Louisville [Kentucky] April 4, 1869. 

Dear Miss Schofield, 

Before this time, I suppose 
you know what shape the "Reveries" of 
my Bachelorhood have taken. You have 
a woman's eyes and intuitions and no doubt 
guessed long ago what was the meaning of 
the frequent letters which passed between 
Mary and me. I can't flatter myself 
that I managed to conceal from you the 
fondness I always had for her although 
you will do us both the credit of conducting 
ourselves [Underlined: in company] (i.e. in your presence) 
in an eminently proper way. 
I am not quite certain that she has told 
you the story of our love although I wrote 
her that I thought she had better do so and 
have little doubt that she has done so since 
she has told it to her mother and sister. 
I shall immediately look for a letter of 
congratulation from you upon my good 


future in obtaining such a prize as 
I have in Mary and perhaps you'll season 
such a letter with a bit of advice which 
your profession of teacher renders you competent 
to give!

At any rate, you'll admit that after 
all, a pretty big corner of my heart is 
devoted to "sentiment" and I don't believe 
I shall part with it very soon. 
I shall keep it as long as Mary will let 
me and she'll tell you how long that 
will be. 

I am waiting to hear again from her before 
I write home about the treasure I found 
before leaving South Carolina and you are 
the first to whom [Underlined: I] have said anything 
about it. 

I hope you'll not think Mary has been 
hasty or unwise in the step she has taken. 
That you'll not consider me so, I am sure. 
You said long ago in one of your letters 
that a picture of your house embellished 
by her couldn't be disposed of without the 


original, when I asked if I couldn't get 
one. Have I not got the "original" at 
last? I don't care so much for the picture now. 

Of course you must show this to Mary 
for I want her to see what I have written to you. 
I only wish she were where I could have 
her read all the letters which I write - if she 
cared to do so - and where I could talk to her 
instead of being compelled to write to her. 
I don't know whether she cares to have any 
thing said about this matter but I know 
you will govern yourself by her wishes entirely, 
for they are mine. 

I hope you'll not be inclined to bring an 
action for grand larceny against me for 
"taking, stealing and carrying away" Mary's 
heart! If you do, I shall plead to the jurisdiction 
of any court before which you 
might bring us. 

I hope you had a pleasant visit at 
Charleston and go back to Aiken free of 
your cold and with renewed vigor of body. 
I think your mind has about enough [?] 


[Underlined: now] so far as the interest you take in 
your school is concerned. 

Have the repairs last made to the school 
added to your comfort? 

It is quite cold here. Very much like 
the weather we had at Christmas time and 
there are no signs of blossoms on the fruit 
trees. 

Have you seen [Captain] Nerland of late? 
I wrote him a little while after I came 
here but have received no reply. 

As I shall probably write a [little] more than
this evening to Mary, I shall put this 
in a separate envelope. Mary's may 
not be so likely then to attach the attention 
of the Postmistress. 

By the way the school committee - [Underlined: men] 
of my old town Boston, suggested the 
propriety of electing some women to serve 
on the Committee as has been done in 
other towns in [Massachusetts]! There's a chance 
for some woman anxious for the [?] of 
a lucrative (!) office. 

Hoping soon to receive your congratulations 

I am, truly your friend 
William Stone 


[Envelope] 

Miss Martha Schofield 
Aiken 
[South Carolina]