Tag Archives: longing

August 25, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday Night, Aug 25th.

My Dear Sweetheart,

This noon I received your letter of Friday night, and tonight your letters of Wed. and Thurs. came. It was a mighty pleasant surprise to get the two extra ones, for I had thought that possibly you had not managed to get them posted. I am sure that the first two went to Jacksonville, while the last one came direct to the Beach. They were just as sweet as they could be and I wish you knew how much I enjoy them.

August 25, 1925 (Walter)

August 25, 1925 (Walter)

It was nice of Mrs. Parman to give a photo of her home and I am pleased that you thanked her for both of us. It reminds me that I promised to make one of her home while I was in Uvalde but neglected it until it was too late. However, the camera was left there and I presume that DC made it. The photo she gave has a sentiment that I rather like, too, but I am sure that it is different from the mental picture that I have. You would have to be standing on the porch to make it like the one I have in my mind. I certainly did hate to leave there. Dr. White says that he can’t understand how I could leave there on the 5th P.M. and pack up at Dallas & reach here the night of the 9th. I had to hustle, but I wanted to be with you as long as possible. I’ll never forget how excited Mrs. Parman was when we told her that you were leaving with me. Next to you and I, she will be more pleased over our marriage than anyone else. It will be the happiest day of my life, Dear, and I hope and believe that it will be the beginning of a lot of happiness for both of us.

You asked for me to suggest a present for you and you will tell me what you think of my suggestion. I believe it should be something which we would probably not get in the ordinary purchases, but something which you could use very nicely. Rather a luxury than a necessity. I know that you would hesitate to make such a suggestion, but if I get something to please you I’ll have to get an idea of what you want. I have thought something of getting started on a set of solid silver, and then add to it from time to time until a complete set is obtained. This would be of such a nature that I would want you to select the pattern. The same thing comes into my mind if we start on some DeHaviland China or a set of Libby’s cut glass. I want you to have a set of each and perhaps it would be well to start on them with a wedding gift but I believe you should decide on the designs you want. Perhaps this could be done to better advantage when they have been compared and after we are married. Maybe a Lovelier (I guess that’s the way to spell it) would be OK. Something in white gold, possibly of a pendant nature, with a couple or three small diamonds. If you have an idea of what you would like I’d like to know.

I can think of any number of things we would need for the home but I don’t believe this present should be of that nature. It depends upon what you think about it. I think it should be something which would last you a lifetime and on the nature of a luxury. We can’t expect to have everything to start out with, but we can plan on what we want and have the pleasure of getting them. I think that is about the greatest pleasure one can have.

Dear, I’d rather you would not worry about your wardrobe and if you are planning your needs in clothing, I’d plan about the same that you would wear as far south as Uvalde. The winters in Florida are mild, too, and I believe it is a pretty safe bet to say that we will spend the latter part of the winter and spring down here. Just as soon as I know I’ll certainly let you know and I believe you will then have plenty of time to decide on some of the things. You need not try to have so many clothes ready. You see, I have never had a wife and I hardly know about a wife’s clothing etc.

It was real sweet of you to say that you thought it would be nice on the beach this winter. I have wondered how this would strike you. I would much rather go direct to our home and know that we were not stopping at a place temporarily. I rather wish that it were possible to have our Dallas cottage in Florida.

Must say “goodnight” Sweetheart for it is getting late. I love you and with all my heart.

Always your,
Walter.

August 16, 1925 (Ina)

This letter was out of sequence in the file. Today is 12 October 2011, but I’m backdating this post so it will be in the right place in the chronology.

Sunday Nite.
After Church.

My dear Sweetheart:

Just six weeks ago this afternoon you left us and it seems just about that many months to me. I can’t realize that it has been such a short time.

