November 11, 1925

En Route to Fort Myers.
Armistice Night

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday I found that I had things in pretty fair shape to make the trip to Caxambas so I packed last night and left early this AM. Had breakfast at 6:30 left the beach at 7 AM and should have left Jax at 9, but did not get away until 10:45. The train has lost more time since then so we are now running about 4 hrs late. I should have arrived at Fort Myers at 7:30 P.M. and it will now take until about midnight. The stage leaves Fort Myers about 8 tomorrow morning and then should get to Caxambas about noon. I do not expect to be there very long, only a few days, and if you write me to the Beach I will be mighty glad to get them when I get back. This writing is awful but it is about the best I can do on a moving train. The writing looks as though I might be drunk, but such is not the case.

November 11, 1925

November 11, 1925

All one can hear is real estate. Everyone talks it and the only way to keep from talking it is to keep from visiting with anyone. The mens’ smoking room has a bunch now, and while no particular section is being discussed, the state as a whole is talked about. Some of this part is very pretty and I am looking forward to seeing Fort Myers tomorrow A.M. It is said to be very picturesque etc. It is hardly fair to judge by what one sees from a train.

I’ll write you from Caxambas tomorrow night, Dear, and I hope that it will reach you in less time than was required for my letter from West Palm Beach.

I love you, lots and lots and lots. With a sweet goodnight.

Your own
Walter

November 13, 1925

Friday the Thirteenth
8:25 P.M.

My dearest Sweetheart:

In spite of the fact that I had resolved to wait about a week to write you in order to see whether you would even miss my letters, here I go, as usual, answering your letter on the same day that I received it.

First of all, I want to tell you that you needn’t be at all surprised at any particular cuts this pen takes as I am unaccustomed to wielding one of its kind, especially when my only source of fuel is a great big ink bottle with a little tiny bit of sediment comfortably settled in one of its corners. My fountain pen is out of commission (overworked, poor thing!) so this letter promises to be a master-piece.

November 13, 1925

November 13, 1925

Yesterday and today have been two of the most beautiful days I have ever experienced I think. The sky has been just as clear as could be, and not a particle of cloud could be seen. It has been so nice and warm, everything is so pretty and green, and it has been just like springtime. I spent the day with Thelma today and we have been spending the afternoon pleasantly in making a few calls.

Mama and I went to a reception last night and enjoyed it so much. I was asked to pour tea for the occasion. My! how I did envy the young lady who had the privilege of pouring coffee. There were about a hundred and twenty five guests present.

No, Sweetheart, I mustn’t tell you how relieved I was to get your letter today nor how long I had been looking for it. Neither would it be very wise to tell you how many times of late that I have had to swallow a big lump in my throat consisting of anxiety, pride, independence, ‘n’everything, when I realized that it would take only about three minutes at the close of even the very busiest

One page missing – I tore it up. I didn’t want you to think I had gone back on my promise to be good, nor did I want you to think I was foolish or sensitive. Anyhow, I love you and love you and love you and don’t expect anything to ever come between us.

Yes, Sweetheart, from the description you have given me of the acreage west of Jacksonville, I think it would be mighty nice to live in a nice little home out there. I have no objections to living in the suburbs because we can drive in any time we get ready. We could enjoy there the advantages of both the city and the country. Yes, the profit on the sale of the Fulford lot would go a long way toward building a home, and, Dear, by the time we are married I will have a thousand dollars left from my savings, made while I was a “business woman” which I had intended for us to use for furnishing our home. It is drawing eight per cent interest at present, but we can get it any time we are ready to buy the furniture.

I am enclosing an account of the marriage of Zelma Barnette and Pat Campbell. As you have met them both I thought you might be interested.

I love you, Sweetheart, and I get so enthusiastic and happy when we are planning our wedding, home etc.

Always, your
Ina.

November 14, 1925

Saturday Nite
Nov. 14, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Of course I may not mail this letter – at least I will not until I hear from you – but I don’t feel right going to sleep without saying a few words to you. That always seems necessary to make it a well rounded day.

