LETTER #9 - NO ENVELOPE

AUGUST 3, 1886
JACKSBORO, TEXAS

MISS. L. B. STARNES,

ESTEEMED FRIEND, THIS BEAUTIFUL MORN BEING AT LEASURE AND ALONE. I TAKE THE HIGH AND HONERED PRIVELEGE OF WRITING YOU A FEW LINES. IN ORDER TO TRY, BUY THE WAY WHAT HAS AFFECTED THE PEN CAN HAVE ON A TRUE AND LOVING FRIEND. WHO I CAN TRUST WITH MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS. WELL MISS BELL, I WROTE YOU ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO. ALSO ANSWERED YOUR LAST LETTER AND TO DAY WILL CLOSE THE MY WRITING UNTIL I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM YOU. I WOULD SAY JUST HERE THAT I AM NOT MAD, BUT I DESIRE A REPLY TO SOME OF THE LETTERS WHICH HAS PRCEEDED THIS.

THIS IS MY MY THIRD LETTER SINCE I HEARD FROM YOU LAST. AND I DESIRE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF SOME VALUE OR IMPORTANCE. I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO KNOW WHY YOU HAVE NOT WRITTEN, ALSO DID YOU MEAN TO MAKE YOUR PROMISE TRUE: IF YOU DID NOT MEAN TO PROVE TRUE, WHY HAVE TREATED ME IN SUCH A WAY: I WILL LEAVE THESE THOUGHTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THINK OF THEM AND THEN LET ME READ THE REPLY AT AN EARLY DATE. FOR I AM VERY ANXIOUS TO LEARN MY FATE. YES I WOULD DESIRE TO WIN, BUT ALAS THE ROAD LOOKS DARK TO SUCCESS. BUT I AM STILL IN HOPES I WILL COME OUT VICTORIOUS, AND BE ABLE TO CARRY OFF THE PRISE WHICH I HAVE DESIRED TO WIN FOR THESE MANY YEARS.

I AM READY TO COME DOWN WHEN YOU ANSWER ONE OF THE LETTER WHICH HAS PROCEEDED THIS OR THIS ONE. SO LET ME READ A LETTER WRITTEN BY THOSE CHERISHED HANDS MISS BELL. WELL THERE IS NO NEWS IN JACK. WE HAD A GENTLE SHOWER THE 2 INST.

WHEN TWILIGHT APPROACHES THE SEASON,
THAT IS EVER SO SACRED TO SONG.
DOES SOME ONE REPEAT MY NAME OVER,
AND SIGH THAT I TARRY SO LONG.
DOES SHE SIT ME A CHAIR IN THE PARLOR,
WHEN EVENING HOME PLEASURES ARE NIGH.
WHEN THE CANDLES ARE LIT IN THE PARLOR,
AND THE STARS IN THE CALM AZURE SKY.
AND THE GOOD NIGHT ARE REPEATED,
AND ALL LAY DOWN TO THEIR SLEEP.
DOES SHE THINK OF ME ABSENT AND WAFT,
ME A WHISPER GOOD NIGHT WHILE I SLEEP.

WELL, MISS BELL I'LL BRING THIS SHORT LETTER TO A CLOSE. WRITE SOON AS YOU GET THIS UNTHOUGHTED LETTER AND LET ME KNOW MY DOOM. SO I AM EVER YOUR DARLING,

LEWIS

WEARY SO WEARY OF WAITING
FOR A LETTER FROM SYMPATHY SWEET
FOR SOMETHING TO LOVE AND TO LOVE ME.
AND PLEASURES THAT ARE NOT SO FLEET.
FOR A HAND TO BE LAID ON MY FOREHEAD
A GLIMPS OF THE GOLDEN BROWN HAIR.
FOR A STEP THAT TO ME IS EVER SWEET MUSIC
AND A BROW THAT IS NOBLE AND FAIR.

SO HOPING ALL THINGS WORK FOR US A BRIGHT AND HAPPY FUTURE. (ILLEDGE) YOUR TRUE AND LOVING FRIEND, UNTIL DEATH DO US PART. SO GOOD BY MY DEAR BELL, HOPING THIS WILL FIND YOU WELL:

YOURS TRUELY,

L. L. MC COMB

WRITE SOON.

EXCUSE ALL MISTAKES AND REMEMBER ME LOVE IN YOUR PRAYERS. I WILL WAIT TILL THE 12 FOR A REPLY TO THIS, IF YOU FAIL TO (LOOK AT THE TOP OF PAGE)

WRITE BEFORE THE 12 INST IN TIME FOR ME TO GET YOUR LETTER. YOU WILL VERY LIKELY SEE ME ON 15 OF THIS MONTH. NOW I MEAN BUSINESS AND MUST LEARN AT ONCE WHAT CAN BE DONE.