Tag Archives: love

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 10, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Night.
Aug. 10, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I was sorry today when I read in your Thursday’s letter that another day had passed and you had not heard from me. The trouble must be in the office of Dr. K.S. as I have written you every day since you left with the exception of the Sunday we went to Hondo. It is true that I don’t always get it off on the first train, and I sometimes mail two letters in one, but I don’t see how you could miss two days in succession except through delay in the office. At any rate, when you don’t get a letter, just rest assured that there is at least one somewhere in transit that you will soon receive and that I still love you better than anyone and am thinking of you.

August 10, 1925 (Ina)

August 10, 1925 (Ina)

Tonight is our “anniversary night” – just three months since we became engaged, and it seems like you have been gone longer than that. My, but I have been happier these three months than I have ever been before – just to know that you love me and I love you and that each day brings the time nearer when we shall start out life together. Sweetheart, I would give so much if you could be here tonight and we could enjoy the evening as much as we did that memorable 10th of May evening. We could really enjoy it even more now because we know each other better and really love more deeply than we did then.

I spent the day with Thelma today and we enjoyed it so much. I asked Thelma Lee and Retha what message they would like to send to you and they both said to tell you to come to see us sometime. That is nearly always the message they want me to give you. Perhaps you will consider coming sometime?

Walter, I have just received a letter from Lionel Womack, a young man from Bisbee, Arizona who lived in Uvalde for about two years, but who left here about two years ago for his home in Arizona. I went with him for about six months during which time he fell in love, proposed and I refused. Shortly after we broke up was when he returned to Arizona. I hadn’t heard from him in almost a year until last December he wrote me a letter telling me that he was engaged. I answered only with a Christmas card across the face of which I wrote “Congratulations.” I suppose I have never mentioned him to you as I supposed he was already married. Imagine my surprise today when I received a long letter from him in which he told me that he and his fiancee had already broken up, as he found she was not the kind of girl he thought she was. Also, he said he was coming to Texas in about sixty days and was very anxious to come to see me. He writes as though he feels the same toward me as he did when we were going together, but, Sweetheart, don’t worry one moment about it. I am going to write him the exact situation as it is – our engagement etc. and I don’t think he will even want to come under those circumstances. And, even if you and I were not engaged, and if Lionel were to come and stay until “Doom’s Day,” I couldn’t love him. I made up my mind to that effect a long time ago. He is a good friend but not the kind I could love. Now, you won’t worry about it, will you? I am writing you this because if I were with you I would tell you and I am sure you would do the same by me if you had a similar occasion.

I love you worlds and worlds, Dear, and, as far as I am concerned, no one is going to come between us.

Always
Your
Ina.

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 7, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Afternoon.

Aug. 7, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Now, don’t you feel good when you do get a letter? And especially so if you get two letters and your mother and Dad get one too? That was my experience yesterday afternoon and I was so happy over it. I knew you had some perfectly good reason for not writing before.

I enjoyed the description of your new house, new landlady etc. I am mighty glad you have found such a pleasant place to stay. It all “made my mouth water” and I am sure I would like and enjoy it. Take a dip in the surf for me, will you? Yes, we are going to be so happy in Florida. I know I shall like it, and, best of all, I can be with you. Sweetheart, I surely do love you.

August 7, 1925 (Ina)

August 7, 1925 (Ina)

I am so glad for you that Dr. White finally consented to part with the manuscript. I suppose he has to bestow his affections upon something, so he seems to have showered them generously upon it. Yes, I judge that his wife would certainly need the sympathy of her many friends if he continued in his old maidish ways.

No, Sweetheart, I know you are not ego-tistical, and I am so glad you tell me the situation as you do. I understand and appreciate your motive in telling me, and you may rest assured that I will not misunderstand and feel that you are flattering yourself. I am proud of you and love to hear of the progress you are making. In fact, I would feel badly if you didn’t tell me about your work etc. I am looking forward to the time when we can be together all the time and can discuss it more freely.

Mama and Papa appreciated the letter you wrote them. I am so glad that everything is coming out so nicely. They like you so much. (I don’t see how they could help it), and we are going to be so happy, aren’t we?

I must dress to go down town now.

Lots of love from

Your
Ina.

August 6, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla
Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Another day and I have not had a letter, but I feel sure that they were not forwarded from Dr KS office until late and I’ll probably get two when they come tomorrow. If you didn’t write, I’ll love you just the same.

