS-a-ris, and anx.
iously sought an opportunity for an in
PRODUCTION. However, having discov.
cred the name of his enchantress, he de.
termincd TO address her anonymously
by letter.
Having decided upon taking this step,
the next thing to be done was to put il
into execution, and having shut himself
in his little study, after many futile at.
tempts, he succeeded in framing al
epistle TO the lady to his satisfaction,
begging her, if she valued his peace OF
mind, to return an answer to "W. ",
Post-ollice, Albany" That done, he
went out for walk, and dropped the
letter in the nearest box.
Regularly three times a day for q
week afterward he called ut the post
Office to sec whether an answer had ar.
rived for him. AS the week advanced
Willoughby hogan to lose his appetite,
and grow so restless and irritable that
Mrs. Vane, like fond mother, faneied
that her dear boy was unwell, and
begged him to consult their medical
attendant. But her son laughed at the
idea, knowing well that his complain,
was beyond the doctors skill to cure.
He was beginning to despair of evei
receiving reply, when, to his great de
light, on the seventh morning a letter
was handed to him by the postmaster
written in dainty female hand, and
addressed to Nv. "" Almost unable
to conceal his emotion he quilted the
post-ollice, broke open the seal and
drank in the contents.
They were evidently of q pleasant
nature, for Inc read the letter over again
and again, kissed the envelope, put i,
into his breast-pocket, and hurried
home to see his inamorata looking out
of the window of the opposite house MS
usual.
For q moment his first impulse was tc
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 hi
went indoors and amused himself fol
three hours in inditing reply 20 hcl
letter, which he posted the same after
noon, and in due course a second an
swcr arrived.
And so matters went on, a constant
interchange of letters being kept up fol
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 it, he would sometime,
say to himself Glow provoking the
dear girl is! She never will look thi,
way. do wish / could catch her eye
If only for moment. What a horridl,
sour-looking old crab the mother is
Depend upon it, Willoughby, that pool
child is anything but happy at HON,
with these two old fogics. 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 anC
compose another note to his "Dearcs
Eva"
At length three weeks having fowr
rapidly away in this manner, he re
ceived letter one morning from tn,
young lady, which ran as follows:
To wv W
"sir-As it is useless to continue a CORE
spondence In this manner, think 1t is nov
time for you to throw on your iDcognito, an,
reveal your true name and position TO one Il
whom you are not totally Indifferent Deiev
mo that nothing inspires love like mutua
confidence. Prove to me that have not beef
imprudent in answering your letters, by q
feeling OF idle curiosity that ask this, blu
etc, EVA"
nTo which Willoughby replied by re
turn of post:
DEAREST EVA Of you will permit me to cal
you sol; Have you not for weeks past oh
back, anxiously watching you from the win
dow OF the opposite house? Nnd, althougl
you have apparently never taken the slight
est notice of him, trust that his features ar
not altogether rcpulsive to you. am that In
dividual.
"Charmed by the graceful magic OF thin
eye,
Day after day watch and dream aud sigh;
witch thee, dream OF thee, sigh for the
Fair star OF Albany-may add-mine ownY'
to quote with some alterations the nobl
stauza of the poet Brown. And now have
the window take no notice OF me ut present
lest my mother should observe II. In fc,
days she will be gone out of town. and the
VIC can throw OF all restraint. TIL thcu
adieu! Adieu, my adorable one, adicu! NJ
eyes are ever on you. Your own,
"WfLLOUGHBY NANk,"
To which epistlc came the following
answer:
DEAR Sin; Your explanation IL pcrfecti
satisfactory. ] may also add. your feature
are not at all repulsivc to EVA"
BLESS herl what delightful littl
soul she is!' calculated Willoughby.
And he went out, ordered new sui
of clothes and had his hair cut.
willy" said Mrs. Vanc 10 her sol
the next morning, Il wish you woul,
do something to improve your mind
and not waste your time looking out 0
tho window all day as you have latel