March 11, 1914

Dear diary,

Here I sit by the warmth of the stove feeling so lonely I could cry. Actually, I have been crying a lot just not at the moment.

Roy left yesterday. Mama and I took the train with him as far as Belle Fourche. I can still feel the warmth of his embrace as we kissed good- by. I wished we could have stood there forever, that he never had to let go and board the train.  I tell you; it was all I could do to stop myself from running after him and yelling, “Wait! Take me with you.” Instead I stood like a brave little trooper with tears rolling down my cheeks and waved good-bye.

Why did he have to give his word to Papa?  Yes, I do admire a man who stands by his word but I tell you in this case it’s enough to drive me nearly wild. Why, oh why, does 21 have to still be 2 years away?

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In the meantime, I know I must be sensible, I just don’t want to be. I know he has to make a living; I know having a nest egg is a good thing so we can build our own house. But why can’t there be work around here? So many folks are leaving. We might as well go back to Washington if only Papa wasn’t so stubborn.

And another thing that bothers me, we aren’t actually betrothed. We have talked plenty of a future together but…  Sadie says he has to be crazy besotted in love with me to come here every winter and we are as good as engaged anyway, that he is just waiting for my 21st birthday to officially pop the question. She’s probably right it’s just I am so tired of waiting.

In the meantime, what if we go join that awful war in Europe and he has to serve?  Will he come back? Will some other girl catch his eye? Honestly, I must stop thinking like this, for as Mama says it’s no use worrying about what hasn’t happened. It’s just sometimes I can’t help it.

I know it’s too soon to hear that he has arrived home safe and sound but I won’t rest easy until I do. I know his folks are expecting him but I would feel better if he wasn’t traveling all alone.

There is one piece of good news though, my tooth has finally been fixed, hopefully once and for all. I had an appointment with the dentist the same day Roy left. He will be happy to hear It has finally been fixed. He hates to see me suffering. Another thing I love about him, his compassion for others.

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March 13, 1915

Dear diary,

I was just over visiting with my Great Aunt Lib. She says my visits help her to feel better. I wish there were something more I could do, it’s not fair she has to suffer so. She lives with our closest neighbors, Papa’s Waddington cousins.  Somehow those Waddingtons are all wound up with Clarence Waddington’s family. I tell you nearly everyone out here on Mona road are connected in some way. Speaking of Vera, she wrote they have started building a house like the one she and I dreamed of last summer. I wonder if I will ever get my dream house. I guess it doesn’t much matter as long as Roy is in it, still a girl can dream.

A lot of the folks around here are busy putting in gasoline lamps but my dream house has electric lights. I guess that means I am a modern girl.  So many new things to wish for, electric lights, automobiles who knows maybe someday I’ll even fly in one of those aero planes we keep hearing about. Now wouldn’t that be something.

There is going to be a St. Patricks’ day dance at Donald on the 17^th.  I don’t care much if we go, without Roy at my side I wouldn’t enjoy it anyway. Besides all the mud filled ruts make for bad traveling right now.

Roy should have arrived back in Puyallup this morning. I hope nothing delayed him, it is so hard to wait to hear if your loved one is safe and sound.

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Puyallup Wash.
March 13, 2015

Dear Mazie,

 Well here I am safe back in Puyallup again. Got here on scheduled time this morning. I had a fine trip and am feeling fine. The folks were expecting me alright and had been for several days. I found the folks back in the old home. And they sure seem glad they are back.

 Mother is feeling quite a lot better than she did but my Father is just awful bad. He is just awful sick and looks terrible. He has lost forty seven pounds in weight since I last saw him. I am so afraid he is not going to pull through. He came awful near losing his hand and it isn’t near well yet. Tho it is somewhat better and he is also suffering from Bright’s disease and you know that is a bad thing. He looks so different from what he did that I hardly knew him and don’t think I would have known him if I had seen him anywhere else beside here. Mother looks pretty bad to but not anywhere near so bad as Father. I think she will get through alright, but I am sure afraid for my old Dad. The rest of the folks are as well as ever.

I believe Lida looks even better than she did. She has started to school again. She got quite a lot behind her class so I expect she will have to work pretty hard to catch up with her studies.
Joe and the wife are still here at home. I don’t know what they are going to do. Joe is talking of getting a job in the woods somewhere and taking the wife with him.

I sure found lots of different weather along the road than I expected, but it was better than I thought it would be, it was an agreeable surprise. I never saw a bit of snow after I passed Billings except of course on the mountains at a distance.

It is sure fine weather here. It is cloudy today but is certainly nice and warm and I tell you it does seem nice. The rose bushes and raspberries are leafing out and some flowers are in blossom. The folks have made some early garden and I see some others in the neighborhood have been gardening some also. Every one says this has been the nicest winter they have ever saw here but I hear that quite often.

Now I am going to tell you something that you may scold me for but I can’t help it if you do. I lost all of your letters and Mrs. Blakes card. I don’t know for sure how it happened but I think they were stolen from me. I had them all together in my overcoat jacket. And they disappeared while I was sleeping so I am almost sure someone took them, they could hardly got away in any other way as my coat was never moved from the seat. I am so sorry it happened but please don’t scold me to much and I will be more careful another time. I should have put them in my suitcase but I never thought a word of anyone taking them.

I told Sade about her letter and she said she would be answering it anyway. I haven’t had time to talk with any other of the neighbors as yet. I took Mrs. Henry’s jar of fruit over to her and she sure seemed glad to get it. She was just ready to go to church so I didn’t get to talk to her very long. I was over to Hugh’s a little while ago but there was no one there but Lodie and Iretha Ann is working at the box factory and Saul and Hugh were away somewhere. I may go over there a while this evening. Lode has been sick with a cold for a few days and isn’t well yet but is better, so she says.

Well the camp at Nagrom hasn’t started up yet so I got here in time after all. I think it is going to start next Monday. I am going to call them up this evening and find out. Richard is still here yet. He has been working in my berry patch and has it in pretty good shape, so there is nothing for me to do there now, so suppose I will go to the woods as soon as the camp starts and if that is Mon. I won’t have much time at home.

My old uncle is not any better than he was I don’t suppose he ever will be either. He can hardly speak a word yet.

Well Richard is getting ready to go down town so will hurry up and send this down to the office by him. I hope you get this on the Friday’s mail and I suppose you will to if it is not delayed. I sure hope you got home all right and that your tooth is all right. Tell all the folks hello for me and don’t forget to write as I will be anxious to hear how you are.

 Well this will be all for now as ever,

Roy