November 14, 1925

November 14, 1925

I have been spending the evening by reading in the “National Geographic” of an Arctic expedition while a stiff norther is blowing outside. I imagine it will be really cold by morning. We will feel it too after the fine springlike days we have been enjoying.

This afternoon Thelma Lee called us up to tell us that Mr. and Mrs. Parman had returned. They have had quite a stay.

I am so accustomed to writing you every day that when I wrote Claudelle day before yesterday I addressed it to Box 61 instead of her box number which is 55. Mama called my attention to my error when I started down town, but I forgot to correct it. It seems unnatural not to send the mail to 61 every day.

I love you, Sweetheart, a mighty heap.

Always, your own
Ina.

Now, I think I can go to sleep. Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Sunday Nite
Nov. 15, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Here goes the second installment. Perhaps I will get a letter tomorrow so that I can mail this one.

This morning Mrs. Bunting, a friend of ours who has several school teachers boarding at her house, ‘phoned and invited me to take dinner with her. She has been insisting for quite a while on my calling on a young lady who boards there but on whom I had not called so I accepted her invitation to dinner. Mr. Priddy, the commercial teacher in high school here, and whom I went with some last session, boards there too. He introduced me to Mr. Butler, a friend and his former Baylor University roommate, who was visiting him, so this afternoon Mr. Priddy, Miss Wilhaus, Mr. Butler and I went to Eagle Pass crossing kodaking. You remember that is the spot on the Nueces river where you and I went that Sunday afternoon when you missed the train. It was beautiful this afternoon. There was more water than usual and the clear sky and warm sunshine made it ideal for an outing. I thought of you and wished for you when those familiar scenes all reminded me of the pleasant afternoon of “getting acquainted” you and I spent there. Then I thought of the Sunday afternoon, almost a year later, after you and I were happily engaged, when we spent several hours at the same place. And, Sweetheart, Mr. Butler, in a number of ways, reminds me of you. He doesn’t dance, and his ideas on things of that kind are very similar to your own. If any of the two dozen pictures we took are good, I will send you some. We returned about six o’clock and I had a date with Mr. Butler to go to church this evening.

When I go down town tomorrow after your letter, I am going to have my fountain pen repaired so that I can write you a neater letter.

I love you, Sweetheart, and think of you often.

Always, your
Ina.

November 16, 1925

Stationery from the Kenmore Hotel, Fort Myers, FL

Nov. 16, 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

It is a shame that I have not written to you while I was on this trip, Dear, and I guess you are thinking daggers at me. I left the Beach on short notice, and had intended to wait until after the fair but found that I had things in pretty good shape and figured that I had time to make it. I worked every minute that I could while on Marco Island and I am well pleased at results. Not that I learned so much about the problem, but I made some helpful contacts which mean so much in the work. It is the most beautiful spot I have seen and were it not for the sand flies, it would be ideal.

November 16, 1925

November 16, 1925

They are very enthusiastic about the work on this problem and it certainly looks promising from a standpoint of work and living. At the present time Caxambas is a great deal like Regan Wells, no conveniences, but Marco is better and looks inviting. It is yet small, too, but capitalists have bought a large portion of this section and it will develop wonderfully. At the present time the railroad is under construction. The island has deep water. The people whom I came in contact with are very fine and I believe you would like them. They plan a special appropriation for the work and will go after the amount I request. Mr. Williams says he thought it well to try for fifty thousand with the idea that we stand a good chance for $25,000. This of course would be for work at other places too. It would mean to have some one else on the problem with me, possibly about three stations. One in South Carolina, one at Marco Island & possibly one at Jax. Definite plans will depend on the amount appropriated, but I am confident that there will be enough to work Marco Island in nice shape. It is a real problem too and results will show. That looks good to me.

I am to meet a representative of W.G. Collier here tonight to discuss the situation & needs. He is a multi-millionaire who has invested extensively in this section. He has not attempted any developments yet, but plans a gigantic resort of an exclusive nature. He is buying all the property he can before the development begins. This is the real time to get started on my work and I am greatly encouraged at the outlook.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I’ll be glad when I can talk everything with you instead of writing it.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter

P.S. I am leaving for Jax tomorrow.