This afternoon there was quite a crowd in the water as the stores closed as usual and allowed the clerks a half holiday. It is quite a different crowd from those coming Saturday afternoons. We went in the surf just before noon as Dr. White thought it would not be so chilly when we came out. It was quite warm (the air) and my back feels as though I have a pretty good sun-burn. I hope he feels about the same way, as he needs something to take a little conceit out of him. I have a mighty hard time to keep him steered right in this work, and I think I put it over pretty good this afternoon. He wants to work with some crabs which burrow along the beach, believing that they might be the host of our parasite causing creeping eruption. It is about the most foolish thing a person could do, as lots and lots of our cases originated on the interior where there are no possible chances that they could be concerned. I told him that what I needed of him was some technique in preparing the slides for identification and that if he would do this I would feel grateful. I have worked up the epidemiology of the cases so that I have a very good idea as to what animals we should test, and I have told him in plain English that he didn’t know anything about it. If my work is not to be regarded, he can have the problem when I am through. He was asked to come down but not to take charge, and in a polite way I told him that I had “my problem” pretty well in hand. I always welcome suggestions, but he will have to “snap out” of the idea that he knows so much about this particular problem. If he doesn’t make a move to return to Wash before long, I will probably make my trip down the state while he is here and then work this when I come back. It is a certain thing that he will not get anywhere if he takes his way in doing it. No wonder he said it would take 20 years. I don’t mean to burden you with this, Dear, but I feel that I should tell you everything that concerns me. Here’s hoping that I will not be so set in my ways that I will bore you.

August 6, 1925

August 6, 1925

K.S. was quicker to give an opinion than I was and I believe he was about right. He says don’t let him be so dogmatic, for it is not his problem. I can’t ask him to leave, but if he does not change his tactics I may tell him that about the best thing he can do is to return to Wash. He feels that I want to keep on the good side of him on account of possibilities in future work, but I don’t believe I want to work with such a slow man again.

I love you, Dear, and if you only knew how much, I’d be happy. I wish with all my power that I could have you with me now.

With a big hug and real sweet kiss

Always your
Walter.

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach Fla
Wednesday Nite 8/5.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not get a letter today and I presume that it was not forwarded from Dr. KS office. The girl probably held the mail until this afternoon to see if one of us came into the city. We have been busy today but it doesn’t seem like we have accomplished anything. Dr. White is so slow that I am about all in before he gets alive. I never worked with anyone who is so slow and lots of times he wants to follow up a lead which I worked my head over last summer. I tell him that I had that idea a year ago, but it led to a blind alley. Between us I’ll be glad when his time is out. He could be of a great deal of help, but he is so slow that I could look up the information about as easy. In other ways he is too much like an old maid, and can’t see any thing except his own way. I try to meet him more than half way and usually give in on most things for in a way I feel that he is a guest of mine. He is mighty finicky and like most of the men in Washington, he will let the other fellow do it. I told him that I thought he was right when he said it would take a long time to find the host of the parasite causing creeping eruption and that I didn’t believe that we would find it while he was here, but that I was going to work it out this summer. I meant it and I also told him that it would not be necessary to get a Harvard or Hopkins man on it. I did this so that he will not make any other suggestions to his Hopkins friend Sandground. I didn’t like this in Dr. White and I am mighty glad that K.S. told him that I could work it out without any assistance. Thus far, I can’t say that I have profited by Dr. White’s presence. Instead, he has hindered the work. I am mighty careful that I don’t get tied up with winter work with him, for when he leaves me this summer he and I are going to be through working together. I might send material to him but I don’t intend to work with him again. I should not tell you my troubles, Dear, for you are always so sweet about everything but I wanted you to know. I won’t cross the old man in an argument but I will let him know how I feel.

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

This is when I need you most, Dear, not that I want to burden you with my troubles but if I could only be with you I could forget the others and just love you. You are the dearest little girl in the world and I wish for you real often. It would not be very home like for you to be here now, but if you were here I’d arrange for a better place for you.

I love you with all my heart, Dear, and I am looking forward to that time, the happiest moment of my life, when you say “sure,” or “you bet” or “I do.”

Yours always,
Walter

August 4, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

You don’t know how much I have wished for you this evening. Dr. White and I went in the surf for about an hour and the water was just right. Last night we went in after dinner but tonight we went in before eating. I think both of us enjoyed about every minute of it. He seems to be thriving on the Florida weather and gains steadily. I am holding my own with about 200. The work is getting started, and this month will probably be a very interesting one. If you were here with me, it would be ideal.

August 4, 1925

August 4, 1925

I have watched the same moon during the past few evenings and thought of you, and wondered if you were looking at it too.

The cottage we have looks a great deal like the one Mr. Brundrette had at Regan Wells and is a little bit larger. Has two front rooms, and one rear room as a kitchen & dining room. We use the porch and garage as a laboratory and sleep in the front rooms. The lady has a bed in the dining room. As she works at a cafeteria, there is no cooking here. We are now using the ice box for drinking water, as the beach water tastes of sulphur.