August 16, 1925 (Ina)

August 16, 1925 (Ina)

I note with a great deal of interest what you say about the meeting to be held in Dallas Nov. 7th to 10th. If you should find that you should be there at that time, I am sure, for my part, that the wedding could be arranged some time near, before or after that time. It would really please me very much because it would mean that I would get to see you earlier than I expected. Of course I understand that you are unable as yet to know at what stage your work will be at that time, but I am sure that we can make arrangements accordingly. Sweetheart, I love you, and the nearer the time comes for us to be married the happier I feel. It is so vastly different from the way I felt about two years ago when Ray and I were engaged. At that time I couldn’t help but have a feeling of dread, as each day slipped by.

I am glad you said what you did about the wardrobe trunk. As it happened, I had already decided not to purchase a trunk of that kind. In housekeeping they are very much in the way since you usually want a trunk that will occupy the least space and can be tucked away in a corner or closet somewhere as they are not very ornamental as a piece of furniture. I am glad you expressed an opinion on it, and I will be so glad if you will always feel free to give your opinion on things. I was interested in what you said about the possibility of our going directly to Florida instead of Washington. Either way suits me, Dear, and I am always mighty glad to know of any developments that might determine when and where we shall go.

Worlds of love from
your devoted,
Ina.

August 15, 1925

Saturday Night Aug 15th

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have just received your letter of Monday night, and it is a mighty good one, Dear. The prints finally came and I am sending them along. No doubt you will recognize our house as they are not very different from the ones previously sent to you. The lawn is a little better in these. The little boy is the only child of the lady living there and he seems to be a pretty good kid. The dog belongs to the family. The name of the folks, if I remember it correctly is Goodman. The other photo is of the cottage here. We are using the front porch for a Lab, but also have a garage in the rear. It is very comfortable and 2 blocks from the surf. For our purpose there is nothing better down here, and the lady keeps it quite neat and orderly. I asked her when she was going to West Palm Beach where her husband is working and at the present time she is not sure. It looks as though I may have the whole thing to myself if I use it much longer. In about two weeks more, there will not be so much of a crowd down here. However, it is delightful here and one can go in the surf any day in the year. During the winter they sometimes have a frost here, but it warms up quickly. For work, I would rather be in Florida during the winter than in either Dallas or Wash DC, and Dear I may suggest that we spend the first few months of our honeymoon down here at Jax Beach. It would be very quiet here and perhaps it would be too quiet for you, but it is only 17 miles to Jax and we could make the drive any evening or take the train. As a place for excitement the beach would not amount to anything, but as a good place for me to work and as a delightful place to spend a honeymoon I don’t believe it could be beaten. It looks as though this may be the last season on creeping eruption and it would seem to be a good idea to work it up as much as possible. Too, I would not want to start the other work in the state until some money has been made available for it. It could not be available before July 1st of next year. I have not taken up the matter of my spending the winter down here, but after I have been down the state I’ll write Mr. Bishopp about it. I’ll always let you know of developments, for Dear, you mean worlds to me.

August 15, 1925

August 15, 1925

It was mighty nice of you to tell me of your friend Womack. I’ll have to admit that he has mighty good taste in proposing to you. I do not wonder why you have had so many, for there is no one like you, Dear. Claudelle will probably have to turn down a few of them too, before she chooses one. Mother and Daddy Lewis certainly reared some mighty fine daughters, and they have made me mighty happy in giving consent to our marriage.

Sweetheart, I certainly wish I could spend an evening on your porch with you now. You don’t know how I miss you. I love you with every tender affection Dear, and if a man ever wanted a girl an awful lot, I certainly want you.

We are going to be mighty happy.

Always,
Your
Walter.

August 14, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Nite
Aug. 14, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

We reached the top of the hill this evening in time to see the sun set and it was gorgeous. I don’t see how Nature can clothe herself in so many beautiful colors. Such a scene as that gives a person such a quiet, peaceful and restful feeling. But, Dear, it made me long for you because it reminded me of the many happy evenings this summer when I sat in the swing and watched the sun set while I was waiting for you to come. In fact, there are very few occasions on which I don’t think of you and then when I wish for you so much that I get lonesome I console myself by realizing that you will be returning before so very long and we hope we shall never be separated so long again, don’t we? Yes, my day’s work is interesting, especially so when I am working on something for my “hope chest,” but even that does not keep it from being hard to wait to see you.

