Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-09-24
Three Letters
and a Note
Copyright, by ]. B. Lippincott c.
By AIbertine Crandall

TAKEN FROM A PACKAGE OF LET
TIERS FOUND IN THE ESCRITOIRE
OF MISS EDITH RALSTON.
San Francisco, Jan. "a, 1901.-My
Dearest One: Just one week ago to-
night l was bidding you good-by in
New York; now 5000 miles divide us.
When l look forward to the long,
weary months Of waiting before | can
go for you they seem endless. VIII
they ever creep by? To keep up my
courage l am continually repeating,
January, February. March, April;
January, February, March, April.
And then-May and You. What
beautiful bride you'll be, Edith, and,
please God, happy one, il a mans
love and devotion count for aught.
can see you now as you'll look on our
wedding day, all gowned in white,
your hair like satin, your eyes ike
stars. 1 am glad your hair is dark,
Edith, for no real reason except an
absurd fancy that the people who
have light hair are not always to be
trusted. Speaking of blondes reminds
me of Georges guest and her strange
story; also that my purpose in writing
this evening isn't merely to tell you
how much l love you-that would be
impossible-but to fulfill my promise
to write you just how, where, and
with whom l have passed my time
since left you.
eff my numerous notes reached their
destination, you know how deadly I'M
interesting the overland journey was,
and how correspondence enthusiastic
became when George boarded the
train at Sixteenth street. While cross
ing the bay we held regular Harvard
post-mortem, ending, as in we olden
times with an argument. Just like
you,' do l hear you say? What else
could be expected of two lawyers?
Our argument was over where l was
to live. AS usual, George won; for
though l preferred staying at a hotel,
he wouldn't listen to it, He said, as
the senior member of the new law
firm of Bell & Belmont, his wishes
were the first to be considered, and
lot more nonsense, until l, as the
junior member of the aforesaid illustri-
Gus firm, conceded the point, and the
court adjourned to meet later at 1902
Broadway-George's residence-where
I shall stay for the present. Already,
in the two days l have been here,
they've made me feel at home.
"The Bells are most interesting
family. George you have met; Mrs.
George is rosy-cheeked, matrOnly
looking lady with a kind heart and
charming manners; the two children
"a boy and a girl-are animated in
terrosation points. Madge Dargie-
the guests fair, petite. and rather
pretts-under gasiight. AS she and
her mother are clients Of Georges,
or, as she kindly puts it, of ours,
| the young woman's history may in
terast you. Educated in a convent,
when II years old Miss Dargie mar
| ried worthless rake of fellow in
| direct opposition to her mothers
wishes. For two years she led q
wretched existence. Six months ago
| decree of the court, she resumed her
maiden name. Soon afterwards the
| ex-husband renewed his lovemaking.
To prevent a re-marriage, Mrs. Dargie
! took her daughter away from Santa
| Barbara, where all the interested par
ties reside, to some springs in the
northern part of the state. There they
remained in comparative quiet-bar-
| ring the fact that young man who
was staying at the springs developed
a most persistent fondness for Miss
| Dargie's society-until Mrs Dargie
was called home on business. Not
wishing, under the circumstances, to
cave her daughter at the springs, Mrs
| Dargie brought her to San Francisco,
where, after placing her in Georges
| care, she left for Santa arbara, prom
Using to return in one week That
was two weeks ago. George says,
| Playing chaperon isn't what it is
cracked UP to be- can see he is
tired of the responsibility and will be
glad when the mother returns
But enough of this old wo1nan's
| gossip. Goodnight sweetheart, sweet
dreams. Now and forever, your
ROY"
San Francisco, Feb. ~, 1901.-My
Dearest: How l longed for you Sat
urday-not that my longing is inter
mittent, but that day l took long
walk out to the Preside Heights,
where great many houses are being
built, and selected our home That
is, it shall be ours if you like it as we'll
as l do after seeing the plans. One
great advantage is that, as the house
is not yet completed, you can make
your own selections for the interior
finishing.
by the way, I've been proxying for
George lately in the capacity of watch.
dog and general utility man, much to
his secret amusement. George is an
A. No. l fellow, but he has one fault:
he can't say No. Instead, he invari.
| ably promises to do whatever people
ask of him and, when it suits him, as
invariably turns the job over to some.
one else. When l first arrived he
began by enlisting my sympathies in
Miss Dargie's behalf, gradually getting
into the habit of asking me to do this
and that errand for her until-presto!
before l realized 1t I became the one
she asked favors of, not George. Con.
found him!
"Truly it has been long five weeks
doing my duty without you, and l con.
fess l am not sorry that Mrs. Dargie
| arrives this afternoon
you ask if the young man from
the springs is as much in evidence as
aver. More so; at least the stream OF
theater tickets, candy, and flowers has
| flowed steadily on ever since his ar
rival in San Francisco. Mrs. George
says he is too nice a boy and too
much in love to be played with and
| then thrown aside. that's what she