October 16, 1925

Oct 16, 1925
Friday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I haven’t much news tonight Dear, but I want to let you know that I am getting along OK. I have changed my plan about going to the West Coast on this trip. It would mean to drive about a hundred miles north and then to the other side and it is too much of a trip for me at this time. The roads across the state are not good and with a car rented from a friend I don’t believe it is worth the effort. I haven’t had any car trouble yet, and I don’t want any. I expect to leave here Monday A.M. but I may not get to the Beach until Tuesday.

October 16, 1925

October 16, 1925

With worlds of love,

Your
Walter.

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.

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 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 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 20, 1925 (Walter)

This letter was out of order in the set, because Walter wrote “November” instead of “October” on it. I’m back-dating this post to put it where it should have been in the sequence on the blog. Sorry for any inconvenience.

The Beach, Tuesday Nite,
Nov. 20, 1925 (sic)

My Dear Sweetheart,

I arrived here this noon and have been busy re-arranging and unpacking. Mrs. McDonald came back with me. Your letters of the 9th and 10th were here when I returned as I did not have mail forwarded to me from here while I was on the east coast.

October 20, 1925 (Walter)

October 20, 1925 (Walter)

Dear, your letter of the 10th was your blue letter and I can’t help but feel concerned and worried about it. It was quite short and you said that if you could cry yourself to sleep that you would feel all right. Sweetheart, I think you should have told me why you felt so blue for I did not like to have you feel that way and I am worried for fear that I might have done something that caused it. This is the first time you have written to me that you were so blue. Please tell me why? Do you regret your engagement to me? Have I done anything to hurt your feelings? You wrote the letter on the 10th just five months from the time of our engagement. Dear, I love you with all my heart and I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt your feelings for anything in the world. You are the dearest one in the world to me and I can’t help but feel worried. Please tell me! I always tell you and I would feel better if you would tell me.

I am enclosing a letter from the Fulford people regarding the value of the lot. I believe that it will be worth twice as much in the spring.

Please write me at once, Dear, and tell me why you felt so blue. I’ll be worried until I hear from you.

I love you and only you and I want you with all my heart.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

October 22, 1925 (Walter)

Box 61 Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Oct 22, Thursday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

At the time I was worried about why you were so blue, I received three letters forwarded from Caxambas. Believe me I was mighty glad to get them. They were just as sweet as they could be. I note what you said about the judge with much interest.

October 22, 1925 (Walter)

October 22, 1925 (Walter)

I have received a letter from Mr. B. The original went to Caxambas and has not been returned yet. I am sending the copy which was mailed to me here. You will note what he says about plans for work. I had written him of the state fair here which holds from Nov. 19 to 28th, and had suggested the opportunities for meeting various persons interested in our work. He did not mention it directly, but his reference to Mr. Smith and others appertains to the fair. It happens that Thanksgiving comes during this week and should I come for you at that time, I would miss the fair here. It is rather important that I be there for those people are the ones who will pull for an appropriation for Florida work. It is too bad that the fair has to come during that week. I wish I could be in both places at the same time, but I feel that it is an opportunity and a duty to be here. I have a suggestion, Sweetheart, and I am wondering how it will strike you. Could we make it about Christmas time and then come here by train. About the first of March when I am wanted in Dallas we could go there and spend a while, then you could spend a while at Uvalde. We could then drive back here during the latter part of May.

The people at Jupiter (near West Palm Beach) want me to be there during the latter part of March and for the month of April, but we do not have an appropriation for that work and we would give Mr. Parman’s work preference if I were needed down there. I think it would be safe to leave your car at Uvalde with the idea of returning for it. This seems like moving about a great deal but no doubt you would like to be here about two months so as to know of conditions etc. and would then like to meet the Dallas people while I can be there. Then you would probably want to be at home for a little visit so you could tell Mother Lewis how mean I had been to you etc.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your
Walter

October 22, 1925 (Ina)

Thursday Night.
Oct. 22, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I was surprised that you had changed your plan and decided not to go to the west coast. However, I don’t blame you a bit for not having a desire to travel over such rough roads. I imagine you will be glad to get back to the Beach so that you can resume your work there.

October 22, 1925 (Ina)

October 22, 1925 (Ina)

I spent today with Thelma and enjoyed it lots as I always do. I spent quite a bit of the day in helping her with some sewing.