August 14, 1925 (Ina)

August 14, 1925 (Ina)

I am glad you have found some work for Dr. White that will make a more agreeable working companion out of him. I sincerely hope you have found the thing you have been working for this summer, and I am especially glad that you were responsible for leading up to it. Here’s wishing you every success possible.

Goodnight and sweet dreams and all my love.

Yours always,
Ina.

Saturday Afternoon.
Aug. 15, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I wonder what you are doing this typical summer afternoon. I have just had a nice nap, and although it was very warm I feel very much refreshed. I suppose while I was sleeping you were as busy as a bee. I imagine that it is cooler and more pleasant to work there than it is here.

I notice in the “Uvalde Leader News” that all the Reagan Wells people have returned to Dallas except Dr. and Mrs. Roark. He has gone to Washington but she is going to remain at the Wells until cooler weather. She must like it up there very much. I suppose she doesn’t get lonesome as the paper states that there are a number of guests at the

The rest of this letter is currently missing. I’ll append it to this post if it turns up somewhere in the rest of the series.

hotel now. I imagine it is much cooler there now than it is in Uvalde.

I also notice int his week’s issue of the “Leader News” that it is going to begin another automobile contest soon. “A big automobile Free! Easy!!” “Win a handsome car during your leisure hours the next few weeks,” “Just a little perseverance and the automobile is yours!” etc. etc. You know how they advertise. It almost makes me sick to think of anyone having to go through all that work, worry and mental anguish that I had to go through. They have already asked me to enter, but I asked them to please count me out. Good luck to those who want to try it but never again for me! I am mighty glad I entered the other because I won, but the uncertainty is terrible. My one successful experience satisfies me completely for all the years to come.

Claudelle is going down town now so I must rush this.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

Yours forever,
Ina.

August 10, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Monday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I was mighty glad to get your letter this morning, but very sorry, Dear, to know of your toothache following the dental work.* I can sympathize with you for I know how disagreeable it is for the first few days. No doubt you are glad that it is all over and that you won’t have to go back again soon. I always feel relieved when I leave the dentist’s office. You should feel better by this time and I hope that when you receive this that you will feel just right again.

August 10, 1925 (Walter)

August 10, 1925 (Walter)

The last time I went to a dentist’s office I showed him a real filling and I told him that it was painful. Then I told him that the dentist was dead now. He was quite small so he asked if I was giving him a warning to go easy.

When I came to the beach, Sweetheart, it made the mail service between us about a day more, so that probably accounts for one missing day. Too, the letters are not always forwarded promptly from KS office. Dr. White and I are going to Jax tomorrow and after doing some shopping will have dinner with Dr. K.S. and family. Am glad that there will be no card party connected with it nor a movie show, as we will want to come back before it is so late. We are getting into some interesting work right now and I believe it has helped a lot in getting Dr. White off some of his notions. We had some stuff today which makes him feel that we have the thing we are looking for, and I anticipate a more pleasant connection with him during the next few weeks. Incidentally, it is my lead and I think he is more considerate of it. This will keep him occupied and I believe I can keep him off the cold trails for the rest of the season. The time passes quicker since we are on experiments again, but it isn’t fast enough yet, Dear, for I want the time to come when I can be with you. Don’t think that my love is the least bit colder since I left you, for it is all yours and I wish for you just the same. If I could only be with you occasionally it would help some, but the time is coming and every day makes it a little nearer. It is probably difficult for you to wait too, and I wonder if your duties during the day are as interesting to you as mine are to me. Mine help some, but I always have to look at your photo occasionally and wish that I were near enough that I could hug you real hard.