I don’t know how this cottage would strike you as it isn’t much for looks, but it is convenient to the surf and has running water and electric lights. It is much better than Reagan Wells. It would be a dandy place for a honeymoon, but maybe you like a little more excitement. I didn’t have in mind spending our honeymoon here, but I always think of our whole married life as a honey-moon and can’t help but wonder how different things will appeal to you.

Your letter was received when I was in Jax this morning. I took the 7 o’clock train and returned at 3. It is 17 miles from here.

I have your photos on the dresser in front of me. I am beginning to like the standing one, enlarged from a Kodak one, real well. It looks like you when you met me on the porch last month. I have some mighty good mental pictures of you at that time and I use them often. You are a wonderful little girl and I love you with all my heart. When I can be with you always I’ll be the happiest man in the world. More and more I do realize that you do love me, and Dear, you can bet that I am true to you. Not a single date of any kind except the evening I called on Mrs. Gallagher & then I talked of you most of the time.

With a real big hug and a goodnight kiss, I am,

Always,
Your devoted,
Walter.

P.S. I love you lots and lots and lots and then some.

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 31, 1925

Friday Night.
July 31, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

You will notice that this is Friday. Furthermore, the wind blew a large mirror we had hanging on the back porch down, breaking it. Now are you ready for the “hard luck” story? Well, while we were down town this afternoon getting the gasoline tank filled the starter refused to work and, after careful examination, the man announced very calmly, that I would have to buy a new battery. Oh, it was only around $35.00 for a Willys-Knight. I didn’t quite faint because I realized that I had had the car for over a year and a half and this was the first expense. However, paying $35.00 for a battery without any warning whatsoever didn’t appeal to my sense of humor, nor was it my idea of a good time. He put in another one and said he would try to charge mine but didn’t think it was strong enough to stand it. I left him with prayers that it would. So that’s that.

July 31, 1925

July 31, 1925

We were at Thelma’s for a short while this evening and Mrs. Parman and Miss Zoe came over. Mrs. Parman told me of the letter they had just received from you and of what she had written you in reply to what you had said of Mervin’s roping etc. She told me to tell you that she thought she had saved Merwin the trouble of helping you rope the “dear” as she had already helped accomplish it. She is almost like a child in her enthusiasm over something she has helped to accomplish. I love to see her enjoy it so much, and am mighty glad that she can get so much genuine pleasure out of our happiness, aren’t you? I like Mrs. Parman so much and I am sure that she would be a great deal happier if she would think of pleasant, happy things instead of the unhappy and unfortunate things on which her mind dwells so much of the time. Her many years of ill health of course have caused this state of mind.

Sweetheart, I am awfully sorry you are having such a time with Dr. White. I am glad you told me of it because, as I have often told you, I am interested in everything you are interested in, and I want you to feel as free to tell me your difficulties as you do to tell me your pleasures. That will draw us closer to one another because, as we know the likes and dislikes of one another we can have a clearer understanding. Dear, I love you so much that I want to live your life with you with all its ups and downs. I don’t want you to feel like you should keep any of them as a secret from me, because you mean the world and all to me. You just don’t know how very, very much I do love you. How I do wish you were here right now! But, back to the subject of Dr. White. I don’t blame you for resenting some of the things he does, especially if he is trying to get more of the credit for himself. You have worked hard on it and certainly deserve all the credit you have gotten – and then some, and it is certainly not true to human nature to sit quietly back while someone else steps in and tries to walk (I suppose the word “walk really expresses too swift action for Dr. White, but I can’t think of a more approproiate word unless it is “creep” and I imagine you have heard C.E. so much that you are tired of it) away with the laurels. I’m for you strong. I sincerely hope it will come out all right and I believe it will.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Saturday night.
Aug. 1, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

A broken mirror on Friday does not mean bad luck. Papa ‘phoned the garage this afternoon and inquired after the health of the battery and they said there was nothing wrong with it – only a wire broken, a loose connection or something. Anyhow, everything’s lovely.

It is so nice and cool tonight. We have been on the verge of scorching for several days but last night we were blessed with a tub full of rain water (I washed my head in it and can’t do a thing with it) and it has been lots cooler ever since. It is so nice and cool tonight that I believe a blanket will be comfortable. It reminds me of autumn and gives me a thrill of joy when I realize that today is the beginning of a new month that brings me a month nearer you.

In one of your letters a short time ago you were afraid I was missing dates with others. It reminded me of a few evenings ago when I was sitting very quietly and thoughtfully in the moonlight. I was thinking of you, but I believe Mama had an idea I was wanting a date because she said “Ina, don’t you wish you had a date?!” I told her that I did want one with you and you only. Although I value the friendship of my other gentlemen friends, I don’t care a thing in the world about having dates with them any more. I want you. Don’t worry. I am not going to change my mind. I love you and am going to love you always and no one else matters. I am going to be true to you.

With all my love forever, I am,

Your loving
Ina.