November 18, 1925

Stationery from The Everett Hotel

Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 18 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

I arrived here about two hours ago or less and our train was about four hours late. All trains run late down here except the beach train which went out on time this morning and left me to wait until this PM. But I had a few things to do, including the writing of this letter which is by far the most important. Had to go to the bank about the first thing. I didn’t buy anything down the state either, except meals and lodging.

November 18, 1925

November 18, 1925

I am certainly well pleased at the outlook of securing an appropriation for the work down there and I am going to keep behind it until we get something. It is an important problem and I expect to be able to present an effective report on it. Have given Mr. B. the details in a letter and also my “modus operandi” for getting the funds. My mission in attending the state fair here is to help out on another project which affects poultry, but I am more interested in the sand fly situation at Marco Island. It will be my problem while the poultry problem will be one for Mr. Parman and the folks at Dallas. I’ll have to help some too, but I won’t have a personal interest that I’ll have for my own problem. I don’t like these partnership problems for the Dept. and there is only one partnership that I am interested in. Yours and mine. I am mighty anxious for that one too, Dear, though you do have your little doubt sometimes. When you know me as a hubby you will understand how it occurred to you in that way. I am going to try to prevent you from having any reason to ever regret it, and I am going to try to give you the comforts of life and as many pleasures as possible. If I am not good, you tell me.

While the fair is in session and much interest will be shown in poultry here I am offering one of the 10 acre tracts for $2000. At this figure I would consider selling both of them, as it would net us a nice profit. I am not so anxious to sell both until you have seen one of them. We may want to build on it. I’d like to turn one of them for enough to pay for both. Then we would not have much invested.

If the sand fly money is obtained OK, it would be a good idea to have you go to Marco with me for a little trip after Xmas. During that time the govt will probably offer its land for sale down there and we may want our home there. I don’t like the idea of taking you where those things will bite you, but if everyone else depends on me to help them, maybe you would do the same thing.

With all my love, Dear, and looking forward to a bunch of letters from you when I get to the Beach this PM, I am,

Yours only & always,
Walter.

November 19, 1925

Jax Beach, Thurs Nov-19.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Before starting on my report and with lots of work ahead of me, I am passing up the first day of the Fair and the first thing I am doing is to write to my little girl. It was mighty nice of you to write so often when I was away and I feel that I have been mean in not writing to you. Your last letter with the 2nd page missing shows that you are hurt, and I am very sorry. To write from Marco Island is about the same as writing from Regan Wells. The mail service is very poor even where the towns are better. I was up at 6 o’clock in the morning and I worked hard all day, scouting through brush, cactus, over hills, among shells etc. When night came I was as tired as the next one, and with everyone going to bed at about 8 o’clock and with no place to write, I passed it up with hopes of getting through with my work as soon as possible.

November 19, 1925

November 19, 1925

It may seem strange to you that I am so busy at times that I do not write, but you will have more patience with me when you are more familiar with what I am doing. I work hardest when I am alone on a problem and am apt to take it easy when I am working with some one else. I try to make a creditable showing when there is a chance and to this end I am apt to neglect personal duties. When you are with me, Dear, I am sure that this will be different. When I am real busy I seem to pass the time quicker and I do not long for you as much as when I have lots of time. But I wish for you real often and always wonder how you would like to be with me at just that time. There is no doubt, Dear, about my love for you. I love you with every tender affection and I would not hurt your feelings for anything in the world if I knew it. I hope you will be patient with me just now as I have several irons in the fire and it is up to me to do something with them.

Mr. Bishopp has just asked me for a list of my articles with exact references, and I know that he wants this for use in a recommendation for a salary increase. It will come in mighty handy too. At this time I believe it will go through as there is a sufficient amount to permit it. We can use the money OK.

You certainly surprised me Dear when you said you had 1000 at interest. I had no idea that you had saved any, as it would seem to be a difficult thing to do. It is difficult for me to save unless I have a place for it as soon as it comes and it sounds mighty good to know that you can save. You will have to be our Secy.-Treas. It almost took me off my feet when you said you had this for furniture. If you use it that way, Dear, we will arrange to put an equal amount at interest for you. We will not split hairs over anything, for my salary is yours as much as mine and I want you to always feel that what is yours is yours and what is mine is yours. You are going to be a wonderful little wife and I am proud of you. I know that we are going to get along OK.

