Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-03
.StarEgh I
BY the Eetsd AutAor
rpAH MoLoNE GIBSON
Old Love Letters.

after reading my mothers letter.
to INV father and his TO her, De-
cause deep in my heart J kne"
that With all the Wild emotional
ism that was in my loye for Theo'
dore stratton, and in all his pro-
testations to me, there was moth
ing that in any way like the love
iy spiritual something which per-
meated my fathers Aad mother
letters.
Again and again I read them
over. They probably would have
been called old-fashioned today.
But there was real love in ever.
line.
In one of them my mother said:
L love your letters, Ralph, dear
[ read them over and over. l kis-
,hem and talk to them, and theL
hide them near my heart. But lei
ters, sweetheart, can never tahe
your place, although l love then,
although l could not live withou.
them just now.
They open up avenue OF antlcl-
patton, thoughts and dreams. Day
after day | repeat he prayer O.
my heart, How long, how long be-
lore l shall be with him?'
DO you know that every ma.
n the distance looks like you.
And my heart almost breaks ss 1t
comes nearer, for my expectation
mas ended in disappointment.
But God is good to US, dea.
5ne, and 1t will be only a little
lime when we will be together
and will be your wife
And in answer to this my fathel
wrote:
Beth, darling, you cannol
imagine the peculiar emotion tina.
your letter gave me. | supposed
that l was unique in thinking thai
avery woman in the distance look
I'd like you.
Il rather hesitated in telling
you this, thinking that you mighl
lot understand. But sometimes,
lear, will hear voice in the next
Dom, and so sure am | that it Is
yours, l will rush in, often 20 rind
| perfect stranger whose voice
leyer, by any possibility, could
lold the sweet intonation that is
ours.
You walk with me. talk with
ne, you are ever within the sight
II my eyes, the sound of my ears,
md yet | keep you secretly within
ny heart. l never speak of you
o anyone.
You are mine, only mine.
My head sank down upon my
rms outstretched upon the desk
efore me. Tears wet my cheeks |
nd dropped unheeding on the
Iritten page lying open in front |
t me.
| wondered why l was crying
urely one would not grieve for
hose who had known such bliss
s this.
And then l knew.
The love that had been given to |
lie was something entirely differ
Mt. Theodore Stratton had said: |.
You are mine, only mine" to ne.
ut he wanted to possess me only \
he might possess a rare vase
nong number of other rare OBJ |
'cts of art. To my father In all II
le world-in all heaven-there
as only one woman, and that one
as my mother.
1t was a long while before I Il
cked up the little diary and
anced at the faded brown ink
hich my mother had left upon Is
5 pages.
Monday: Some way, child-of
inc, l seem to realize that you
i'll never know me. Perhaps it is
scause l have been too happy
erhaps it is because l know that
lis crowning touch of mother
BOD, added to the Joy l have in
eing Ralph's wife would make
9 happier than the angels, and
feel it not to be.
Tuesday; Today 1 bought a
lie pair OF kid shoes. So tiny
soft, so seemingly useless, and
|, my baby that is to be, l see the
tile helpless feet in them. Godt!
ant your feet will never grow
red of the long road. God grantIi
at you always be led into cooll
this, toward Elysium fields
here love abides.
Wednesday: l passed on the
rect this morning a young cir
y