MY DARLING, I RECEIVED YOUR HIGHLY APPRECIATED LETTER THIS EVENING. I WAS INDEED GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU ONCE MORE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A LETTER FROM YOU FOR SOME TIME, BUT THE TREASURE HAS COME AT LAST. AND I RECEIVED IT WITH GREAT JOY MY DARLING. I HAD RATHER SEE YOU TONIGHT AS ANYONE ELSE ON THIS EARTH. I THINK OF YOU EVERYDAY, AND OFTEN DREAM OF YOU AT NIGHT. BUT ALAS WHEN I AWAKE, AND FIND THAT I HAVE ONLY BEEN DREAMING. AND FIND THAT I AM FAR FROM THE IDOL OF MY HEART, IT MAKES ME FEEL SAD. BUT I CAN CHEER UP AND LOOK FORWARD TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
WE HAD A WEDING IN OUR COUNTY THE 16 (ILLEDGE) AND ALSO A SUPPER AND DANCE. WE WERE LOOKING FOR MR. NEWMAN AND SISTER TODAY. THE WIND IS SO HIGH, WE CANT SEE ANYTHING BUT RED RIVER SAND. BUT I TRUST THE MARCH WINDS WILL SOON BE OVER AND THEN WILL COME THE LOVELYEST SEASONS OF THE YEAR, OR AT LEAST I THINK SO.
OH WHAT SHALL I DO MY DEAR IN THE COMEING YEAR. I WONDER WHEN OUR PATHS WHICH LIE SO SWEETLY NEAR, SHALL LIE SO FAR ASUNDER. OH WHAT SHALL I DO THROUGH ALL THE SAD TOMORROWS, WHEN THE SUNNY SMILES HAS CURSED TO CHEER THAT SMILE AWAY ALL SORROW. THAT SONG BALLAD I ASKED YOU TO WRITE WAS, MY HEART MY LOVE IS BEATING.
SO HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON, I WILL CLOSE. PLEASE EXCUSE ALL MISTAKES, FOR I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS AT DAYLIGHT, FOR IT LOOKS BAD ENOUGH BY LAMPLIGHT.
I REMAIN YOUR DARLING,
BELLE STARNES
WHAT SHALL I DO WITH ALL THE DAYS AND HOURS THAT MUST BE COUNTED, ERE I SEE THY FACE (ILLEDGE) SHALL I CHARM THE INTERVALS THAT LOWER BETWEEN THIS LINE AND THAT SWEET TIME OF GRACE.
BELLE
