Bertie County NcArchives History - Letters .....Urquhart, Richard - Kate Fenner Oct-Dec1914 1914 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mollie Urquhart murquhar@bellsouth.net January 9, 2010, 4:30 pm Letters between Richard Alexander Urquhart (1889-1947) and Kate Nelson Fenner (1890-1956) [early October, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I’m sleepy again tonight as I staid up nearly all night last night making out Insurance reports and couldn’t get my after dinner nap cause I had to be right there the minute your letter came. It is certainly good of you to write to me when you have so much Church to go to and so many other things to do but you know how happy your letters make me, don’t you? All of the boys are going down to the Club House Monday morning but I’m going to wait until the afternoon to get a letter from you so be sure to write to me Sunday by all means. I may have to go to Windsor Monday but if I do I m coming back by home instead of going from Windsor to the Club House as Tom Griffin intends doing. I will write you Sunday exactly when I’ll go and when I’ll be out. I can imagine nothing that would be sweeter to me than a letter from you while I was down in the swamps but I guess it will be impossible as nobody will be coming in after Monday night. I think now I will come out Thursday night. Don’t worry about my “getting shot” either literally or figuratively speaking. I’ll dodge the bullets and won’t take a drink even if a snake bites me. I haven’t yet reached the much-to-be-desired stage where at times I don’t want to drink but I’m sure of one thing that as long as I have you to love and your love I can surely do without it. If you would come to Woodville “to look out for your interests” I would be in for the threatened visit from Washington. In fact I don’t dread it so much anyway now for I’m surer of myself now than I was before and even if she should attempt to pull off any stunts I can stand them. I never have told the people here that I am out and don’t know whether they know it or not as it is a subject we don’t discuss much. Ed Cobb came by Wednesday for a day. He cussed me out for causing the war by reforming and warned Tommie against quitting Lila lest Uncle Sam should get in it. Mamie went to Norfolk yesterday and has just gotten back. From the amount of packages she brought you would never think the war was on. Charles Jr. greeted her with “What you bring me?” and has been almost half as happy with his presents as I was the night you told me yes. She brought everybody something. Burges and I drew candy and fruit and have about cleaned it up too. I thought you had your preacher trained better than to cuss out dancing in Halifax. If I could dance I would be crazy about it and I certainly think it is harmless unless one chooses to make it otherwise. I’m not a bit crazy about seeing you dance with somebody else but I’m the same way about seeing you talk to somebody else cause I want you to be with me all the time. I never have given you a chance to talk to anybody else when I was there, not even since the first day you were ever in Woodville, have I? I often think about your first visit to Woodville and realize that the Good Lord has always been with me. Let me know your plans for Norfolk for I want to go with you. I have got to be there on the 24th of October or some time before then. Any time you decide on I’ll go if possible. Has Mrs. Powell ever written to you? Write me a long letter – I will write to you Sunday. Know that I love you all the time. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [October 3, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I hope you are writing to me this very minute for it seems like a year since I have had a letter from you. And this rainy and dark Sunday without you has been a year long itself. Unless it rains too hard we are all going down to the Club House tomorrow. I am not going until after the train comes cause I have got to have a letter from you tomorrow or wait till Tuesday afternoon to go – Kate please write to me Tuesday night for Burges is coming out home Wednesday night and whoever comes for him can bring me my letter. A letter from you while I was there would make everything even look different and you couldn’t do anything to make me happier. I am going to count on it and know you are so good you will write to me. I guess you have wound up your Church going week with about four trips to Church today. Buffet came over yesterday to bury an old lady and couldn’t get back home so we had the benefit of a peace service and peace sermon. I have enjoyed hearing his war dope on the outside more than the sermon or prayers. To tell the truth I don’t want to see peace until Germany is entirely crushed. Of course I’d like to see that tomorrow but am afraid it will take two or three years. I see in the papers that Lloyds is insuring peace for Sept. 15, 1915 for a premium one fifth as much as the policy. They have methods of information that we can’t get and if they are willing to bet 5 to 1 on peace they must see some bright prospect. Buffet goes home on the morning train from Kelford so I’ll get him to mail my letter. Charles went to Norfolk this afternoon and Burges took him to Kelford. He was to get a paper with the war news and Foot Ball scores but hasn’t gotten back yet. The Tar Heel seems very hopeful of Carolina. In case we go and come back the same day, what time will we leave Halifax and when will we get back? I think I’ll have to come over the night before so I can talk to you some, for Thanksgiving Day is always so crowded with everything. If you and Little Sister and Mog really decide you don’t want to go I don’t guess I’ll go either unless Carolina has put up a mighty fine showing but I’m coming to see you whether I go to Richmond or not. And I’ve got to see you before then too. As soon as you decide about going to Norfolk then I’ll know how to make my plans. If Evie and Em stop by Halifax when they come home can’t you and Little Sister come back with them just for a few days? I’d give anything – I’ve got a million things to talk to you about and want to see you a real long time for when I go to Halifax I see you such a short time and I’m so happy that I can’t think of half I wanted to talk about. Please come for a day or two. You can’t imagine how I hate to have to be separated from you. I have my pictures and letters to make me happy but sometimes I feel like I have just got to go and bring you home. I never have a single thought now that isn’t about you and how happy I’ll be when you are here with me. I hope to God I can make you half as happy as I will be with you and if loving you will do it you shall certainly have your share of happiness, for I love you better than any man ever loved a woman. And it ain’t any guess work or taking a chance kind of love either for I have loved you long enough to know that I will love you all the time. It seems to me now that I was in love with you when I left you the first night you were ever at Mizell’s. I certainly was before your visit was over. And you didn’t know, you must have known it subconsciously. I shall always know that Mamma’s prayers for me and the Lord’s goodness gave you to me. And I am going to love you so much you won’t ever be sorry you are mine. I must stop now. Write me a long letter and tell me everything you are doing. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex I forgot to tell you I would stay reformed while I am at the Club House but I will and if I get your letter down there I’ll be so happy I’ll reform everybody else. Alex [October 9, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, Your good letter just came a few minutes ago and I am not going to wait till tonight to answer it for I know there will be a dance or a game on hand and I will have to sit up all night to write to you. I never saw such a live dead town in my life and I have just decided I can’t keep up with my crowd. Little Sister is perpetual motion and thinks I ought to go all the time but I’m not. They had a big dance last night but I was tired and wasn’t sure we wouldn’t start on our journey this morning so Miss Jennie and I stayed at home. I feel lots better this morning too. Fletcher carried us up to see “Bringing up Father” at the Weldon Opera House Wednesday night and it was real good. Little Sister said all the boys said last night that I was taking the black veil early and I told her I didn’t have the slightest idea of ever wearing that thing if I’m married a thousand years. I never could see why people had to pretend they were dead when they had religion or were married. You certainly are good to let me go with the boys as Chapel Hill but I’m afraid I’m not half as good as you are along that line for I wouldn’t ‘preciate it at all for you to be flying around all the time with a whole crowd of girls. But there’s safety in numbers so as long as there’s a crowd I reckon even I couldn’t object. And I’ll keep my part of the contract and think about you all the time and write ‘most as much. I don’t know how the mails run but I [will] write real often and put them in the first mail. I’ll get yours the day it’s mailed if it gets off on the route mail. If I finish this in time I’m going to mail it on eighty-nine and maybe you’ll get it tonight if you are in town. I would have been real blue when I read your letter just now if I hadn’t known that you could have come up here last night. I wrote so you could have come if it had been convenient and to tell the truth I kinder expected you. Miss Jennie had a letter from Mr. Travis this morning saying he would come up on the late Norfolk train Saturday (the train you came on) so we won’t leave till Sunday or Monday morning. And in all probability he won’t get here then – he has so much business of all kinds to attend to. I wish you would come on up Saturday night but I know after all that hunting you won’t feel like going anywhere. If you were here Miss Jennie would carry you on to Chapel Hill if you wanted to go. You don’t know how proud I am of you for staying on the wagon down there and I would ‘most be willing to trust you in Richmond Thanksgiving. I know you are bound to feel better – Don’t you? I too am disappointed over not going to Norfolk and if I had had my letter back that I wrote you that I wasn’t going I believe I would have gone on and waited to go to Chapel Hill. I don’t know how long I will be up there but know I’ll have a hard time leaving. Mrs. Patten wants me for a month she writes and Sister wants me longer and I know I’m going to have a good time but I’m not going to stay so very long cause you said you didn’t want me to. Some kinder obedient in my old age. When I see you remind me to tell you something Duck told me the other day. She is so funny she nearly kills me sometimes. I’m not going to promise to learn any new dances up there (not even to teach them to you) for I’m not much on that crowd of kids up there. And then too, I don’t know what Mr. Patten thinks of the dances and I wouldn’t shock him for anything. I don’t even expect to see Billie. I owe him a letter and would write him and tell him I’m coming but he might think he had to go up to see me if I did. I am going to surprise everybody. Haven’t even written Edward Travis. I think I’ll phone Wallace from Raleigh to meet me if I decide to go in on that late train for I would be afraid to ride up by myself. He wouldn’t tell Sister for I want to surprise her. She thinks I’m going to Norfolk tomorrow (wish I were). I’m glad you are having so much luck on your hunt. We won’t have to starve as long as you can shoot, will we? Poor Lila, can’t she get Tommy to do like she wants him to? I think I’ll have to write Tommy to bring you up Saturday and go to see her Sunday (I mean for Tommy to go to see her). We are going up to Weldon this morning to see about my hat so I’ve got to stop now. Write to me here (if you don’t come) for I don’t want my letter to get to Chapel Hill before I do. Sister would know I was coming. With all my love I am Yours always Kate Friday morning. [October 12, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, If I were anybody else in the world I know you would be surprised to get a letter from me written here tonight but knowing how my plans usually turn out I’m not counting on your being very shocked at anything I do. I hadn’t been at all enthused over my trip all the time (I decided it was because I wanted to go to Norfolk instead) but I finally got my trunk packed Friday evening and just as I had finished I looked up and who should I see but Sister and the baby. Scarlet fever is at Chapel Hill so Wallace decided it was best for them to come home as he might come in contact with it in the store and carry it to them. Sister wouldn’t wire us for she wanted to surprise us like I wanted to do them. I think I would have been the surprised one up there if Mr. Travis had come for us Thurs. night and I had gone on and found her gone. I’m glad she came for I really didn’t want to go up there. She says I’m going home with her but I’m not if I can help it. I’m not going to Durham either for it’s too much trouble to get ready. I’ll just take all the money there is coming to me and go down to Norfolk later on and spend it and then I won’t have anything to buy [or] anything to sew on and I’ll be happy. The baby is the cutest thing you ever saw. Little Sister has taught him to say “Uncle Alex” and he knows there is some connection between us so just now he came in with my picture and when Mama asked him who it was he said “Uncle Sister.” He always calls me Sister. So my little picture got the trip to Norfolk that was intended for me. I’m glad you got it back. Glad because you wanted it and glad because I have always had a perfect horror of my pictures floating around the country. I was so disappointed that you couldn’t come up last night. I knew I hadn’t gotten a letter or telegram but just the same I kinder expected you so went up and dressed in my Sunday best and sat and waited and waited for your arrival. We had been for some grapes and I had torn my hair all to pieces so I had to dress a little on that account or the folks here would never stop teasing me over dressing for my suitor who never arrived. I am so sorry you went down there and got