Year: 1870

hihiSO'l lOl UuIee uOuIS III lu(llGlIB reply
to her letter, which he posted the same
afternoon, and, in due course, second
answer arrived


And so matters went on, a constant in
terchange Of letters being kept up for a
fortnight, during which time Mr.. Wipbugh-
by Vane spent his days in runni1g-5fo and
from the postoffice, writing and Watching
his fair neighbor from the window of the
dining room.


"Confound it ~ he would somstimes say
to himself. elbow very provoking the
dear girl is She will never look this way.
l do wish could catch her eyes.'if only for
a moment. What horribly sefir-looking
old crab the mother is !! Depend upon it
Willoughby, that poor child is anything
but happy at home with those two old TO-
gies. 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 COM
pose another note to his Dearest Eva"
At length, three months having flown
rapidly away in this manner he received
letter one morning from the young lady
which ran as follows:


"To w. V.-Sir: As it is useless to con-
tinue a correspondence in this manner, I
think it is now time for you to throw off
your fncOgrSit0, and reveal your true name
and position to one to whom you are not
totally Indifferent Believe me that moth
ing inspires love like mutual confidence.
Prove to me that i have not been impru-
dent in answering your letters by at once
informing me who you are. 1t is with no
feeling of idle curiosity | ask this, simply
for our mutual satisfaction.


"Yours, &C., EVA"
To which Willoughby replied by return
of post:


"DEAREsT EVA: If you will permit me
to call you SO I! Have you not for weeks
past observed young man with his hair
brushed back, anxiously watching YOU.
from the window of the opposite house Z?
And, although you have not apparently ta-
ken the slightest notice of him, trust that
his features are not altogether repulsive to
you am that individual.


Charmed by the graceful magic of thine eye,
Day after day watch and dream; and sigh;





Fair star of Clapham-may add, my own?
To quote with some alterations, the noble
stanza of the poet Brown. AND now have
favor. Whenever you see me at the win
dow, take no notice of me at present
lest my mother should observe it, In a few
days she will be going out of town, and
then we can throw of all restraint. Till
then, adieu Adieu, my adorable one,



own WILLoUGHBY VANE.'


To which epistle come the following an
swer:


"DEAR SIR: Your explanation is per-
fectly satisfactory, | may also add that
your features are not at all repulsive to


EVA"


"Bess her What delightful little
girl she is p calculated Willoug ghby.


And he went out, ordered a new suit of
clothes and had his hair out.


Willy" said Mrs. Vane to her son the
next morning; 81 do wish you would do
something to improve your mind, and not
waste your time by looking out of the win
dow all day as you have lately done. Come
and read the parliamentary debates 10 me, if
you nave nothing else to do"


The worthy lady was red hot politician,
and for three mortal hours she kept him at
this delightful task at the expiration of
which time he succeeded in escaping to his
own room, where he wrote the following
note to Eva:


DEAREST EVA: am overioyed at the
contents of your brief communication. If,
as you say, my features are not altogether
repulsive to you, may hope that you will
consent to be mine-mine only?
WILLoUGHBY."
Back came the reply next morning:


DEAR WnLoUGHBY Your reply has
made me feel very happy. 1t is very dull
here no society except father and mother.
long for more congenial companionship.
Ihlne, EVA"


In this delightful manner the days flew
on-halcyon days, too, they were for VIII.
loughby, and sweetened by the interchange
OF this, and other lover-like correspon.
dence' On the following Monday morn.