dearie you see how wild I’m getting in this letter —
Precious Darling,
It is 6:30 o’clock A.M. Saturday — before breakfast of course — and it is a glorious morning. Ma just said to tell you that Mrs. Cummings sent her two beautiful bouquets of sweet peas, and that my Aunt Nora Mason — do you remember her? — (the one you liked so well when we all came up to your house and played bean bag and I chose you first on my side?) — has a little baby boy. It is certainly a great event.
Your two letters came last night as I knew they would, and I thrilled and thrilled all over as I read them, — did you hear and feel my heart beating?
Word came from the tunnel the other day that there was a chance for me to work for two months, — one of the men was away on account of sickness and I could take his place. I didn’t dare to take it for only 2 months for fear of not having any job at all at the end of that time, and my vacation would be lost also. The engineer didn’t expect me to take it as I already had steady work but let me know of it as I was on the list. He said he would still keep me in mind. Mr. W. knows nothing about it and I shan’t tell him until I get ready to go. Neither have I said anything about vacation, but I am coming to Alton anyway — if I lose the job. Dearie, I have not made as many mistakes since I’ve been in the business as I have since you’ve been away. It is making me just about crazy — no joking. The mistakes do not count in my favor and it is useless to have much of a talk which such mistakes are going on. Oh dearie, dearie, come back come back now, come back for my sake — I feel so badly I don’t know anything — I love you dear. I am so crazy that I do things which work against me. If I could only put my head in your arms or your lap — nothing else will sooth me. I want nothing but you. — dearie you see how wild I’m getting in this letter, — don’t notice it, it is only a little spell — it comes when I get to thinking, or writing to you. I am not absolutely crazy yet so don’t be frightened, — I don’t want these letters to make you feel badly or to worry you. But I certainly feel terribly bad. It is a shame that you feel no better than you do — wait until I come. I love you dear I love you dear I love you dear I love you dear I want you to be my wife, dear. My “waterlily.” Some day all of these dreams will come true.
Before forgetting, Lloyd was more than delighted with the postal you sent and says “thank you.” Dearie will you please send me that letter (“hideous letter” as you called it) that you wrote and decided not to send? I want it and will not be satisfied until I see it. Please send it dearie, will you I want it. Oh I love you I am crazy foolish, brainless, I want you I want you I love you — come back to me and you shall never never never never never leave me again. Love to all — I love you dear, my “waterlily.”
p.s. Perhaps I shall go down to see the Hatches, but I don’t know whether to hurt myself or not. I know they will see a change and tell all about it. I cannot hide my feelings at all. Oh I love you dear I want you, my “waterlily” my “waterlily.”
Chester Loves Mabel 