sick and I do hope you are feeling a whole heap better now and will soon be well again. Thought I told you not to go down there and get sick. I’m not sure that the quinine treatment isn’t what you need. For gracious’ sake don’t you go and get sick for I’ve done told you that I didn’t have Lila’s nerve. But I know the good Lord ain’t going to let anything bad happen to you after you stayed with the heathens all that time without taking a drink. And I know something else – that I’m the happiest person in the world tonight just over your not drinking and the promise that you never are going to drink anymore. Was my friend Mr. Bowers with you all and what did he think of your not drinking? If you will reform him he and I will be just the best friends at all. I was so glad to get your good letter this afternoon. I wanted one this morning and when I found it didn’t come I ate dinner and went up stairs and got your last letter and went to bed and read it and went to sleep to forget I hadn’t gotten one today and when I knew anything it was five o’clock and Little Sister was calling me to get my letter. I’d made up my mind I wasn’t even going to get out of the bed if it hadn’t have come. I’m sorry you didn’t get my letter that night but it was all right when you did get it. I sent it that morning more to try that route than anything else. Do you get your Washington Post’s all right now? Harry has just left here and he is still as big a talker as ever. He has been in Raleigh for the past week so when he came home he came by Selma to see Em – or Evie? He spent last night there and says Evie really is improving and looks better than he ever saw her. Says Buffet comes every Sunday and she is absolutely happy. Lala and Leonard are staying at the Jefferson on Leonard’s forty-four dollar salary he said. If they can dress and board at the Jefferson on that much then the Jefferson is the place for war struck folks. Harry said he saw lots of your old friends in Raleigh. He saw Buck Jones (isn’t he the candy man?) and Mr. Louis West and all them say Carolina is going to win. Don’t you put up your money, though. Did Miss Lou’s chairs get to their destination without getting very badly bruised? I wanted to wait and have them crated but everybody said to send them just as they were so I did. Did Margaret’s company from Petersburg ever come? Tell Margaret to hurry up and answer my letter so I can write her and send her the picture like I’m going to make her white crepe de chene. Tell her [she] is going to look like Sweet Sixteen in it and maybe she’ll be anxious to get my letter. I’m going to make me one like it and I know you will be crazy to see me wear it. You are so good I’ve just got to promise to have you an engaged picture made before the engagement is fulfilled if you really do want one but you’ve got to promise to hide it for your folks would think I was crazy (very conceited at least) to be having so many pictures made and sending them to you. Everybody has left me and gone up stairs and gone to sleep and while I could write all night I reckon I’d better stop. Please write me right away that you are well and that your heels aren’t skint any longer and that you are coming up here real soon. I believe generally speaking a hint to the wise is sufficient but I ain’t going to put any “finis” to my books cause I might want to add a post script and it would look a little out of place if I did. I hope you are writing to me tonight but if you are not feeling well I’ll excuse you if you don’t – just this one time. With all my love, I am, Yours always, Kate. Sunday night. [October 17, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, I’m too sleepy to write or do anything else this morning (I don’t know why) but I’m scratching you this note to tell you I’ve decided to go to Norfolk Tuesday morning. I would go Monday but I’ve got to get up to Weldon sometime today to see about my hat and I know I can’t get it till Monday. The folks up stairs didn’t have anything much to say this morning but Little Sister and I have been working ourselves nearly to death trying to appear smart and not sleepy to keep them from fussing. I certainly did enjoy seeing you last night and I think you were real mean to leave this morning. I know Harry hated to get up to get you off – or did he? Mr. Gary has been over here at the office this morning trying to tease Little Sister about keeping him up so late last night. Excuse this blot. The baby has just put a catalogue in my lap on the letter. I’ve got to get a note to Cousin Ida off on this train so I’ll have to stop for this time and write it. Your letter didn’t come this morning but I’d better get one before long. With all my love, I am, Yours always, Kate Saturday morning. [October 18, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I wanted to write last night but was feeling so bum that I knew I couldn’t and I had just mailed a letter yesterday morning. Talk about happy I was certainly happy when I found you were not going to Chapel Hill. I had been worrying more over that than I had about the war and now nothing can make me worry when I know I’m going to see you real soon. I wish I could tell you definitely when I was coming but can’t do it right now. Archer Johnson is due here Thursday or Friday and I’ve got to be here to see him and J. Davis Reed is coming this week or the first part of next week and has written me to meet him to go over the lines where my lines and his join. Besides that I have got to go to Norfolk sometime between now and the 21st. However if it is possible I am coming to see you Friday night unless you can arrange to take your trip to Norfolk some time next week. I wish you could do that for we would have so much more time to see each other and as both of us have got to go it would be a shame not to be there together. How about going down next Sunday or Monday? I hope you can. But if you don’t I’m coming to Halifax either Friday night or just as soon a possible. I can let you know definitely as soon as I can find out definitely about Archer and Reed. But I had much rather we could go to Norfolk together for we could be with each other so much more and I can come to Halifax some other time. And I want to be there so I can get my engaged picture the minute it’s ready. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for it. I’m so glad I was good. If I had used my head I would have gotten you to trade me a promise of the picture for my promise to be good but you knew I loved you so much I’d do what you wanted me to do whether you promised or not, didn’t you? It’s just as swell as you always are for you to give me the picture and I’ll be so jealous I won’t let a soul see it but me. Old Bowers was not with us this time as the Tarboro Club had their hunt when we did but old Stephenson thought it was an unpardonable sin when I wouldn’t get drunk with him to celebrate his killing a deer. They all swore that I had a jug hid out in a hollow log near the Club House and wouldn’t let them see me drink because I was a Life Insurance Agent, and wanted to sell myself some Life Insurance. They drank up the supply Thursday night and Friday morning they spent two hours searching the woods for my hollow log. I wish old Bowers was here tonight for I have got his old dog and have got to drive to Kelford tomorrow to ship him. I’m afraid I’d have a hard time reforming Bowers and all my other friends for I know there isn’t but one person on earth who could have ever made me think I even wanted to reform and I even laughed at your reforming me once, didn’t I? But I didn’t know then it was possible for anybody to love a woman like I love you. The widow came Saturday and went away today. Fred Dunstan was here the whole time and called three times a day. I think he means business. He’s a mighty nice fellow and has been exceptionally nice to me. I’d like to tip him off but maybe the Good Lord wants to punish him for some reason. Unless I’m mistaken he’ll be punished all right if he marries the widow. I’m glad Buffet is still faithful to his Evie and still have hopes they will hook up. Ideal couple I think, for neither one could get anybody else. It must be a mistake about Leonard’s boarding at the Jefferson unless he’s blacked up for a bell boy. I think I’ll draw on him for a small amount since he’s so prosperous. Lou’s chairs have gotten as far as Kelford but she hasn’t been able to get them transferred yet. I am going to see about them tomorrow. The Petersburg company hasn’t come yet. They wrote she’d better come on for the grapes would soon be gone and then she’d certainly starve to death. I tell em just wait till turkey time and then I’ll feed em for there doesn’t seem to be anything else to do with cotton quoted tonight at “6 ¾ and very weak.” I haven’t had any more chills and my cold is better but I’d feel pretty bad tonight if I . . . [remainder of letter missing …] [October, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, I have been cooking for the last two or three days and I am dead tired tonight and just can’t write but a note. I let Duck go off to Weldon to a circus yesterday and then to a show in Enfield today and cooked in her place instead of worrying over trying a new girl, and racing to have meals on time is about to get my tag. I hope Duck will be here in the morning, though. They are going to have a dance tonight and I don’t want to go so just as soon as I finish this I’m going to bed and play like I’m sick before Little Sister comes in. She thinks it’s perfectly awful when I don’t go to everything lately and most gets off your side every time I refuse to go anywhere. I wish I knew whether to tell you I could go to Norfolk with you Monday or not but I am just as liable to be on my way to Chapel Hill then as not. I have promised to go back with Sister and she is going the minute Wallace writes her he thinks all danger of their catching the fever is past. There have been no new cases since she has been here and she may go anytime. She is especially anxious to get back before cold weather for they have just put electric lights in the Co-op they live in and the plastering fell and she has got to see about putting it back and having the walls tinted. But if she doesn’t leave here Mon. for Chapel Hill I may go on to Norfolk for I want something to wear – and then too, I just naturally want to go anyway. I hope you can come on up here Friday night though, for we might have to leave real soon and I’m going to look for you unless you write me or wire you are not coming. I told Harry you said you might come up the latter part of this week and he said he was going to write you tonight and tell you he expected you to stay with him and was going to meet you at the depot. He may not write on account of the dance but he told me to tell you he expected you. He and Uncle Johnnie are keeping house by themselves this week while Aunt Clara is in Rocky Mount but I reckon if you stood the Club you can stand them. Is the widow really on the carpet? She said something about her having the biggest catch in Bertie while she was here but of course I disputed that and she didn’t have much more to say about him. I wish I could see her, I’d make her tell me all about it. Of course Harry was joking about Lal and Leonard boarding at the Jefferson on forty-four dollar a month. You’ll have to excuse this scrap paper for I can’t find another sheet in the house. I’ll try to get some before I write to you again. I’m going to scratch Brother a note and ask him to see if he can’t come up here Sat. evening and go back Sunday. I want him to see Sister and the baby before they go back for he (the baby) talks about “Brother” all the time and is so cute and sweet. We had a letter from him a few days ago and he said Mr. Smith had given him another ten dollar raise. That doesn’t make his salary much but it’s very encouraging for it shows he is making good. He is so much in love till he is right funny and writes Mama what a sensible girl he has and how he wants her to know her. She is at school now and he is mighty blue without her, he says. Isn’t he something to be in love, though? He ought to be here in the nursery. I’m glad he thinks he is in love though and I wish everybody were for I feel sorry for those who are not. Little Sister has come in and she is giving me a lecture right now. Says I stay home all the time now to write to Alex and when I marry him I’ll have no where to go and then she hopes I’ll be satisfied. I told her when I married you I’d stay home and write to her. I’m going to stop now and go to sleep for I’m already half dead. Write me a note and try to get it off on the route Friday morning and tell me you are coming. We don’t usually have an operator on here later than six in the evening and lot of our telegrams have to be sent to Weldon and phoned down so we never really know when we are going to get one. You can wire before six though, if you are not coming. With all my love I am Yours always Wednesday night Kate [October 19, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, Your letter came this afternoon and I have tried to wire you but can’t get the operator to the depot. I going to wire you in the morning though so you can make your plans before time to take the train. I wrote you yesterday morning and you should have gotten my letter last night but of course the old route wouldn’t work right. I am going to Norfolk Tuesday on the morning train and hope you can wait to go down with me. I didn’t ask you about your hurting tooth in my letter but I do hope it hasn’t hurt you any more for I had one once and know that nothing can come nearer running one crazy – unless it is the job I undertook today. I washed my hair by myself and let it dry in a million tangles and when Mama and Sister got here they declared they would have to cut it off. They both worked on it for three hours and finally got it all right but my head is some kinder sore now. I thought once sure enough that I wouldn’t have to wait to get Madam Welfan to cut it off for me or to get your permission either. It never has done so before and I don’t know what made it do so this time. I was some kinder glad to get the papers this morning and find that Carolina whipped Georgia yesterday. Maybe they can at least put up a good fight at Richmond Thanksgiving. I