I love you, Sweetheart and Goodness only knows how much I want you.

With a sweet goodnight and with all my love, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

P.S. I have not yet had a letter addressed to Jax Beach, but I guess they will come addressed this way before long.

*This letter might be slightly out of sequence – Walter had a habit of only writing the (sometimes incorrect) day on his letters, and the postmark on the envelope for this one is illegible.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)*

Jax Beach, Fla.,
Sunday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday was a pretty busy day and by the time I had finished rubbing my sun burns, it was quite late. At the time I thought I would write to you this morning, but we had some experiments which needed attention, so the whole day got by us and now I find that I have missed a day.

There is quite a crowd down here today, and I left Dr. White on the Board Walk watching the pretty girls. He admires them anyway, and sometimes I believe he wishes that he had married when he was younger. Tonight he told me that he thought that I ought to get married. Told him that I intended to, but asked him what I would do with a wife at the present time. I guess I could take care of you if you were here now, but I certainly couldn’t make it home like and neither could you. Perhaps it would be all right as a honeymoon, but at the present time I wouldn’t know just where I was going to take you. But it won’t be so very long, Dear, before we will have it figured out and I’ll be the happiest human in the world.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

I can hardly wait for the time to come when I can come for you and can then have you with me always. I look at your photos many times every day and have them handy where I can see them often. Then I think of the many happy evenings of my stay in Uvalde and the swing where you and I spent most of them. Tomorrow will be three months, since you said “yes” and it seems longer, especially since I left you.

Tuesday, Dr. White and I are invited up for dinner with the Kirby-Smiths again. They will drive back with us after dinner. I haven’t seen Mrs. Gallagher except the one time, and I feel a little mean about it for she left word at Dr. K.S. office for me to phone her and later wrote a note to the effect that she was leaving on a vacation. I’ll see her again, but am in no hurry about it. After Dr. White leaves, I may have her little boy to come down here and spend a few days with me. He is a nice kid and I think a lot of him. When I saw him he wanted to know when I was coming back to their house to live. The little girl is mighty sweet too, but not nearly as pretty as Thelma Lee or Rietha. I haven’t seen any as pretty as Thelma Lee anywhere.

I didn’t get a letter yesterday or today but tomorrow will probably bring one. I love you, Sweetheart, with every tender affection and I am continually wishing for you. You can bet that I am true to you every minute of the time, too.

With all my love and a real sweet goodnight, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

* This one got out of sequence in the file, so I’m putting it on the blog in the right spot.

August 9, 1925

Sunday Night.
Aug. 9, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I left before the League service was over tonight as it looked like it would rain and we were not crazy about the idea of coming over our road after it was wet. It was mostly false alarm as it only sprinkled a little. There seemed to be enough thunder and lightning to make the Noahs of Uvalde think seriously of building an ark, but perhaps past experience has taught them better. However, we haven’t quite overcome our Mississippi ideas of the weather.

August 9, 1925

August 9, 1925

You really did seem distressed in your Wednesday’s letter over the Dr. White situation. Sweetheart, I am awfully sorry you are having so much trouble with him, and I wish so much that I could do something to help you out. I know just about how you feel and I don’t blame you a bit. I surely do wish I could be there to try to help you forget it. I know that when you are so constantly and closely associated with someone who is so oldmaidish, particular and slow about things that are often of minor importance or things that you have already thoroughly investigated yourself it is no less than nerve-racking. But aren’t you glad you found it out before you got deeply into some kind of partnership work with him that it would be harder to get out of? Maybe he will not be with you much longer, and then, won’t you feel good! I think you will be better able to appreciate your own work and the pleasant dealings you have had with Dr. K.S. and others than you would have, had you not had this experience with Dr. White. Sometimes these experiences are rather bitter while they last, but we often profit by them. However, Sweetheart, I am sorry you have had to endure this one and I hope you will not have to do it again. I am glad you are writing me about it because I like to know what you are going through even when you have to write it, because, if I were with you, I would certainly want to know, and I like to feel as much like I am with you as possible. I want you to feel free to write me anything you would want to tell me if I were with you. I will be so glad when we can be together and each evening can discuss the difficulties as well as the pleasures of the day. That is the way a husband and wife are drawn closer together and into a more complete understanding of one another. I don’t see how I could love you more than I do now, but that is what I said at first and I know I love you more now than I did then. Isn’t it wonderful how one’s capacity for loving can be increased so much?

