William Stone letter to Martha Schofield

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]