am going to write to Margaret and try to talk her into going up. Little Sister and I have decided it’s the thing to pay the chaperone’s expenses so we are going to rob Uncle Louis and make her go as our guest. You want to go as our guest too? We’ll have a plenty of money. I went up to Weldon yesterday morning to get my hat fixed and was going to try to go to Norfolk Monday if the milliner could have fixed it but she can’t get it done till tomorrow afternoon. I reckon I’ll have to go up for it and then I’ll have to go to a dance tomorrow night; so, between the two I’ll be good and tired for my trip Tuesday. Duck forgot to make any bread at dinner time for supper tonight so I told her I’d make some myself and ended by cooking a regular supper – and it’s Sunday night. I made some real good biscuits but I’m going to forget how before long. I got your letter yesterday afternoon but it didn’t worry me a bit for you had already come. ‘Twould have upset me powerful bad if it had come the afternoon before. I forgot to ask you if you got your supper in Kelford Friday night before the train and I was real worried that I didn’t find something for you to eat before you left. Little Sister was too busy playing cards all that day to be on her job or she might have given us something. I had a letter from Mrs. Travis today and she says she is crazy about seeing “The Prince of Pilane[?]” Monday night. Several are going up to Raleigh from here to see it. Wish it would be in Norfolk while we are there but I know it has already been there. Cousin Ida’s address is: #243 Maryland Avenue. If you should go down before I do and want to go over on the cars, take the Portsmouth Ferry boat and then take the Port Norfolk car right at the ferry on the Portsmouth side and the conductor will put you within a half block of her house. You just tell him where you are going. They all know Mr. Carrington. Their house doesn’t front on the car line but you can find it all right. You left your overcoat up here at Uncle Johnnie’s and I don’t know whether to take it to you or not. I might wait and make you come up for it but if it looks like it’s going to be cold I’ll carry it along anyway – and have the folks here teasing me about it. They never have said anything about your staying so late Friday night except Papa said we must have had up a very sweet conversation to be willing to sit up till two-thirty to carry it on. I gave Sister the wink and she came to my rescue (she’s been there too and needed me to help her) and she said we were in bed long before the clock struck two. Mama asked Little Sister why they stayed out so late and she explained it all right. We’ll send them off playing cards next time. But you’re coming on Sunday next time and then you’ll get here at five instead of nine and won’t have to sit up all night. I won’t write more as I’ll see you Tuesday. Hope your tooth won’t trouble you any more. With all my love, I am Yours always, Kate Sunday night. In case there’s a new conductor, tell him to put you off at the corner of Second and Chitaugua Sts. [October 24, 1914] [Portsmouth, Virginia] My dearest Alex, I’m mad tonight cause it ain’t last night but it’s not your fault so I’m going to scratch you a line or two so that you’ll get it tomorrow night. I started to write to you just after dinner and give the letter to the mail man at three o’clock so you would be sure to hear from me on our mail but I knew you weren’t expecting it and it might go to the house so I waited. I don’t want them to know I’ve gone chase crazy if you do. I miss you so much tonight I almost wish you hadn’t come at all. I miss you enough when you go home and leave but it’s even worse down here. It might be because I’ve gotten worse since your visit down here. I had a real good nap before dinner and at three o’clock cousin Ida and I went to a Woman’s Club meeting at the house of one of Cousin Ida’s friends. Everything was mighty nice and I really did enjoy it. I met some very nice people and I reckon I could have a right good time down here if I were a young girl any more. Dr. and Mrs. Dix are coming over tonight or tomorrow night and teach me to play “Five Hundred” – If you’ll learn how to tell the cards apart by the time I see you I’ll teach you how to play. No don’t do that cause you might have to practice a little and I’d have to get mad. I wish you could have been here this morning to hear Cousin Ida giving me some more advice. She wanted to know if I knew I loved you good enough to marry you and if I were sure you weren’t going to drink anymore and ended by asking if I had any idea what it was to be married. I told her neither of us did as we never had been married but we were going to try it anyway. She is the funniest thing in the world but she really does like you and says she thinks you are fine if I can keep you from drinking. You’ll have to broaden her on the subject too, as she seems a little narrow – in your opinion. She says for me not to let a soul here know I’m engaged for I won’t have a good time at all if I do. I’m going to Norfolk in the morning to see about getting a dress for Little Sister and I may stay over and go to some matinee if there’s anything good. I’m enclosing Little Sister’s letter and hope you won’t be disappointed when you open my letter and find it’s not all mine. Did anything real exciting happen at the funeral or thereabouts? I’ll bet Mr. Cobb has had a tale or two to tell, but we can’t talk on the subject. I saw in today’s paper where your friend Mr. Louis Brown attended a wedding at Drivers the other day. That accounts for his getting off the train there. I don’t know when I shall go home but I guess about Wednesday or Thursday. I will let you know just as soon as I decide. I didn’t finish my letter last night for my eyes got crossed with sleep and now Virgie has phoned me to meet her in Norfolk at eleven so I won’t write now. I slept from ten last night till eight-thirty this morning and I feel a whole lot better this morning. I’m going to write you again tomorrow – you wouldn’t get a letter any sooner written tonight. With all my love, I am Yours always Kate Saturday morning. [October 26, 1914] [Portsmouth, Virginia] My dearest Alex, This has been a mean old dreary Sunday afternoon but I have managed to get through it by sleeping most of the time. Cousin Ida has gone over to Portsmouth to a funeral and Ida Carrington has company so I am going to write to you before supper in case somebody comes in after supper and bothers me. I wish I had written right after dinner and given my letter to Cousin Ida to mail in Portsmouth and then you would have gotten it tomorrow morning instead of late at night – and maybe not then. I hope you got my letter last night. I got yours at ten and was some kinder glad to get it. I had been in Norfolk all day and was tired and had started to bed several times but insisted upon staying up and when the letter came I knew what I had been waiting for. Virgie and I spent the morning in Norfolk and she left me at lunch time and then at two Cousin Ida and Ida C. joined me and we went to the Academy. I had lunch at Digg’s all by myself and I didn’t have a good time a bit. Well, we went to the Academy and I’ll tell you right now I don’t have to see “The Mischief Makers” or anything else common for I saw the limit there – “The Girls from the Follies.” I wished a thousand times we hadn’t have gone. I let Cousin Ida and Ida leave me over there after the show and after I did a little shopping for Little Sister I went over to the Portsmouth Post Office to see if my letter had come. The office is just two or three blocks from the ferry but when I got back I had missed my car and there I was over there with all those toughs and it as dark as Hades. I wasn’t so scared but I knew I was out of place and looked it. If I stay down here a million years I’ll never take a trip Saturday afternoon by myself. I wonder if you feel like putting up a little money on Carolina tonight after seeing the papers today. I’m some kinder glad she beat Vanderbilt but she has not beaten Virginia yet. If you are crazy to go I’ll let you go but I’m not much on going without Margaret. We could just go up and spend the day but we can decide on that later. I’m going home Wednesday on the train that passes Kelford at six-forty-five. Cousin Ida is fussing because I’m going but Sister wants to go back to Chapel Hill and I want to get there before she leaves. I know she’s going to have a thousand fits if I say I’m not going with her but I’m not if I can possibly get out of it. Cousin Ida has come in and says for me to tell you this is the last letter you’ll get from me while I’m here for she wants me to talk to her and not be writing to you all the time. It ain’t, though. I asked her if we couldn’t get married down here and she said not for a million dollars without Mama’s consent. I told her that was exactly what I didn’t want. I reckon if we are going to live there at your Mother’s you ought to tell your people and give them a plenty of time to either object or make any [?s] they want to. It’s nothing more than right that you should tell them since everybody else is pretending they know so much about it. I wish we could just keep on living at home for then I’d be the happiest person on earth. I get to feeling mighty funny when I get to myself and think about leaving home. You haven’t even the faintest idea what it means to a girl to give her home up. I know I’ll enjoy being with your people though, for I have already learned to love them all. I’m going to write to Margaret as soon as I get home and find out what Sister is going to do and set a day for her to go to see me and I want you to make her go. I haven’t heard when the Mizells are going home but I know Margaret prefers their being gone. I forgot to ask Mr. C. if he found out any more about the widow’s finances but I will before I leave. I really do feel real sorry for her if she is down and out. Supper is ready so I’m going to stop. I reckon I’ll go over to Berkley[?] tomorrow but will write you before I go. If you don’t get a letter from me Tuesday just know that I have been kidnapped on my way over there. With all my love, I am Yours always Kate Sunday. [October 24, 1914] [mailed to Norfolk, 243 Maryland Avenue] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I miss you so bad tonight I’m afraid I can’t even write tonight. I reckon it is a good thing I can’t tell you how much I do miss you for you’d feel so sorry for me that you’d come home right away. I hope you are not going to stay so long anyway. I wished a thousand times today that I had waited till tonight to come but it was best for I found a thousand things to do as soon as I arrived and have been doing some running around this afternoon. I was going to write you a short note and send it back on the train that brought me so you would get it in the morning but the train was late and left as soon as I (the only passenger) got off. I know you are writing to me tonight cause you promised and I’ll be waiting for it tomorrow. I’d give a year off my life if I was right there with my sweetest girl the Lord ever made so she wouldn’t have to write. I knew this trip with you would spoil me and now I’ll never be real happy again until I have you with me all the time cause I love you so good I just ain’t going to stay away from you much longer. And you ain’t going to make me, are you, sweetest thing in the world? Let me know as soon as you make your decision about going home so I can fix my plans to meet you up the road – don’t wait to tell me until the last day because your letter might be delayed as it was when we went down and then I’d be cut out of my ride back with you. I told Mog what you said about visiting you before Thanksgiving and then going to Richmond but I think she has decided definitely not to go to Richmond. We can go up or not just as you say about it (I’m coming to see you anyway cause I couldn’t be thankful a bit without being with you). I am anxious to hear from the Vanderbilt game tomorrow. If Carolina beats them she ought to win in Richmond and I’ll be crazy to go but if she shows up poorly tomorrow I will not care so much about it. I am going to let you decide about it and (as usual) whatever you say goes. I’m not going unless you go. I would hate to go and see Carolina licked again but if she would beat Virginia and I wasn’t there to help celebrate (reformedly) I’d never forgive myself. You and Little Sister can talk it over and decide about it. I’m going to write Mrs. Carrington my “bread and butter” note tonight and I wish you would express to her my appreciation of her kindnesses. I hope you will enjoy your stay in the City and not break yourself down shopping. Be sure to go to the “Mischief Makers” so you can tell me about it. I’ll bet you do some laughing if you do go. I wish you could have seen the lady of color in the hobble skirt trying to catch the train yesterday. It was almost as funny as Hans Wagner. You must write me everything you do or see for you are the only thing on earth I’m interested in or think about. I’ll bet you did some sleeping this afternoon. I wish I could have happened in – I wouldn’t have laughed a bit just stood there and treed you – But you don’t have to go to sleep for me to tree you cause you so pretty. ‘Spose you won’t give me my picture now? I wish Xmas was next week. I’m bound to think you’re a little bit narrow-minded about pictures – Just trying to make out like you don’t know you are the prettiest woman that ever was born. I’ve got a lot of letters to write tonight so will stop. Will write more tomorrow night. Think about me a whole heap Kate and know I love love love you better than every thing on earth and Heaven too. Write to me just as often as you can. With all my love and then some – I remain forever – Yours – [October 25, 1914] [Special Delivery to Norfolk, 243 Maryland Avenue] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – That old Route mail has failed again and I’m the maddest man in the world for now I won’t hear a word from my sweetest girl in all the world till Monday. It would be hard enough to stay here after having been with you two days even if your letter had come but when I can’t hear from you it makes it ten times harder. Instead of your letter coming out on the