I am enclosing a Fulford report which sounds good to me. They have never discounted any of their notes through banks and have made the improvements too. It is a real development and I would not be surprised if our little lot down there brings enough to build a home. I’d like to take up the balance with the 15% discount but cannot at the present time. Most of the people who have purchased there will probably do this as very few were sold to salaried people like myself. Most salaried people down there bought options for $100 or thereabouts and made or lost in 30, 60, or 90 days. I try to be a little more conservative, though I probably missed some real big money. I might have lost out. Many are losing in property in Florida, due to the fact they did not use common sense in buying. A person should see what they are buying and if they can visualize it ahead of the other fellow, they make the money.

I have not yet made up the list for you Dear but I’ll begin on it today. It would seem to be about time to set the date too. Would like to know what you have in mind. Perhaps Wednesday before Christmas would be a good time. We could then visit my folks and come to Jax. We would return to Dallas about March 1st.

Mrs. Mac has not sold her cottage yet and if she does not sell it we will be comfortable here for the time. She does not seem anxious to sell, though he wants her to sell.

Will close for this time, Sweetheart, as I must get busy. I love you with all my heart.

Yours only & always,
Walter.

November 20, 1925

Jax Beach. Friday Nite Nov 20th

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not get a letter last night nor today but I had such a nice lot of them (4) when I returned. I guess I don’t deserve one for quite a while now, but I hope that you will not make it too severe on me.

November 20, 1925

November 20, 1925

I am running an ad on one of the 10 acre tracts and my first nibble was the M E preacher. Will take him out to see it Monday A.M. if I do not sell it before that time. Am enclosing the clipping. May not get the price I am asking but we want all we can get and it is worth just what we can get for it. Will have to stay at home again tomorrow if I get my work in shape, but may start to the fair tomorrow afternoon. If I have a live prospect on the tract I’ll take him out. During the fair would seem to be a good time to sell such property.

I have no news for you, Dear, but want you to know that I love you just the same.

With a sweet goodnight,

Always your
Walter.

November 21, 1925

The Beach, Sat Night Nov 21

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not hear today, and no doubt you intend to make me wait a while for a letter. I deserve it, and will have to take my medicine.

November 21, 1925

November 21, 1925

Did not go any place today and spent most of the time on a report on the Caxambas trip. It will go into hands that I am very particular about and I want it to be in tip top shape.

I love you, Sweetheart, and I hope that you will write to me soon.

Always your
Walter.

P.S. I am enclosing the list. If I think of any names to be added I’ll write them, but I believe I have included all.

November 22, 1925

Jacksonville Beach Fla
Sunday Night

My Dear Sweetheart,

Received a letter today and I feel pretty happy over it. Had begun to worry for fear that I had “gotten in Dutch.” I note with interest what you had to say about prospects on your Daddy’s place at Uvalde. I can appreciate how you prepared the rooms for inspection.

November 22, 1925

November 22, 1925

Yesterday I wrote an ad for Mrs. Mac and this PM her cottage was sold for $4000. I guess I can live here until Xmas but I am not sure about it after that time. It is difficult to obtain desirable living quarters even at the beach. We may have to spend Jan & Feb in Dallas. I wonder what you think about it? Would you feel disappointed?

I asked Alvis to stand up with us. He is the best man friend I have. If anything prevents. I’ll ask Mr. Pool. Will let you know as soon as I hear. I may have to ask Mervin. I think he would enjoy every minute of it.

With all my love, Dear, I am,

Your
Walter

November 26, 1925

Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Tonight I received the best letter yet. The date letter. The hour does not make any difference to me, but if it were at such a time so that we could take a train soon after, I think it would be OK. I doubt if we would want to take an auto to San Antonio on account of checking baggage. This is left with you, Dear. I don’t mean to say the date. It was just a suggestion. I am mighty happy Sweetheart, and I know that both of us are going to be. I just know that we are going to get along fine.

November 26, 1925

November 26, 1925

Always your
Walter.