Monthly Archives: January 2012

October 19, 1925

Monday Night.
Oct. 19, 1925.

My dearest Sweetheart:

My! but I’m so happy tonight. Your two letters (of Wednesday and Thursday) came this evening just in time to save the day (or me). Honestly, I believe they would have almost had me to bury if I hadn’t heard pretty soon. I have been gazing into that empty post office box for four days, and I was getting desperate. Of course I knew you were on the road a great deal of the time, but I knew at the same time that within four days’ time you could surely find an opportunity to at least drop me a card. It was the longest time I had missed getting a letter since we have become engaged, and, that fact, added to the feelings I expressed in yesterday’s letter, gave my imagination plenty of room to work. So when Papa brought in your two letters this evening I felt thankful enough to shout. And, too, Dear, these didn’t sound a bit like they were prompted by a sense of duty. They “hit the spot” and made me feel so happy. Even the cold wind whistling around the corner of the house doesn’t sound lonesome tonight, and the fire in the fireplace is more cheerful than it has been in nights and nights. Even if a ghost should appear at the window by my side, I verily believe he would brightly smile tonight.

October 19, 1925

October 19, 1925

Sweetheart, I’m delighted with the Fulford report. The increase in value of the property there is far better than I dared hope in such a short time. It was evidently a very wise buy, and I am mighty glad you made it. Yes, indeed, that profit will come in fine when we get ready to purchase or build a home of our own. I am very enthusiastic about your real estate possessions. May their value increase! Your account of the conditions and values there was very interesting and made me realize more than ever the Florida boom.

If it takes this letter as long to reach you as it took yours to reach me, you may get it some day next month.

I love you, Dear, worlds and worlds. I didn’t fully realize how very much until I felt that there might be something wrong. But I am so happy tonight and I love you, love you, love you.

Always your
Ina.

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct 18, 1925
Sunday PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It seems like a mighty long time since I have had one of those letters which always makes things look brighter. I am getting hungry for one. If possible I will drive through to the Beach tomorrow, but if it is late when I get to Augustine I’ll spend the night there.

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

I took Mr. & Mrs. McDonald out for a ride in her car this morning. We went to the beach here and then south to Del Ray. Returned by Boynton where they showed me an investment which they made in a lot about a year ago. It is a 50 x 125 corner costing $2000. Developments are coming to some extent & it is listed at $3500 now. I like our lot better due to the fact that it is in a higher class development. Theirs is a business corner and may be a filling station location, as near as I can figure. This would make it a mighty good investment. Would probably bring them $15000, but it may be three years or even five years from now. I believe that our lot will be worth 5000 to 6000 after Christmas. That’s when the winter tourists usually come, though this year they have been here all the time. Lots of people are camping, living in tents, garages & almost any place they can find. They make $11 per day of 8 hours as carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Bricklayers and plasterers make more. All get double pay for overtime and many work long hours. They pay more than this at Miami. Workmen on houses go to work in Chryslers, Lincolns, and other good cars while the builder is often the one to walk. The people who made good investments down here five years ago have reaped enormous profits. Lots of money to be made yet, but the competition is keener and deals are not handled so much without substantial payments. The fellow looking for short time options can’t use the “shoe string methods’ as much as during the past few years.

I am going to have dinner with Mr. & Mrs. McDonald at six o’clock and I’ll probably visit with them at the park. They have a concert there tonight. Mrs. Mc said something about going back with me tomorrow morning. She will let me know tonight. They can’t find living quarters within reasonable price and I guess she will stay at the Beach until he gets a place for her.

I love you, Dear, and I certainly would like to be with you now.

Your,
Walter.

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Afternoon.
Oct 18, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Third time is charm, so you may receive this letter. You may have noticed that you have missed letters for two days, but it was not because I didn’t write – it was because I didn’t mail the ones I wrote. Day before yesterday I wrote, but committed that epistle to the flames. Last night I wrote again, but that one went up in smoke also. I carried it to the post office twice, but couldn’t make up my mind to post it. However, I sincerely hope I can conscientiously send this one.

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

Sweetheart, I don’t know how to explain it, but I hope you will understand it just the same and can say that I was entirely wrong, absolutely; that I was perfectly silly for letting such a thing enter my mind, and that I had no grounds whatsoever for doing so. Yes, I do hope that you can conscientiously say every bit of that, and then I’ll be happy once more. The fact of the business is that I have cried myself to sleep several nights lately (and thrown in a few tears during the day), because it seemed to me that as our wedding day drew nearer (forgive me for saying it) you seemed to be losing interest to some extent. Your letters sound different somehow from the ones you wrote a month or two ago – they seem like they are written through a sense of duty or something. Dear, I know you are busy, but surely that couldn’t make you lose interest in – it couldn’t, could it? You do love me just as much as you ever did, don’t you? Please say that all of this is a freak of my imagination, and scold me good – say anything you want to – call me “Mama” or anything – just so I know you love me just the same. Sweetheart, I know you are true to me as far as other girls are concerned, but somehow I couldn’t feel perfectly satisfied about the tiny note of indifference your letters seemed to me to have, until I wrote and asked you.

Forgive me Dear, if I have hurt your feelings, in this letter, because I didn’t mean to do it. I wish you knew how very very much I love you and then maybe you would understand. I love you entirely too much to want to hurt you even the tiniest bit.

Always your loving
Ina.

October 17, 1925

Oct 17th
Saturday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

My note last night was rather short and as there might be a misunderstanding I want you to know that I would not intentionally hurt your feelings for anything in the world. It is a little different in writing to you when I am on the road for I usually have quite a bit on my mind but I think of you often just the same.

October 17, 1925

October 17, 1925

I expect to leave here Monday AM and if I have good luck I’ll drive through in one day. It is about 325 miles and a few detours where they are working on the road. The last 25 miles will be rough too as I take a near cut to the Beach from St. Augustine. This saves about 25 miles but is a little rough. There is a real estate activity at Jupiter where I have been working some, and also a lot here but it does not look as good as Fulford to me. The prices are high enough too. Kelsey City north of here is a mighty good development, but I can’t invest on any more and have not even talked to real estate folks.

I love you, Dear, and I certainly wish that I could be with you now.

Always your
Walter.