You spoke of my photos. I still wear yours on my dressing table and I get lots of pleasure out of looking at it. You would really be surprised to know how often the expression of your face changes. When I don’t get a letter from you and I can’t help but be disappointed, I look at you and you look solemn and almost call me “Mama,” but when I do get a nice letter from you, I look at you and you almost laugh. I don’t know what I’d do without the picture. I love it. (and you).

Always, your,
Ina.

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Nite 8/8 – 1925*

My Dear Sweetheart,

This was a wonderful day for me. I had two real good letters from the dearest little girl in the world and you can bet I enjoyed them. I have read them several times already and I’ll probably read them again before I go to sleep. Dr. White is already in bed. He goes to sleep early and usually wakes pretty early. We have just finished using vinegar for our sun burned backs. They are pretty tender tonight and I guess his is equally as sore as mine. I have never used vinegar before but he says it works fine and that it prevents the skin from peeling. I have an idea that he knows, as it is difficult to get a positive statement out of him.

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

I was amused at what you said about your battery. They usually last from 18 to 24 months, but as yours has been used so little it hardly seems possible that you would need a new one at this time. Am glad that they found it OK. I usually figure that the bad luck in breaking a mirror consists in the purchase of another. The number 13 is unlucky if some one happens to count that way for a dozen. But I believe in horse-shoes. We have had luck with them, haven’t we? The Fulford lot is Lot No. 13 (block 9) and I can’t help but believe that it is a lucky number. I am enclosing a circular which was enclosed with my receipt this month. It looks as though they may have a real university at Fulford. The tract is evidently in a new addition they are opening, but it is bound to affect the value of our lot. I only wish we had more lots down there and located as well as this one for we can use the money very nicely and we want a good one for our own home, whether we live there at first or not.

Fulford University Story

Fulford University Story

Honey Bunch, it was mighty sweet of you to say what you did about dates when Mother Lewis asked you, and I appreciate it. However, Sweetheart, I feel that I have unlimited confidence in you and if you want to go with others it will be perfectly all right. You are real sweet about it.

Dear, I never had an idea that you were of such a lovable nature and you don’t know how happy I am over it. I was a bit afraid that you were naturally cold and I have thought of this some, but not since I left Uvalde. I feel that I know you pretty well by now and the idea that we can live happily together is well fixed in both of our minds. We can’t help but be happy, or at least I can’t be otherwise. You were mighty sweet to want ot know my troubles, and that is what it takes for a good understanding and happiness.

I certainly do wish for you, Sweetheart, and the past month has been the longest I have ever spent. But as you say, the time is a month nearer and that is mighty encouraging. I hope that before a great while we can set a date, for I want you, Honey, and I love you with all my heart.

Yours always,
Walter.

The 8th was a Saturday – I’m assuming Walter got the day right and the date wrong.

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Night.

Aug. 2, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

In poetry and in song the patter, patter of the raindrops on the window sill usually forms the proper setting for peace, quiet, happiness and contentment inside the house. Well, the patter, patter has been on the window sill all afternoon and all evening and peace, quiet, etc. have reigned within with the one exception: one member of this household is suffering with a genuine case of lonesomeness – for you. We are really having a lovely rain, and we are all “tickled to death” over it, but it reminds me so very much of the evening you and I were stranded on the hill in the storm, and makes me wish for you. I often think of that incident, and am really glad it happened. We had lots of fun over it, didn’t we? I would be so happy if you were here tonight and we could enjoy a long confidential chat. I think we have kept up very well with “chats” by letter, don’t you think?

