Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-07-22
Three Letters
and a Note
By Albertine CrandaII
,CopyriEht. by J. B. IIppIncott CO..

Copyright. by J. B. Lppincott Co.
TAKEN FROM A PACKAGE OF LET
IEHS FOUND IN THE ESCRITOIRE
OF MISS EDITH RALSTON
San Francisco. Jan ~, 1901.-My
Dearest One: Just one week ago to-
night was bidding you good-by in
New York; now 5000 miles divide us.
When look forward to the long,
weary months Of waiting before 1 can
go for you they seem endless. VIII
they ever creep by? To keep up my
courage 1 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, a happy one, II a mans
love and devotion count for auxht
can see you now as you'll look on our
wedding day, all gowned in white,
your hair like satin, your eyes like
stars. 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 1 love you-that would be
| impossible-but to fulfill my promise
TO write you Just how, where, and
with whom have passed my time
since left you.
If my numerous notes reached their
destination, you know how deadly I'M
interesting the overland journey was,
and how correspondingly- enthusiastic
became when George boarded the
train at Sixteenth street. While cross
ing the bay we held q regular Harvard
post-mortem, ending, as In 'ye 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 1 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
Shall stay for the present. Already,
In the two days I have been here.
they've made me feel at home.
The Bells are a 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
terrogation points. Madge Dargie-
the guests fair. petite, and rather
pretty-under gaslight AS she and
her mother are clients of Georges.
or, as she kindly puts it, of ours
the young women's history may in
terest you. Educated in a convent.
when II years old Miss Dargie mar.
ried worthless rake of a fellow in
direct opposition to her mothers
wishes. For two years she led a
wretched existence. Six months ago
she obtained a divorce, when. by n
decree of the court, she resumed her
maiden name. Soon afterwards the
ex-husband renewed his lovemaking.
To prevent 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 thev
remained In comparative Quiet-bar-
ring the fact that a young man who
was staying at the springs developed
a most persistent fondness for Miss
Dargte's society-until Mrs. Dargie
was called home on business. Not
wishing, under the circumstances. to
leave her daughter at the springs, Mrs.
Dargie brought her to San Francisco.
where, after placing her in Georges
care, she left for Santa Barbara. prom.
ising to return in one week. That
was two weeks ago George saws.
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 woman's
gossip. Goodnight. sweetheart, sweet
dreams. Now and forever, your
ROY"
San Francisco, Feb. 81, 19O1.-My
Dearest: How 1 longed for you Sat
urday-not that my longing is inter.
mittent, but that day l took a long