Coast Line at 340 it went out on the S.A.S. and will have to wait in Boykins till Monday. I ought to have thought of that but I forgot about the S.A.S. I didn’t get up in time to mail my last night’s letter on the early mail so I put a Special Delivery on it and hope you got it tonight. And I also hope you are writing to me tonight too so I’ll get two letters Monday. Wish I could get twenty. I have missed you today worse than I did yesterday if that is possible. I’d give anything I’ve got in this world if I could just be there with you tonight. I hope Cousin Ida hasn’t invited some other guy to come to see you. If she has I won’t like her half as well as I do. I went up today and consulted Cobb about the Washington lady. He said she left next morning and didn’t have anything to say except that I had a funny way of getting on a train. Cobb said she was talking about some guy in Greenville so maybe she has got a beau. The Lord grant it. I would like to know just out of curiosity what she would have done if I had rolled in the car that morning before she got off, but not well enough to try it if I had it to do over again. I put up another $500 with Cobb this afternoon that he wouldn’t be out by the first of December but he talks so strong I’m scared I’m going to lose. If he does get out I think somebody will have to bury Lila. I’m sorry for poor Lila for she is really and truly in love and I can imagine what it would be to love someone and then have them throw you down. Don’t you do me like that. But you love me if you won’t write me about it, don’t you – and I have done passed by loving you and really worship you Kate. Honestly I do love you so that I don’t ever expect to be real happy again unless I’m right with you. I am going to try to get off and go to Norfolk on the early train the day you come home and come back with you. If I can’t do that I’ll come up the road on the 3 o’clock train unless something prevents. I want to spend the first week in November at the Club House and have just got to see you before then. I guess you have heard from Mrs. Patterson by now and know about going to Chapel Hill – write me your plans and don’t decide to stay there too long. I tried to find out about the Carolina-Vanderbilt game this afternoon but couldn’t do it. Will go up to Kelford in the morning to mail your letter and get a paper. I’m going to send this special too for I don’t know about the Delivery on Sunday. Be sure to write to me every day and don’t stay too long. Know I love you every minute. With all my love – I remain – forever – Yours – Alex [October 28, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I would have written last night but I was counting on seeing you today in spite of the fact that you had pronounced it foolish. As soon as I got your letter yesterday saying you were going home Wednesday I arranged to go to the Club House (to fix it up) Thursday thinking I was going to Norfolk on the 1030 train this morning and come back with you. But when I got home last night I found that all the family except Mamie and me were going to the Convocation in Windsor today and I’d have to stay to weigh the cotton and keep the pickers going. Then I thought I’d get Jordan Bazemore to stay here for me and this morning when I went for him he had gone hunting. I was some kinder mad and if you hadn’t talked like you thought I had better not come I would have let the niggers steal all the old cotton and gone anyway. Your M.R.&S. letter came today and if the train hadn’t have been gone when I read that you hoped you would see me in a few hours I would have certainly caught it. I wish I could go to Halifax this week but can’t as I will be messed up about the Hunt all the rest of the week. We are all going down Sunday afternoon to be ready early Monday morning and stay till Friday night. I am coming out on a machine Tuesday afternoon in time to vote and then go back that night – not because I’m so loyal to the Party or so proud of my suffrage but mainly because I can’t stay anywhere five days without a letter from you. And I know you are going to write me a great long one Sunday. I don’t mean that you are not going to write to me before Sunday for I’m writing this afternoon so you will get it at five tomorrow and I’m going to count on a letter Friday. It takes a month to get a letter from Port Norfolk. The Route from Kelford didn’t work a single time. I asked the mail clerk about it and he said it was the fault of the Norfolk Office. I had a letter from Bowers today. He can not get here for the first part of the Hunt and was cussing because he had to spend Monday and Tuesday in Halifax. Wish I could swap places with him. Billie wrote today that he would be here the last part of this week in time to go hunting but I haven’t much idea of seeing him. I’m sorry Cousin Ida’s dog passed away. I will try to get one for her but bird dogs are in demand here. Three of us bought one today for $5000. I’m afraid to tell it at home. Think I’ll go into the dog raising business. Jarl said in his letter today he’d give a hundred for a turkey dog. I think the folks here have got an idea that we are going to get married but I haven’t told them yet. I want to wait till Lou and Charles get settled in their new home. I’ll explain it to you when I see you. So far as telling them is concerned, I know they will be glad cause they all love you. Kate, from your letters I believe Cousin Ida’s talk made you kinder sorry you were going to get married but I hope to God it is not so. If you had rather wait longer I will have to agree for I want you to be suited exactly about the whole matter and I don’t want you to feel that I’m urging you into it. I know it will be awful for you to have to leave your folks and my love, much as I love you, can’t make up for it, but I’ll let you go home real often if you will promise not to stay over one day at the time. I’m going to love you so good you will have to be happy. I wish we could get married before Xmas but if you had rather wait I will not beg you. I knew when I went to Norfolk it was going to ruin me and I’ll swear I haven’t been happy since I left. Sometimes I think that if the Lord would just give me one year with you I couldn’t ask for any Heaven. Please write to me tomorrow and tell me you are not sorry you promised to marry me. I love you with all the love in the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex Wednesday afternoon [October 29, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, For one time since I’ve known you you are lost and I haven’t the faintest idea where you are. I hope though you didn’t try to meet me yesterday at Drivers and get left. The old trains just passed each other there and I was so mad I thought something. I really would have stayed with Cousin Ida till Friday but I was afraid you wouldn’t get my telegram in time if I decided to wait so I went on to meet you and got left. I got your letter yesterday telling me to wait till Friday but you hadn’t gotten my letter saying I was going Wed. when you wrote so I . . . [page missing …] . . . thing up there has gone wild on the subject of the Richmond game and everybody knows we are going to win. (I don’t know it and ain’t even going to bet and ain’t going to let you.) I wrote Fletcher a card and told him I was coming home last night so he met me in his car in great style. He carried us up the Weldon road a little way and I nearly froze and caught a little cold. With that exception I feel remarkably well considering the mean old trip yesterday. I wanted a letter this morning and it didn’t come but I’m hoping it will come this P.M. I hope you’ll write me that you are coming up here before you go on that old hunt so I can gaze on your fair . . . [remainder of letter missing …] [October 31, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – Your Thursday morning letter came yesterday. I think all the mail clerks have forgotten that we have the route mail from Kelford. I would have written last night so I could have mailed my letter this morning but I had to come up here and get off one thousand October reports to Insurance Companies. I’m still working on them this morning. I met the Widow and the girls when I was coming up last night and phoned them as soon as I got here. They said they only stopped a few minutes with you and Evie said you were just as pretty as you always were. Em said you told her you were mad with me but I know that ain’t so cause I “ain’t never done nothing” to make you mad and ain’t going to. They said they were going to Richmond Thanksgiving with us. Billie hasn’t showed up yet but maybe he will come today. We are going to the Club House tomorrow afternoon but I will write to you tonight and mail it in Kelford tomorrow morning. I am coming out Tuesday morning early to vote and go right back. Be sure to write me a great long letter Sunday night for I won’t be out any more till Friday. I won’t write more this morning. Am hoping for a letter today. Know I love you better than everything else on earth. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [Saturday morning?] [October 31, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, I didn’t send you a letter this morning as you ordered me to for I wrote to you yesterday morning and sent the letter by the route and counted on your getting it not before this morning. I’m mad anyway because you’re not coming up here before you go on that miserable old hunt. And if you don’t come on up just as soon as you get home, I’m going to swear you’re drunk on some of that thirty-six quarts and be mad sure enough. The widow and her crowd just passed through (four o’clock). I looked for them and prepared for them all on the strength of Evie’s letter to Harry, but they said they decided not to impose on me again so didn’t write and just brought lunch. We saw them just a minute and of course everything was in a buzz and every other word from Evie was when are you and Alex going to get married? I told her Thanksgiving so if she spreads it don’t be surprised. She insisted that I get ready and go on with them and I might have done so if I hadn’t have just come home. And then too it would have been a shame to make you miss your hunting trip by being down there. Please say you would have missed it. I’ll know it’s a story and it won’t hurt but it would do me a little good for you to say it anyway for I’m jealous of those old hunts already. The Widow and Em and Evie are going to Richmond and she said she would chaperone us. I didn’t say much because I didn’t know how we’d like it. She said she was going with Ed (somebody) and not Fred. Who is Ed? Evidently her latest. They said they left Selma at seven-thirty this morning and had had three punctures. Some travelling. I was so glad to know that you didn’t try to meet me Wednesday. I thought you would count on getting on my train at Drivers and they crept by each other there and didn’t even stop. I’m mad with all your folks for being so churchy and making you stay at home but hope they had a good time at the Convocation just the same. Wonder how much they heard over there in the gossiping city about our marriage. So you’re afraid that Cousin Ida has persuaded me that I’m sorry we’re going to be married. If you don’t stop that kind of talk I’ll think you want me to be sorry and then I’ll be sure enough. But I ain’t sorry and am not counting on ever being so either. I’ve just come from the Post Office and I didn’t get a letter and now I’m blue and don’t even feel like finishing this. I really have felt bad all day but thought your letter would make me feel better. I’m spoiled too, by the Norfolk trip for I look for those daily letters just the same and when they don’t come I don’t feel exactly right. I always get done up when I go to the city and everybody who has seen me today has told me how ugly I look. Aunt Susie just told me that I look like I’ve been “pulled through the keyhole.” It’s a good thing, I reckon, you didn’t come up here this week for I’m afraid you would have kicked me and then I would certainly have been sorry I ever promised to marry you. Please try to get a kodak picture of Billy on the hunt and let me see it for I know he will be a miserable object. Aren’t you some thing helping to buy that fifty dollar dog and the war on too. Some body has got to economize some where for that piece of extravagance but it ain’t going to be me. Of course Cousin Ida didn’t want an expensive dog. I told her you gave away some puppies last summer and maybe you could get her one of them so she asked me to write you about them. We have a lady here sewing for us or helping us, so I’m going to stop now and rest a little so I can sew some tonight. I don’t feel like it but the lady can’t stay long so I just must sew while she is here. Everybody thinks we are going to get married right away just because she is here and they try to get her to tell them all about the wedding. Little Sister is having more made than I am but I’m getting the credit for it all. I’m going to write to you Sunday and I’m going to expect a note anyway from you when you come in to vote. With all my love I am Yours always Kate Friday afternoon. [November 1, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I wrote a note this morning but have got to answer my sweetest letter in the world tonight. I expect you will get them both on the same train – it feels like civilization again to get your letter on the same day it is mailed. Port Norfolk is the worst place to get a letter from in the whole United States. A fellow came in on the train today and said he was held up and robbed of $500 in Port Norfolk last night. I told him I’d bet it was a Mail Clerk or Postman that ought to have been working. I’m the happiest man in the world tonight cause you said you “wont sorry” for honestly I was afraid Cousin Ida had talked you into being sorry. I love you so good you just can’t even be sorry cause you’re mine and have got to be mine all the time. You haven’t got any idea how much I wanted to come to see you this week and would have done it too but I had all my October Insurance Reports to get off and everything about the Hunt to attend to. I’m honored with being Secretary and Treasurer of the Club and also the Caterer. You ought to have seen me buying the supplies today. Don’t know how to buy a thing but liquid. I’m certainly coming to see you just a soon as possible. I have promised to spend a day or two with Bowers at their Club House the week after our Hunt but will try to get out of it. I am going to write to Bowers tonight and send the letter to Halifax. Please tell him to call for his mail Monday. Nothing said in it about a drink. Billie came this morning and looks fine. I don’t guess he’ll look so sporty after we get through with him this week. We are going down on a wagon tomorrow after dinner. Mamma is horrified because we are going on Sunday. Our cook refuses to go till Monday so we’ve got to cook supper and breakfast ourselves. Don’t you wish you could dine with us? I’m so glad you are going to write to me tomorrow night and hope it will be a great long one. I’m expecting to get permission to take three doses of Cold Cure a day. How about it? The boys about half way decided they didn’t want to come out and vote but I told them that would never do. I don’t care a cent about voting for there’s nothing of any import to vote on but I was thinking about my letter. I’m mighty sorry your trip did you up so and made you ugly. Please send me a picture cause I want to see you one time when you ain’t the prettiest thing in the world. Evie had already told me how pretty you looked before I got your letter. Em looks good, don’t she? And I believe the Beaut has improved some. I don’t know Mattie’s newest if his name is Ed unless it is Ed Nicholls from Windsor. She’d better stick to Fred if he’s the one. I don’t mind going to Richmond at all with the Widow if she is going to leave the Cat home but that thing might drive me to drink. I certainly wish you had come with the Zees. I might have hunted some but I would surely have been out here every night. I’d stay ‘way from Heaven to be with you I’ll swear I would. And you know it too don’t you? I do love you so much it is Heaven to be with you and I could say what it is to be separated from you but I won’t (cause I hope I won’t be separated so long). It’s nearly one so I’ll stop. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [October 31, 1914] [Halifax] My dearest Alex, Your letter that should have come yesterday afternoon has just come now and though I’m as busy as a bee this morning I’m stealing a minute to write just a line to tell you I’m not broadminded – not a bit – and ain’t going to ‘low you a single drink a day. You haven’t got to go on the old hunt and if you choose to take cold and die for the Lord’s sake try to die sober. I’m so distressed over poor Mr. Griffin’s bad luck. I know he must feel completely down and out. Be sure to bring Billie when you come. He and Little Sister can have the sitting room – or we can take it. Must stop and get this off. Will write again tomorrow night. Now remember my orders. With all my love I am Yours always Kate Saturday morning. [November 8, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I was so near dead last night I could only write a short note and slept too late to get it off on the early mail so you won’t get it until tomorrow. I didn’t expect a letter from you today for you have been sweet about writing to me but still I was there when the mail came and a mail without a letter from you is nothing. I’m going to write to you every day till I see you and am going to expect you to be real good about writing to me. I have got so many things to do this next [week] that I can’t tell exactly when I can come to see you. I’m going to try my best to come Monday night. I won’t have time to write if I can come but will wire you. You may look for me soon for I’m coming just as soon as I possibly can cause when I’m with you its Heaven (and when I’m not with you it’s “something else”). It is certainly hard to have to stay here and try to be happy when you are way away in Halifax. When I get you I’m not going to let you go anywhere not even home. I have spent half the day looking at my prettiest pictures in the world and wishing I had you here with me right now. If ever anybody was in love it surely “is me.” I’ll tell the truth I wish I didn’t love you quite so much, then I might enjoy some of the time I have to spend away from you. We will plan the Richmond trip when I come. Mog still talks like she can’t go. Janie Lyon is crazy for her to go so she can go and I think Sallie Thompson is about half in notion too but Mog has finally decided not to go. I will bring Billie when I come if he is here but don’t count on him. If I wire I will tell you if Billie is coming. I see Emily is still here. It’s funny the ways she carries out her plans. Fred Dunstan spent yesterday and last night at Zeke’s and the widow took him to Kelford this morning. It looks like a match to me. Wish I could give the poor devil a tip. I have been nearly dead all day with my cold. I’ve had bad ones before but never one like this. I don’t think I’ll go on any more hunts for I always catch a cold and I can’t have any fun anyway when you won’t let me take a drink. Everybody cussed me out and said I was a regular kill-joy and wanted to expel me from the Club. Of all the miserable feelings in the world it is to be around a bunch of drunks sober. Mr. Cobb stood it for one night and then had to fall. I had to break one of your rules in order to live there nights so I shot a little craps. I paid my expenses and got a suit of clothes out of them so don’t cuss me much, please don’t. I had to do something for amusement. Billie seemed to enjoy the Hunt right much. I got a man to call up some turkeys for him and he was tickled to death. And he learned how to play cards pretty scientifically at Chapel Hill. I know you miss Mrs. Patterson and the boy. You needn’t even think you are ever going to leave me as long as she stayed in Halifax. If you have to go and stay that long I’m going too. Cause I love you too good for you to be anywhere but with me right now. Be sure to write to me Sunday night. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 9, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I’m writing to you with my prettiest sweetest pictures right before me and just hoping that you are writing me a great long letter tonight. I wish there was some way I could get a letter from you on Sunday for a day without a letter from you makes me some kinder blue. I was hoping I could see you tomorrow night but it is impossible for me to come before Wednesday night. Look for me Wednesday night unless something unforeseen happens. I will write tomorrow night and tell you definitely. Don’t know about Billie but am almost sure he will go if I take him to Kelford and put him on the train. Please have the town clock set back about two hours for I am bound to stay till two. Don’t tell Harry to meet us for I don’t want to put his people to any trouble. If I’m so glad to see you that I forget exactly what I’m doing you’ll have to forgive me. Don’t bother about that extra beauty sleep for I honestly do want to see you one time when you are not the prettiest thing on earth. I’m in favor of getting Uncle Mac Clark to fix us up so you can come on back home with me. What you say? I ain’t joking Kate. I mean it for I love you too much to have to be away from you. I won’t write more tonight for Burges is begging for the desk to write to “his wife.” I will be the happiest man in the world when Wednesday comes. Know I love you better than everything. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 13, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I couldn’t write last night for I had so much work to do so I’m bound to write a note this morning to tell you how happy I was when I was with you and how much I miss you now. We got here for dinner and after doing four thousand things I got a telegram from Mrs. Bowers to let Jarl know that his brother’s child was dead in Washington so I had another trip to make. I [am] sorry the child is dead but it releases me from my promise to spend today and tomorrow with Jarl at their Club House. Course if you’re going to act right mean and not come with the Zees Saturday I may have to go to the Barbecue Sunday. Kate, please for God’s sake come and stay a day or two anyway. I’m going to tell the widow to meet you with the girls Saturday. I’ll bet you all went to bed yesterday right after the train left. I hated to wake you up but couldn’t leave without seeing you again for I’ll swear it seems like I didn’t see you but a minute. I know we put Harry and his people to a lot of trouble and would have certainly waited for the other train but just had to get back. Please thank Harry and his folks for their kindnesses. Remember now that you are coming here to stay real soon cause you’re too pretty and sweet and everything else good for me to let you stay away from [me]. I believe I love you better every time I see you. I wish you would come back with Evie and Em. I will write to you tonight. Know I love you better than everything in the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex Tell L.S. you wouldn’t let me have that kiss after you promised. Alex [November, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I wish you had have written to me last night even if it wasn’t but a line for I have been some kinder blue all day. Every time I see you and then have to come home without you I feel like I’m lost. I’m praying that you will change your mind and come home with Evie and Em but almost know you won’t. But you needn’t be thinking you are not coming New Year’s for that’s already settled and just cause you’re mine is no reason why you can’t come. If you just half knew how much I want to see you you would come tomorrow. I phoned the Widow to meet the girls and she asked me were you and Little Sister coming. See they are expecting you. Lalla is still here but Leonard has gone back to work. The widow had a long talk with Fred over the phone a few minutes ago and every receiver on the line was down at the same time. He told her he had bought an automobile today and was going to learn to run it tomorrow if it killed him. (He’d be lucky.) Mat replied that the best way to learn was to take a trip to Woodville tomorrow afternoon and right there a date was made. Certainly going to hook up. I believe the poor devil really thinks he is in love, but don’t nobody know what love is but me. I’ve done got a monopoly on all the real sho nuff being in love in the world. If I ever love you one millionth of a love more than I do right now I’ll go crazy. I’ll swear I had forty different things to talk to you about when I was with you and didn’t think of a one of them cause you were so sweet. But I didn’t have but about twenty minutes with you anyway. I tried my best to make Billie stay with Harry yesterday morning when I went over to your house. I won’t say why cause Little Sister might read it. I’ll make up for it next time I see you. I know it will seem like a year before the 25th. You be good about writing to me till then too for I do some kinder hate a day without a letter from you. I hope you arranged to have the train pick us up at Halifax Thanksgiving day for that will give us more sleep that morning and less sleep incidentally the night before. I got a long letter from Jim Cheshire today begging me to meet him in Richmond Wednesday afternoon to warm up for the Game. I’m going to write him I’ll be in Heaven Wednesday evening. He’s another friend I hadn’t counted so I’ll have to ask you to increase my allowance to seven bottles instead of six. Not that I care for it but I don’t want to make him mad and have an argument. Seven bottles ain’t nothing and you don’t even have to be broadminded to allow that much on such a day. And I won’t ask for the privilege anymore for a whole year. I hope the Zees won’t go. I’m trusting to Fred to break their trip up as the Widow is supposed to go with Ed Nicholls. In case they won’t stop the train for us Thanksgiving morning get Harry to phone Weldon and engage a car to come out for us that morning. I know I will enjoy being with you Wednesday night more than I will the trip to Richmond or one to Heaven either. There is a big dance in Roxobel tonight. Some lady over there is teaching them the fox trot. Is Little Sister wise to that? I’ve got to get some practice before the New Year’s Ball or I pity you. If it doesn’t rain tomorrow I’m going bird hunting and if I have any luck I’m going to send you some by Parcel Post Sunday morning. Don’t count on them too strong for I may not get any but if I do will send you some. Be sure to write me a long letter Sunday. Know I love you better than all the world. With all my thoughts – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I was so glad to get your note this afternoon. I had been out hunting all day and if I hadn’t found your letter when I came I would have been some kinder disappointed. The man who was to go hunting with me this morning couldn’t go so I went alone so I have spent the whole day thinking about you with no one to bother me talking. If there’s anything in thoughts I’ve certainly been with you all day long. If I could have only awaked from my thoughts and found myself with you I would have been too happy to live. I’m going to send you some birds tomorrow if I can get any way to go to Kelford. It is raining hard now but I hope it will stop before morning. I will send them by Parcel Post and maybe you will get them tomorrow afternoon. Don’t forget to tell the Post Office Inspector about this Route mail from Kelford. It’s a shame the way they do now. I’m so glad you asked the Agent to see about the train’s stopping. If he can’t why it won’t be much trouble to go to Weldon. Make any plans you wish about when to come back and I’m satisfied. I think Billie wants to go up from Halifax with us but he, like me, gets about three letters a day from folks wanting him to be in Richmond Wednesday night. That’s always the big night for the unreformed boys. I got a long letter from George today, he has already engaged a room for me at Ruegers for Wednesday night and a wine supper, etc. I’ve got to write him tonight and tell him how sorry I am that I can’t be there when I really know I will be happier with you Wednesday night than I would be in Richmond if I owned the town. Billie will hardly decide till the day before but I’m pretty sure I can get him to go up with us. I saw the Mizells this afternoon when I came home but not near enough to talk to them. You wouldn’t act right good and come back with them. That’s all right when I get you I ain’t never going to let you no where. Lila blew in last night very unexpectedly to Tommie. I think I’m going to win my bet but she told me this afternoon that things won’t working right. Said she had a lot to tell me tomorrow so I’ll have to hear it and then go right straight and tell Tommie. Said she wished Cobb would take her to Richmond and if he loved her as good as I did you he would do it. I told her he couldn’t possibly do that even if she was a pretty lovable kind of creature – cause nobody in the world ever loved anybody like I do you. Dr. Whitehead is here tonight on his way home from the Club House and as Burges is gone I’ll have to stop and listen to him talk. Be sure to write me a long letter Sunday night (and tell me how much you love me.) Know I love you better than all the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 15, 1914] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – I sent you a letter and some birds by mail from Kelford this morning and do hope you got them this afternoon for it’s so warm I know the birds won’t keep till tomorrow morning. I’ll bring you some when I come anyway. It’s only ten days now before I will see you and I won’t be sho nuff happy till they have passed. Today has been a year long. I have read every line in two Sunday news papers. I was surprised at the showing Carolina made against Wake Forest. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble keeping me from betting. I hope they were holding back their good plays because the Virginia Coach was watching the game. It looks like though they ought to beat Wake Forest with the Scrubs. We’ll see it well done whatever they do and long as you are with me I’ll be happy. I saw in Kelford this morning a poster advertising excursion rates to Richmond Thanksgiving from Halifax. Does that mean a special train or just rates on the regular trains? Mog is going to take Clifford over to Pattie’s for Thanksgiving. Said she’d think about us about the time Carolina made her first touchdown. If Billie doesn’t go by Halifax I may come up on the morning train so I will have more time with you. I don’t hardly count Thanksgiving cause everything is in such a rush. I wanted to see Evie today and talk to her some about Halifax but it was such a bad day I couldn’t do it. I’m going down there one night this week and make her cook some candy and tell me about her trip. We are going down tomorrow and try to get some pecans. I know the storm has blown them all off. You can have some when you come to see us. Won’t I be glad when 1914 is gone and New Year’s comes. I don’t think I can let you go home any more. You are invited to spend the first two weeks in January right here and you have got to do it. I hope you are writing me a great long letter tonight and I’ll be waiting for it tomorrow when the train comes. Know I love you better than all the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 17, 1914] [Woodville] Tuesday Morning My dearest Kate – Old Buffet was here last night so I couldn’t answer your best letter that ever was written in the world. I was right there waiting for it when it came and was the happiest man in the world I know. Old Evie was at Church and officially announced the wedding. I stalled off the people at home, didn’t tell them either way as Charles is going to move some time soon and then I’ll tell them. Mog was tickled to death, wanted to write to you at once and wanted to give a party. The rest of the family were glad but all seemed to pity you. Charles said I didn’t know how lucky I was. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you. I hope you wrote the note you promised last night for I’m going down to the Club early tomorrow morning and won’t be out till Thursday night and I can’t enjoy it a bit unless I get your letter today. Evie and Em are to have a party tonight to start up the Card Club as they call it. I guess I’ll have to go but I’ll steal time to write to you anyway. I’m glad you got the birds in good shape. Will bring some when I come. I’m counting the days before I’ll be real happy again, only eight now. I won’t write more this morning, will write again tonight. Know I love you a million times better than all the whole world. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 17, 1914] [Tuesday Evening] [Woodville] My dearest Kate – All the crew have gone down to the Party but I’m going to write you a note before I go cause I love you so good. I wrote this morning in Lewiston but forty people were in the Bank talking so I don’t guess you could read it. I feel some kinder good over a letter today and a nice long one yesterday. If you had promised one for tomorrow I don’t think I’d go to the Club House. We are going down soon in the morning and come out Thursday night. Only four of us going and two of us total abstainers so you needn’t worry. So you are kinder out of Richmond notion. I’ll tell the truth I’m not so strong myself but if you want to go we will go. I think Carolina is going [to] get licked and I know that unless you are going to be a little broadminded I won’t enjoy being with my old friends at all. Not that a drink or two would add to my pleasure but they’d get sore and cuss me out for not taking one with them on such an occasion. However I have about half way promised George I would be there Thanksgiving morning and I would never forgive myself if Carolina won and I wasn’t there. Anyway I’m coming to Halifax Wednesday night and if we haven’t decided before we will decide then. I know you are going to laugh now – Pavlova is at the Wellson Wednesday night. How about going to Norfolk Wednesday, see Pavlova that night, and go to Richmond next morning on the special? Nothing doing, eh? Well I’ll tell the truth just so I’m with you Wednesday night and Thursday I don’t care whether we go to Richmond or not. Billie is going from here to Norfolk and from there to Chapel Hill or Goldsboro and then to Richmond. That’s his idea now – but the Lord only knows what he is going to do. Make any plans you want about Richmond and I’m on. We can decide after I get there Wednesday night if you want to. I guess Evie will reannounce our wedding tonight. I must stop and go down there or Mog will kill me. Be sure to write to me every day a note if no more cause your letters are all that make life worth living when I haven’t got you. Know I love you better than all the world all the time. I can’t write tomorrow night from the Club House but I’ll think about you enough to make up for it. With all my love – I remain forever – Yours – Alex [November 30, 1914] [Woodville] My own dearest Kate – I’m going to write this afternoon so I can get it off on the early mail cause you said you wanted a letter Monday and whatever you want you have got to have if I have to steal it cause you’re a million times more than the sweetest thing that has ever been in the world. I wish I could be with you this afternoon. If I lived a million years I never could be happier than I was with you Friday. Just to feel that I’m near you is all that I ever want in this world. If I could have I would certainly have changed my mind after I got on the train yesterday morning and gone back to you. I never hated to leave anywhere so bad. If I had had time I would have woke you up again. ‘Twas a good thing I came though for if I had stayed one more day I never would have left till you came with me. Tom Peele put me to work as soon as I got home and I worked till one last night but every thing I did was mechanical for I was thinking about you every single second and wishing I could be with you. I woke up this morning cussing cause I wont at Uncle Johnnie’s and have been thinking about my Sweetness ever since. I wrote a line this morning and sent it to Kelford by Lewis. Burges didn’t go as he had to go for Mog and Clifford this afternoon. They haven’t come yet and I wouldn’t be surprised if they got left as the train has changed the schedule since Mog left. I saw the lady that came over to Mrs. Carrington’s and sang for us when we were in Port Norfolk. She was waiting for our train in Hobgood. I would have gone up and spoken to her but she had a baby in her arms and I couldn’t figure out whether ‘twas a girl or boy and was afraid I’d have to say something about the child. And then I had forgotten the lady’s name too. I’m going to try to get Mrs. Carrington’s birds some time soon. If I don’t send them I’ll take ‘em when I go down to Norfolk. I wish you would decide to go down with me. Please do. And have my picture made and we can get the ring together – would you be bashful? The Mizells came home Friday afternoon. Burges went up to meet ‘em. Em’s shoes she bought in Norfolk were about two sizes too small so I think she came home barefooted. Fred has been up since Thanksgiving. The widow stayed home this morning to entertain him. The girls came to Church but I was uptown and didn’t see them. Billie hasn’t come yet. He must have gone to the Army-Navy game. I’m not going to think about any more foot ball till next Thanksgiving. Then Mr. and Ms. Urquhart will go up and see Carolina licked again. I’ll promise never to bet on Carolina again. Mamma nearly wept over Carolina’s defeat. I told Cobb about his girl’s cousin’s wreck. Said it would have saved him a lot of trouble if somebody else had been in the car. How did the driver ever get so bad? Don’t you ever take another joy ride with a drunk. Cause I’ll sho come and stay with you if you get hurted. Sweet write to me tonight. Know I miss you more than I can tell and love you better than everything and everybody on earth. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 2, 1914] [Woodville] Tuesday Night My own dearest Kate – I love you so good I’m sitting here writing to you before you have gotten my last letter. And I ought to be making out my November Insurance reports too but I’m bound to write to the sweetest girl in the world cause if you don’t write to me every day I’ll die. I felt some kinder bad all the morning with a cold but since your letter came I’ve been so happy I don’t think it would take but one drink to make me sing. I’m some kinder glad to get my six engaged pictures promised me in black and white. I’ll give you mine when I get them. I’ll tell you something about one of the pictures like I burned up when I see you again. And God knows I hope that won’t be long. I’m afraid to name a time for then I’ll start counting the days and each one will be a year. I may come when I come from Norfolk. I’m going to see Paul Gale when I go to Norfolk and if they will trust me with just a few of their diamonds I’ll bring them over and let you see them. I’d never buy one on my own judgement. You didn’t tell me the size of my prettiest sweetest finger in the world. Sweetness, I wish you would tell me what you would like to have for Xmas. Please do cause I’m going to give you something and you might as well have what you want. If those people won’t let me have three or four diamonds for you to look at I’m going to wait till I can get somebody who knows to pick out one. I’m sorry Little Sister is sick. I’ll send her a few coupons in this letter. I know you are having a time with Little Sister sick and Duck on a charge. Why hadn’t you told me there was a Blind Tiger in Halifax? I’ll bet you and Little Sister are both well and dancing tonight. I’ve got to start talking up our New Year’s dance. I guess the Widow will be on the floor by then. Fred is up again tonight. Somebody said they heard somebody else say that the Widow told them “confidentially” that she was going to marry Fred. Poor Fred. Rosa is still sick from losing him. Mog is going to entertain the Card Club Friday night and of course she has got to have Polly Bridges and Janie Lyon. I’m going to try to arrange to spend that night at the Club House. I don’t like to play Whist with that bunch and I don’t like women anyway ‘cept my own sweetest woman in the world. And I love her good enough to make up for it if I hated everybody else in the world. I wish I could be with you right now cause you’re everything sweet on earth. Know I love you better than all the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 5, 1914] [Woodville] Friday Night My own dearest Kate – I have just gotten home tired and hungry and wet and but for my sweetest letter in the world I would be sick. I had been miserable all day for fear you would think I was at the Club House tonight and wouldn’t write to me. I’m some kinder glad I came out now for my letter was worth all the hunting in the world. We had a time of it today – Mr. Hoggard and I went across the river down near Hamilton in a woods we never had been in before. The sun wouldn’t shine and our compass got out of fix and we got lost for fair. We finally found the river after wading about ten swamps and then had to walk six miles down the river to get our boat. If it had been real cold I don’t guess we would have gotten out tonight. I arrived just as the guests were coming in for the Card Club so I got my refreshments handed out through the back window. Mog cussed me out but I couldn’t help being “barbarous” a little tonight. I’m glad neither of us had any whiskey today at the time we got out of the first swamp wet to our waists. I might have had to write a letter pleading for pardon tonight. But I had my prettiest picture right in my watch and I ‘spect I could have held off. Aside from our other hard luck we killed three turkeys and only got one of them. But I call every day lucky that brings me a letter from my sweetness for that’s all I live for now. I was wondering today how I ever managed to think I was happy before I had you. I just didn’t know how happy anyone could be. If I had it all to go back over with now I’d be the most miserable mortal on earth. I’m glad you wrote me about the comb and brush. I had forgotten about the engraving but we can have that done later. I have about half way decided not to go to Norfolk if I can get Paul Gale to send me some rings out here. I used to have some credit with him and may he would trust me with a few diamonds till you could select one. Be sure to tell me the size of my sweetest finger in the whole world. If I can get the rings I’ll bring them when I come. I’m crazy about coming on a Saturday and being there Sunday for that’s the day I can’t get a letter but I’m afraid you’ll have to go to Church too much and I want you every minute when I’m there. If I do happen to go to Norfolk I will come to Halifax from there. But I’m not a bit strong for going since you won’t go with me. The card artists are coming so I’ll have to stop. I’ll try to mail this in the morning so you won’t get two Sunday. Know I just love you so good I wish I could be with you every minute for the rest of my life. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 6, 1914] [Woodville] Saturday Night My own dearest Kate – It was raining so hard this morning that I couldn’t get my letter off on the early train as I wanted to, but I guess it’s a good thing you won’t get it till tomorrow for the roads are so bad I’m afraid I can’t get my regular Sunday letter to Kelford in the morning. I hate to think about spending the whole of tomorrow without a word from my Sweetness. I never was crazy about Sundays and now I hate them. I came pretty near accepting an invitation to go Turkey hunting tomorrow. I wish I could do something to keep me from being so lonesome for a letter. You must make my Monday letter twice as long to make up for it. I am still wondering who that Devil was trying to call you up on the phone. Tell him you are my property and he can’t be talking to you, not even long distance. Burges and Billie have gone down to Zeke’s tonight to make candy and I’m here by myself except for old crazy Louis Bazemore and he’s propped up in a chair sleep. Think I’ll shoot a gun off over his head when I finish writing. The Card Club party was quite a success, so Mog says, in spite of the bad weather. Some lady about the end of the last game wanted to know if a two was a deuce. Some interesting to play cards with that bunch. Burges and I got soaked for the prize, a book, “The Eyes of the World,” I think. I’ve been up town helping Tom Peele in the Bank all day and thinking about you every single second. I wish I could have taken that 645 train for Halifax tonight. I’d have been the only real happy man in the world now. I’ve got a lot to do next week and don’t know whether I can get to Halifax or not but I’m coming as soon as possible. I almost have to be here on Saturdays for that’s about the only time I can see the niggers that owe me. I’ve been trying to do some collecting lately for Insurance and other things and it’s a job right this year. A nigger brought me a bale of cotton to get $3000 out of that he owed me. I shipped it to Norfolk and got sales for it today $2710. Ain’t that some price for a bale of cotton? Last year I sold one bale for $7650. Mog and Sallie are going to Norfolk next Friday to do their Xmas shopping. I think I’ll get Mog to do mine unless you will decide to go down with me. Let’s pay Cousin Ida a two day visit. I’m mighty sorry you have started embroidering again. Please don’t hurt my prettiest eyes in the world cause I love them too good. We can buy the old stuff. I won’t write any more for I’m afraid I won’t get this mailed. Know I love my prettiest sweetest dearest girl in the world better than anybody ever loved – With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex Please excuse writing but pen is a terror – [December 7, 1914] [Woodville] Sunday Night My own dearest Kate – Today has been the worst of all Sundays to get through with and I think I’ll go crazy tomorrow if the sun doesn’t shine. I did manage to get to Kelford this morning to mail your letter. That’s two today and I hope you are writing me a great long one tonight to make up for it. I could have been a million times happier and felt [a] heap more like keeping the ten commandments today if I could have gotten a letter from my Sweetness. Mog had John Hill Spivey here to dinner and that necessitated my taking a nap after dinner. The Hill is very much in favor of a dance for New Year’s. I told him you loved to one step with him. How ‘bout it? I can’t let my Sweetness give many dances away and if you are as pretty as you were at one New Year’s dance I know I’ll have to fight. I have been wondering all day today who that was calling you up on the telephone. Please tell me if you find out. I used to think I didn’t have much curiosity and I don’t guess I have now except about something concerning you. Course I want to know everything about you cause you’re mine. Mine for all the time, ain’t you, Sweetest thing in the world? I have been grieving since yesterday morning over a Turkey dog’s death. He belonged to Mr. Stallings, my tenant, and I had been using him a good deal this year. He wasn’t the best I ever saw but now I haven’t got anything. Poor devil had pneumonia. We gave him a pint of whiskey with quinine in it and that wouldn’t even help him. ‘Spect he died happy though. Have you ever succeeded in getting Duck on the wagon again? I didn’t know women drank so in the South as the Halifax cooks do. I thought once I’d give Duck the flask I nursed so fondly all the way from Richmond but I was scared. Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t. John Quin looked as if it might have helped him along a little. Burges said Fred was at Zeke’s last night and told him very confidentially when the wedding was to be. Mog and all of ‘em are crazy to know but Burges won’t tell ‘em. I doubt very much if Fred even told him. I wonder if he even thinks he loves her one millionth as good as I love my sweetness. I’m sorry for him even if he loves her. I wish we had the date set for our marriage for I just consider all the time from now till I get you lost. I’ll swear I love you so good I can’t be happy unless I’m right with you all the time. I can’t tell till about the last of the week when I can come to see you again but I hope it won’t be long. Think about me a whole heap, Sweet, and know I’m thinking about you every minute and love you better with each thought. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 9, 1914] [Woodville] Tuesday Night My own dearest Kate – I just know you are writing me a great long letter tonight cause if the mails went right you ought to have gotten both of my letters today. I was up early this morning to go hunting so drove up and mailed my last night’s letter before 730. We had a good hunt today, killed three and would have gotten more but the River was rising so fast we had to leave the woods. Fred has been at Zeke’s since Saturday and Charles took him hunting today but they didn’t get anything. The widow is going to Selma tomorrow on business. Getting straightened up for the wedding I guess. Anna Mae and Emily had a long conversation on the phone today and planned to go to the Summer School at the Hill together this summer. That’s what the eavesdroppers say. I expect they will take Domestic Science. Mr. Freeman has been very sick and is at Panacea now. Burges and Billie didn’t know the Zeke’s Xmas plans but I’ll find out as soon as I see them. They’ll not miss a chance to go to Halifax if they can help it. If they do come bring ‘em home for New Years. And don’t promise to spend any time with them while you are here cause I want to be with you every single second. I’ll be happier than I ever have been before with my sweetness right where I can see her all day. Mog and the crew have postponed their trip till Saturday – Mog, Lou, Mamie#SYMBOL 42 \f "Symbol" \s 12#, Sallie, Clifford, Charles Jr., Burges, and Pauline Bridgers – how’s that for a crowd to hit Norfolk? Everybody’ll swear it’s a North Carolina Excursion. Burges swears he is going to get drunk in the first saloon and don’t want a soul to speak to him or poke a bundle at him to carry. I wish you and I were going but not with all that mob. I wouldn’t feel right to go to Norfolk now if you were not there after being so happy the last time. I can’t be happy anywhere without my Sweetness – Write me a long letter – Know I love you better than all the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 10, 1914] [Woodville] Thursday Morning My own dearest Kate – Stella and Bryan Phelps had a dance last night and Mamma made me go so I am writing this morning ‘fore day. Some dance they had three girls and five boys with Steady presiding at the piano. After dancing a while they insisted on playing Whist so we stayed till twelve and when I got home all the fire was out so I couldn’t write. I will write a letter tonight and try to mail it on the early train so you will get one letter tomorrow. I’m going hunting again today but it looks like rain. Hope I’ll find a letter from my sweetest girl in the all the whole world tonight when I get home. Know I love my sweetness better than all the world and am thinking about you every second. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 12, 1914] [Halifax] My own dearest Alex, I’ve just come from Aunt Clara’s and am half sick and tired and sleepy and can’t write a letter tonight. I’m mad anyway cause I didn’t get anything today but just a half a note and wouldn’t feel much like writing a long letter. Am glad you went to the dance-card party even if it did cost me my letter. If I don’t get a letter a mile long in the morning I shan’t even send you one Sunday – ‘Less I decide to reconsider before then. Hope it didn’t rain down there yesterday and that you didn’t miss your hunt. I saw in the Scotland Neck paper this morning a Game Warden’s notice to huntsmen – all those violating the laws had better look out. I’m afraid Margaret will have rain or snow in the morning to go to Norfolk in. Duck informed me today if I’d go down there and get her a suit she would pay my expenses. ‘Twould be a sho nuff lark to go off shopping for Duck, wouldn’t it? Chicken#SYMBOL 42 \f "Symbol" \s 12# is down the river on a hunt with Edwin Gregory and she is ‘most as miserable as I am when you are on one. I’m setting over here on the sofa in the dark trying to write with every body talking and I’m mad anyway, so I’m going to quit. With every bit of my love – Your own always, Kate Friday night. [December 11, 1914] [Woodville] Friday Night My own dearest Kate – ‘Twas mighty good of my Sweetness to write to me when you were feeling so badly with a cold and I know the Good Lord will bless you for being so sweet. I hope you are already well. I thought I had enough colds for both of us. For God’s sake don’t get sho nuff sick for I know I’ll go crazy. I was wondering the other day what I would do if you got real sick after we were married – but you are too sweet to ever be real sick ain’t you sweetness – Just one week from tonight and I will be with you and everything that can happen in that week will be nothing compared to that cause that is Heaven. I don’t think about anything but being with you now. That will be the first real happy Sunday I’ve spent in a long long time. I wish I could stay right with my sweetest girl in the world every day for the rest of my life. I was some kinder happy to hear you say you were coming New Years even if you did talk about spending part of the time at the Mizell’s. We’ll talk that over after you get here. Burges and Billie are down at the Zekes now making candy. The widow is still in Selma. Emily invited us all over to the “candy-pulling” but I had rather be writing to you cause I love you so good. I’ll swear I believe I love you better every day Sweet. It seems like a year since I have seen you. Mog and all of ‘em have gone to bed with the alarm clocks by them. They are going to take the early train for Norfolk [at] 447 – ‘Twill be a cold ride, I wouldn’t take it for anything (‘cept to see you) – I’m glad I haven’t got to go to Norfolk anyway cause I’d feel some kinder bad there without you. Mama will be the only one here tomorrow and she says she is not going to have any dinner so I’m either going hunting or spend the day up town. I’m tired of going up town for everybody has got a hard luck tale especially the ones that owe you anything – I’m going to try to mail this on the early mail and will write tomorrow night if I see any way to get it to Kelford Sunday. Please doctor that cold and get well. Know I love you better than all the world and Heaven too. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 15, 1914] [Woodville] My own dearest Kate – I was so glad to get my sweetest letter in the world yesterday after such a long wait. I’m the happiest man in the world now cause I’m going to be with my Sweetness Saturday night and all day Sunday and then you are coming New Years. As soon as I got home last night Mog met me with good new you were coming. I’ve been singing ever since. Don’t you wish you could have heard me? I didn’t write last night as Burges and Charles were both settling with niggers and had all the desks cornered and I knew I could get my letter off this morning anyway. I must have thought Friday night was Saturday when I wrote to you the other day – wish it was a day nearer the 19th. Maybe the time will pass after a while. I’m sorry Aunt Susie and all of ‘em are trying to “talk you away from me.” But you are mine, ain’t you sweet? I’ll do everything I can to make you happy Sweetness and if you love me one half as good as I love you you are bound to be happy. You tell ‘em to stop arguing with you cause you are mine. You are not sorry are you, Sweetness? I would bring Billie with me but I think he is going to Norfolk Friday and will not be here. He may get back Saturday night at 645 and if he does I’ll bring him right straight through. You can make the candy anyway or rather get Little Sister to make it for I can’t spare you that long and you done promised no Church Sunday. We are having a hog killing here today and everything is in a mess. Burges threatening to get drunk and I wishing I was up town. I will write a long letter tonight – Know I love you better than all the whole world. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 15, 1914] [Woodville] Tuesday Night My own dearest Kate – I always did love a letter better than a note ‘specially a note cussing me out and telling me you were going to a dance too. It’s a mystery why you didn’t get my letter Monday. I gave a nigger a dime to take it to the Post Office Monday morning at 630. I was going hunting and had started up town to mail it and passed a negro and got him to take it for me. I know he mailed it for the Post Master asked me for pay for the stamp this morning. Hope you did get it today for I didn’t get mine off till the midday train – If I had have gotten a long sweet letter from you today I would have felt like Xmas for I got two Xmas presents from Insurance Companies, a pocket book and a Fountain Pen – neither of which I have any use for. The worst thing about them was both had “Compliments of . . . etc.” engraved in them so I can’t use them over again for presents. Fred Dunstan was up this afternoon and stopped by the Office for a drink. He and the widow are going to Norfolk tomorrow. I don’t know whether it’s Xmas or wedding goods they are looking [for] – Billie is going down Friday and will not come back till Saturday night on the late train so he can’t come with me Saturday night. Every time I go to talking about that I have to stop and go to counting the hours before I’ll be in Heaven. Only four more days now. Don’t let Harry’s folks trouble themselves about me for although I enjoy staying with them a lot I don’t want to put them to so much trouble. I think Aunt Clara is fine, I believe she is the only Aunt that is not against the marriage. But she may be too and you haven’t told. Please don’t let ‘em persuade you against it. Just don’t listen to ‘em and think how much I love you and want you and need you and have got to have you. I hope you had a good dance and didn’t see a single man that you even liked a bit. It’s a pity for you to get used to good dancers and then have to go to a dance here. Write me about the music and we will try to get them if you like it. Even if we did have a lot of good dancers I’ve got to have most of yours. It’s a shame for me to punish anybody I love so good but I can’t help it. I’m going to expect a long letter tomorrow to make up for such a short one today. Know I think about you and love you and worship you all the time. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 18, 1914] [Woodville] Wednesday Night My own dearest Kate – Just three more long old days and I’ll be with my Sweetness. I was the maddest man in the world this afternoon till I got home and found my sweetest letter. I went off bird hunting this morning and was having fine luck till John Urquhart broke aloose and left me. I hitched him to a tree and was shooting birds and he broke the rope and ran away. I had to spend the rest of the afternoon hunting him and would have had to walk home if a nigger hadn’t caught him. He left pieces of the harness and buggy scattered for two miles. That’s the first time he has run away since the afternoon we went driving [a] long time ago ‘fo you were mine. I’m going to send you eight birds along with this letter on the early mail. I hope you will get them tomorrow but if this weather keeps up they’ll keep a month. I hate to send so few but you’ll have to blame John U. for it. Bring your hunting clothes when you come and we will just eat birds all the time you are here. We’ll let Little Sister and Evie go to carry the game for us and we’ll do the shooting. Won’t last night a scorcher? I mean a H__ scorcher if you’ll pardon the expression. Our light tank froze but they thawed it out today. Maybe I’ll bring some warm weather and a rain too this time. I’m glad you had such a good dance, I was some kinder mad cause I couldn’t be there with you. You always did love to dance with me I’m such a good dancer – didn’t you? “Miss Margaret’s” card club meets tomorrow night at Steady’s. I’ve been thinking all day, ‘tween thoughts of you, what excuse I could have to get out of it but guess I’ll have to go to keep Mamma from disinheriting me. She thinks a lot of “Steady” and “Hellian’s” feelings and wouldn’t have me hurt ‘em for a million. So you are wondering about that early uncivilized morning ride to Kelford the girls took, are you? Have you forgotten our little cool drive to Weldon Thanksgiving morning? I don’t know which is best, not to have a train or to have one that merely blows as it passes by. Course Halifax is the best little city in the whole world though cause my Sweetness comes from there. That makes it near Heaven as an earthly place can be. Write me a long letter tomorrow night cause I’m afraid you won’t send me one Saturday. Know I love you better than everything in the world and Heaven. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex – [December 19, 1914] [Woodville] My own dearest Kate – I wrote last night but the weather was so bad this morning I couldn’t find a soul going to Kelford so I had to burn your poor letter up. If there’s any way to get up town without a boat I will get this off on the early mail tomorrow. I thought the bad weather was over but it seems to have just started. As a rule I have been bringing rain when I came so may be this time it will cause fair weather. I hope so and moon shine (speaking literally). But I don’t care if it sleets just so I’m with my own Sweetness. Next Sunday afternoon I’ll [be] the happiest man in the whole world, but for that thought I’d be the bluest in the world this afternoon. I’ll be happy now if the sun doesn’t shine till then cause I know I’m going to be with my Sweetness. I’ll be happier than folks in Heaven are won’t I sweet, cause I love you, love you, love you so good. The crew came back last night with an automobile full of packages. I have opened them all on the sly today and haven’t found a thing marked “for Alex” – The girls are all talking about how pretty the show windows were but Burges seems more interested in the show at the Academy. Something like the one you and cousin Ida saw I guess. Pauline had to go to Windsor this afternoon so Burges “cussingly” took her. Billie and Emily went along for the ride. I think they will get enough of it before they get home if they get here at all. It’s almost as bad as it was the day we came from Halifax and didn’t even know what ‘twas to be happy then cause you won’t even mine. I’d take that trip over again tonight just to be with you five minutes. Cobb still talks about that trip and the good roads around Halifax. He is still “in” with Lila and I think will be for some time so I won both my bets on that proposition but he beat me on another bet we had so we are about even. I did win a gallon of whiskey from him on a bet yesterday – can I have it? You ought to allow me a little for Xmas to I can get the Xmas spirit. How ‘bout ‘lowing me a quart Xmas Eve and one eye-opener Xmas morning – wish you would, don’t, ‘twon’t feel like Xmas a bit. If you don’t let me keep my gallon I’ll bring it over and give it to Duck, then you’ll be sorry – which had you rather have drunk, your husband or your cook? I sent Luns Long’s kid some Baby Pins and Mrs. L. wrote me a very nice letter inviting me to come up for a visit. I couldn’t stay that close to Halifax over an hour even if I had to walk down those good roads. I’m going to put in a few coupons for Little Sister. Tell her if she will bring you over here New Years I’ll find a whole heap for her. But that’s already settled and my own sweetest girl in the world is coming and I’m going to be so happy. Next Sunday I will be with you Sweetness, and I don’t think about anything else. Please write me along letter. Yesterday’s was mighty short and you ought to have made it a long one cause I don’t get a word on these old long rainy Sundays. Know I love you all in the world. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex [December 22, 1914] [Woodville] Monday Night My own dearest Kate – I miss you more than all the other times put together and if you won’t coming New Years I’ll swear I believe I’d have to go right back. If Duck’s interpretation of your dreams and prediction of my early demise comes true you may know it was caused by loving you too much. I wish I could have stayed with my sweetest girl that ever was in the world right on till Christmas – I haven’t thought about one single thing but you since I woke at seven this morning. I had about ten minutes from breakfast to train time and was almost crazy cause I couldn’t spend that with you. I had a long rainy wait in Hobgood and finally got to Kelford and found nobody to meet me. I caught a ride to Lewiston with old man Renfrow and met poor Billie about half way on a crippled Ford trying to make the train I got off of. He came back and is going tomorrow morning. I got to Lewiston in time to Express Mr. Gale’s Dinner Rings to him today. You find out from your card exactly what size you wear and I’ll have him send some Tiffany Mountings out by New Years. Cut the card out and try it on like you would a ring. Unless you decide you would like to take a little trip to Norfolk via Mount Pleasant Wharf. Talking about “pleasant” things I saw Evie this afternoon in town and she looked like she was one thousandth as happy as I’ll be New Years – Buffet is due tomorrow morning. Burges promised her he’d take her to Kelford to meet him but I think the roads will be too muddy. I wonder if he will come in “rung up,” as he promised. Burges has got a pretty good supply on hand and if he is the same Buffet I guess he will pay the Office a visit. I won’t try to influence him a bit but ‘twould tickle me to see him lit up as of old. I had rather see Zeke and Buffet fight than see the chicken fight Xmas night. I developed a small-sized fever blister this morning, must have eaten too much. I hope I got your share too this time. I also think that pin peeled enough skin off my chin to make up for both. What did Little Sister have to say or didn’t she get wise? ‘Spose it had happened Saturday night, I’d have had to smoke myself to death to make up – If you can’t bring me some of that good blank mange (I don’t see how that spells it) bring the recipe cause that’s the first I ever saw with enough chocolate in it. Burges says he’s invited to a candy . . . [remainder of letter missing …] [Christmas Night, 1914] [Woodville] Monday Night My own dearest Kate – Hasn’t this been a dark rainy Xmas day? And still when I got my sweetest letter that ever was in the world I felt like the Sun and Stars and moon were all shining at once. This has been the best and sweetest and happiest Xmas that I have ever known and I attribute all its goodness, sweetness, and happiness to the best and Sweetest woman the Lord ever blessed the earth with. I have spent the whole day in thinking of you and how sweet it was to love you and have you love me too. And my Sweetness told me she loved me in my Xmas letter and that’s enough to make the worst day that ever was seem like Xmas. You were so sweet to send me the pretty muffler. It was something I had always wanted and needed and never owned and the thought that it came from you will make me love it all the more. I hope you have enjoyed every minute of the day with all your folks there. We had fifteen grown ups and five kids for breakfast and dinner and being all together made it pleasanter. The children have been going from six o’clock this morning on bicycles, wagons, wheelbarrows, and everything else. It was a lot of fun to see them get what Santa brought them. I got three presents I’m almost afraid to tell you about, a case of whiskey, a Seltzer bottle (for making rickies and highballs) and a set of poker chips. How about that for your future husband? Folks just haven’t found out how reformed I am. The office is full of the whiskey boys tonight in spite of the weather and Ed Cobb has just informed me that our friendship closed when I had to refuse a drink of brandy with him a few minutes ago. I haven’t even had any egg nog yet. I hope I will get a long letter from my Sweetness tomorrow. We are going to the Club House Sunday afternoon and I hope the time will fly till New Years. I will write tomorrow night. Know I love you and worship you and adore you every single minute. With all my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex – [December 27, 1914] [Woodville] Sunday Night My own dearest Kate – All of the boys except Billie left right after dinner for the Club House. The weather was too rough for Billie and I had to stay to fill the light tank tomorrow. Our carbide didn’t come in the Xmas rush so I have got to wait till the freight train comes tomorrow and then fill the tank. I don’t mind waiting so much for a warm bed looks good but I get some kinder mad when I think I might have gotten a letter from my Sweetness tomorrow and now the chances are I won’t. I hope you will figure that the weather is so bad we couldn’t go and write to me tonight anyway. I got a telegram from Bowers today to meet him in Kelford tomorrow morning so I’ll take him down tomorrow night. This weather has about gotten me, having to stay cooped up in the house all the time, but I’m happy when I think about your coming New Years – only four more days before I’ll be happier than I ever was in my life. I got Tom Peele to write Paul Gale-Greenwood for another bunch of rings – I told him to send some with Platinum settings and keep his dinner rings in Norfolk. If he doesn’t send what we want we will just have to go down for a day and pick one out. Tell Little Sister I have found a lot of coupons for her if she will keep on opening that 80 mail when I’m there. I hope you haven’t got so much to do now Xmas is over. Be sure to get all the sleep you can cause I can’t let you go to bed till two here. No old town clock to be striking every ten minutes and these chickens are sensible and don’t crow till two. Fred came up from Windsor rough as the roads were yesterday and is still at Zeke’s. Leonard and Lalla spent the afternoon there today so Xmas must have brought peace to the family. Leonard told me he had a ten dollar raise but didn’t say anything about paying me for buying his license and other things. I would attach his property but he hasn’t got anything but Lalla, and I don’t want her. They seem to be very loving and I think they will get along all right. Everybody in the family is looking forward to your and Little Sister’s visit with a heap of pleasure and I am counting on being happier than ever in all my life. Know I love you and worship you. With every bit of my love – I remain forever – Your own – Alex File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie/history/letters/urquhart231gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 116.7 Kb