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Monday Afternoon.
Aug. 3, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I think the roads are dry enough now for Papa to go down town and I surely am glad because I haven’t had a letter yesterday nor today as none of us could get over the roads. You know pretty well how the water can flow over them out here like a river. I can hardly wait for him to return with a letter from you.

Thelma, Bob and the children took dinner with us yesterday but Thelma and Bob left early in the afternoon on account of the rain, leaving Thelma Lee and Reitha with us. I have made doll dresses, doll pillows, have played Mama, Papa, Mother, Daddy, party ‘n everything with them today to keep them amused while it was too wet for them to play outdoors. They are certainly full of pep.

Only four weeks ago yesterday you left Uvalde. I thought of it lots during the day and recalled the many happy hours you and I spent together during your two months’ stay here. Those two months did worlds toward shaping our future happiness, did they not? I love to think of them and to think of the many happy years we have ahead of us.

No doubt you are down on the beach by now. I hope you are enjoying your work down there and that Dr. White has changed his ways as he changed his location. Maybe he will not be so “old maidish” about everything as he was the paper. Let’s hope for the best. You have my sympathy.

Sweetheart, you mean the world to me and I love you oh, so very very much.

Yours always,
Ina.

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Afternoon
July 27, 1925

My dearest Walter:

Yesterday was the first day since you left that I had missed writing you and it was unintentional that I did miss it. I thought we would get back from Hondo in time to write you, but, as we had charge of the Sunday evening church hour which lasted until about 9:30, then had quite a time getting our crowd together to come home, we did not arrive in Uvalde until 12:10. So it was no longer Sunday and I waited until later on in the day Monday to write. I love to write you every day when I can, because that is next to receiving a letter from you or being with you. You have been so good to write me even though you were awfully busy, and I surely do appreciate it too. Your Wednesday night letter came Saturday afternoon just as we were leaving town and, Sweetheart, (that’s the first time I ever called anyone that) it was such a nice, long interesting one. It made me feel so good to have it along with me.

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

We had such a good time in Hondo. The people in whose home we were guests were perfectly lovely to us. Claudelle and I were entertained in the house of the president of the Hondo Chapter. We had met her while in Kerrville. Everyone seemed to be doing something to show us all a good time, and they succeeded well. Claudelle and I agreed without any hesitancy that we had a much better time during the night and day that we spent in Hondo than we did the whole week in Kerrville. I didn’t have to make but three talks, one in the afternoon and two in the evening, but the otherwise pleasant time we had more than overbalanced that.

It was only three weeks ago yesterday afternoon that you left and it seems like just about that many months to me. I thought about you and wished for you lots and lots during the day even though we were busy.

Mama and Papa stopped by Mrs. Parman’s for a short visit yesterday afternoon. Mr. Parman had been very sick that morning but was feeling much better in the afternoon. They thought it might be acute indigestion. Mrs. Parman was terribly frightened and excited. They think he will soon be alright though.

Walter, the part of your letter that referred to Mama and Papa, our future happiness etc. was mighty sweet. I am sure they are not worried for fear you and I will not get along well together, that we will not be happy etc. because they know by now that we care for each other so much that everything will be fine. We are going to be wonderfully happy and contented, aren’t we? “You bet!” I am glad you will enjoy having them visit us and I am sure they will enjoy it too. However, you know how “often” they visit anyone. Maybe, though, we can get them to come occasionally.

I am sure you enjoyed being with Mr. and Mrs. Garrison. Yes, I remember that you mentioned in one of your letters to me last winter that you ate Christmas dinner with them. I am anxious to meet them. I appreciate what you said about her sister.

I want to assure you again that I am most hopelessly in love and never expect to get out.

I love you now, always and forevermore – lots and lots – then some more.

Yours always,
Ina.