The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-16
Those LOVE LETTERS.

NOTHING IN THEM TO BRING A BLUSH |
OF SHAME TO THE CHEEKS OF
MISS TURNER OR HER
FRIENDS.
After 30 much has been said and |
printed about tho love letters in the
Gilligan trial, they were read in court
without creating much sensation. The
letters as O whole are beautifully COM
posed. They tell Of tender love, and,
mingled with expressions Of admiration,
are religious sentiments which refer 20
the story Of Divine love. Miss Turner
once loved Gilllganin a schoolgirl way |
and sought to elevate him. The letters
are indicative of a tender young giTls
passion. Some were written from Hol. |
Inns and some from Miss Turner home, |
and through all runs the same innocent, |
harmless tone. They are simply the
productions Of fascinated, sentimental
school girl to whom q certain amount
Of misery and foTebodinR is luxury.
The inference is obvious that Gill
gan had worked upon her feelings by
threatening to leave home, 20 commit
suicide and by pioturing his life as
hard one. The burden Of the letters
is protest Of devotion 20 him, supplica-
tion TO him 10 continue TO live and be |
true to his love, and assurances Of the |
deepest concern In his material and |
spiritual welfare. There are sugges'
tions that Gilligan would have taken
advantage Of her, but despite her in
fatuation her will power protected her
II 'all the world loves lover, then
1t Is probably equally true that those !
who abuse q woman's s love are detested.
There are thirty letters in all, many un-
signed. Here are extracts from some
Of them:
MISS TURNER LETTERS.
In one Of the first lotters. when she
hears that he =" is going to the dogs.
and has probably been tabooed by her
parents. who raised him, Miss Isabelle
writes:
"I love you, Nick, and l beseech you
and beg you by the love you bear me, II
you have done these things, turn from
them for my sake. II not for yonr owuS
do 1t for my sake and for tie sake OF
Him who died for you viii you prom
ise me this, dear Nick. and keep your
promiseG -Y0u are khe one who has
changed aud not they. They think lots
Of you and you ought to try to please
them. "
APPEAL TO HIS MANHOOD.
"You do not know how much love
you, and you seem 90 think that ! can
forget you and not grieve when you are
gone. But. dear Nick, If you were to
follow In the footsteps Of your brother
and take your own life It would almost
kill me. | would never get over it. and
believe Ii would run me crazy
Please, dear Nick, never say any such
thing to me again, and remember that
you promised me once never TO commit
suicide and told me you were going to
keep that promise always. Won't you
take back all you said tonight and for
give me for distressing you so2 You
asked me to forgive you for all that hap
pened tonight, and you know that /
have forgiven you already. l was not
angry with you, but was hurt by your
manner toward me.
LIKE DRIVING A DAGGER.
"When / moved my seat and put my
head on your shoulder and you did not
put your arms around me it was like
driving dagger through my heart,
It hurt me so, and I could not help
crying, and then you said you could
never be happy, with me again, and
told me not 60 look for you when l
came back and that only drove the dag
ger deeper into my heart-and then do
you think could help cryingl"
In this same letter sppears this para
graph "Ilove you, dear Nick. and have
proved my love for you By giving you
all the privileges possibly can allow,
and yet when do not do what you
want me TO you think l don't love you
and mistrust you. Dear Nick. please
never think that again. do trust you
and you know II.
A PLAINTIvE APPEAL.
Here is plaintive appeal TO her
lover from the fail. r.haired girl "Are
you trying to break my heart? / am
not angry and have not been, andI
love you so dearly, and you think |
don't care anything for you because
must put limit to some things Don't
get angry with me because must DO
that. l am always happiest when am
In your arms. For heaven's 8 sake don s
Kill me by wishing you we're dead and
hoping that time will soon come. Isnot
my love something 10 live forG Please
don't write me any more such cruel
notes.
In one addressed ITO Ny Dearest
Nick" she says cannot tell you how
IL grleves me not TO be able 30 grant
you your request. bat 1t is juss impos-
slble. Mammals and my doors potn
stay open all night and they would
hear me IL used the window. and l
cannot sleep with the window up. 1t
would make me sick. and l can't AFFORD
90 get sick now. ] am sorry you take it
ss you do. / do want you. but don't
vans TO be that near you and be de-
MED being closer TO you. Those three