We had a card from Mrs. Parman today and she seems to be enjoying her visit in Tennessee with her people. Mr. Parman, I suppose, is in Dallas since she wrote us that she expected to return to Uvalde as soon as he completed his work. I hope that this trip will benefit Mrs. Parman as she was in pretty bad condition when she left here. It doesn’t seem to be her physical condition especially, but her main trouble is in worrying so terribly much about every little thing. She becomes almost frantic when Mr. Parman gets out of her sight, just worried to death for fear something will happen to him. She seems to be a great deal worse than she used to be, and everyone who knows her is beginning to get very uneasy about her. It is extreme nervousness I am sure, but it is getting very serious. I feel so sorry for Mr. Parman. I don’t see what keeps him from having a nervous breakdown, because it is so trying for him. I have never seen anyone with as much patience as he possesses. Unless you knew the conditions as we do, you couldn’t understand how serious it is. I don’t mean this letter in a spirit of criticism of Mrs. Parman, but I am deeply concerned about her condition. She is a mighty good friend of ours, and I love her.

I hope you had a pleasant trip back to the Beach, and that you had no car trouble.

Sweetheart, I love you.

Devotedly,
Ina.

October 23, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Nite
Oct. 23, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Your letter of Tuesday night came, and it seemed good to receive one from you there again because that seems more like home. I don’t know why it is, but I sort of breathed a sigh of relief when I knew you were back there. No doubt it is because the mail is more regular, and then too I think there is more comfort in thinking of or writing to a person if you know where he is and that your mail will reach him in due time. It seems so indefinite otherwise. For instance, the letters you found at the Beach on your return were almost history by the time you received them and the ones I wrote you and addressed to Caxambas were no doubt a week or more old by the time they were forwarded to the Beach. At any rate, I love you just the same wherever you are, but the nearer you are, the better it suits me.

October 23, 1925 (Ina)

October 23, 1925 (Ina)

Dear, I appreciate your concern about my being so blue and I suppose I should have written you the reason at that time, but I was in hopes that I could soon decide that it was all my imagination. I was afraid I couldn’t explain it so you wouldn’t misunderstand me, so I thought I wouldn’t say anything. However, as you now know, I did write you a letter later, addressing it to you at Caxambas, explaining my feelings. I feel sure now that I was wrong about it, and I beg your pardon, Dear, for thinking it. Your letters sound differently now. Those others were just written hurriedly I’m sure. No, Sweetheart, not for one moment have I regretted our engagement, but I was afraid you had. You have no idea what a relief it is to have the feeling now that you don’t regret it.

I was very much interested in the real estate letter. I am so glad the value of the property is increasing so rapidly, and I sincerely hope it will continue to do so. Won’t it be fine to make that much on the side? I am so glad you bought it when and where you did.

It makes me so happy, Dear to feel that you still love me as much as you ever did. I didn’t realize how very very much I loved you until I thought you might be getting indifferent. Sweetheart, I will be so happy when we can be together all the time. Then there will not be the trouble of misunderstanding letters. You seem so far far away now, and it takes so long to get a reply to a letter. When we are together, if we are uncertain about anything, we can explain it right then, get a reply immediately and then feel satisfied instead of having to wait a week or two to find out. I think it will be great.

I love you worlds and worlds.

Always, your
Ina.

October 23, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach, Friday Night.
Oct 23d

My Dear Sweetheart,

Have gotten into the harness again and have lots to do, though I had very little work carried over from a few weeks ago. Before leaving I cleared up all the work I could and did not have any experimental animals left. At the present time I am running some traps on the beach and during the day I am using the material as fast as it is caught. It is quite a chore to have a bunch of experimental animals and I am keeping away from it unless it is necessary.

October 23, 1925 (Walter)

October 23, 1925 (Walter)

Mrs. Mc has her house for sale and today there were two parties to look at it. I hope she doesn’t sell for I am pretty well located for my work and too I am in hopes that you can be here with me for a while. The boom is causing lots of people to look for houses at Jax and most of the cottages down here have been rented for the winter. Jax is getting into the real boom and I believe that it will have a good substantial growth from it. It is not a tourist city like Miami and Palm Beach, but its growth will be of a more stable kind. Lots of eastern capital is coming now and real buildings are going up. I hope we will cash in well on our acreage.

I expect a letter from you tonight, Dear, as we have not had mail today.

Always,
Your
Walter.