Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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walk to the San Ilernardino Mountains the afternoon he arrived and when I returned .Iimiy was furious. Said if I hadn't stuek myself in, she wo11ld still be sure of l1i111, llllt that I had tlirted outrageously with l1i111 and tlierefore she had lost. tlh! I could have shaken her, but I ealmly explained that he lll02lllt nothing to me whatsoever and as far as I was eoneerned, never wo11ld. Hut I danced all but two flanees witI1 llllll at the party which we gave for the benelit of the Naval lteliet' Fund. And llad. I like l1i111 heaps. I believe he likes me too, for he seemed sorry to have to go. He wants to eome to Ken- tucky during' my visit home at Ill11'lHIlll2lS time. You see he is going to Norfolk. Virginia, and will obtain a leave of absenec. I told him we would be very glad to have him come, and that settled it right there. I k11ow you'll like him Ilad because he is, after all, rather nice. It won't be long' before I will be home now, so goodsbye until' I see X011 at lloliday time. Love to you, Peggy Briar Hose Jan. Tth. Ilearest Dad: lIe1'e I illll back once more after a wonderful vacation. So many things liappeiied during' that two weeks vaeation at home. And to thinlk that I Zllll going to 1llt1l'l'y Ensign Graves. I know I am going to be quite liappy for I think he is just wonderfully nice. .Iinny was real surprised but didn't care at all, which surprised me terribly. But she has traded otf an Ensign for a. Petty Officer who she says. is a wonder. It doesn't seem possible that I could ever have become engaged to him. It is more like a dream than anything' else. Some- how I like to picture myself just as I was. But Ulf' single days will soon be over. This is an awfully short letter Daddy dear, but I donlt feel like writing' to-day. You didn't look very well when I was home and I Zllll really worried EIIIOIII you. Take better care of yourself or I shall feel it my duty to leave this beautiful place and come home to care for X011 myself. , Love caPQ,,.,,.Vvv 33 - Cumberland. Kyi May l5th My Dear .I innlyz Ilow often I have thought of you since I left school on .Ianuary illth last year. Father died just a week after I eame IIOIIIO. It was a very peaceful SIHIHIICI' into which l1e went, .Iinny, illlll when I go into tl1e same eternal sleep I want it to be just tl1e same way. Poor Ilad! Ile was tI1e most wonderful lllilll i11 tl1e world. And I want to tell you, .Iinny, that Mr. tlraves was wonderful to mel during' that time. I-3ut I've changed my mind abo11t ever marrying' him, Jinny. FIIIIIQIJS death did that. I never could be happy and besides I have other things to think about now. I told him that, and he went away. Page 104

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J inny was exaggerating things to me. She is terribly romantic and has quite an, imagination for a girl of her tender years. Please fwrite -often and thanks for the check you sent me. Love, ccpeggyn Briar Rose Oct. 31 Dearest Daddy: Again I have been rushed to death. But it hasn't been quite so long since you last heard from me, this time., We had a marvelous party the other night. It was the nicest dance I've ever attended. The girls all looked so Wonderful in their even- ing gowns, and I must add that the men in blue uniforms completed the effect. Oh don't get excited! Jinny Was there but not with an Ensign. He had something to keep him from coming the last minute, and right then and there I decided I might just as well make up 1ny mind to the fact that I probably would never as much as see him. As for myself, I donft think his excuse was very good but Why should I be bothered. Jinny seemed to think it was perfect. He belongs to her, not me, thank goodness! I Wonder if he is any diiferent than other boys I used to know back home, We don't see many of the op- posite sex here and When, We do We nearly always turn a.nd run before We find ourselves rushing up to shake hands with them. The teachers here are all very lovely-sometimes. But if it was not for Miss Marcey, things Would get rather monotonous. Dad! You should see our chaperone. She's a perfect thirty-six lackin.g about thirty inches. Such an old maid I never saw. And she dresses the way they did when Louis the I-lth was alive. I had to go to the city the other day for some things I needed and of course she had to go along. I thought I would die with laughter when we got on a street car and the thing started with a jerk. I turned around to seei if she had gotten on Without trailing over thirty yards of dress, when down she sat on a l1lEI11,S lap. Of course it was the fault of the car, but just to be real good and mean I couldn't see it that way. She has never invited herseH to go with me since and I hope it lasts. Here comes Jinny with a.nother letter from that dear Ensign of hers and I must close While she pours the contents into my ears. I wonder what he has to say this time. Write to your loving Peggy . P. S. His letter stated tha.t he Would be here next Friday. Hur-ray! at last! Briar Rose Nov. 15th. Dear Dad: Well at last it has happened. And so have other things. I met J inny's Ensign and he is really quite wonderful looking. But J inny is broken, hearted for he told her that he was sorry but he could love her nlot. Poor Jinny! She Was stunned-speechless-and gave way to tears of rea.l grief. And can you imagine it? I took him for a Page 103

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I was sorry for him, hut I just eouldn't do differently. Father left his enitire estate and money to me and just at the present time I am making plans for a lJoy's orphan asylum whieh I am going' to take eharge of. All it laeks is a small sum of money to put it on its feet again and with a few repairs will make a wonderful home for hoys that have no relatives to Care for them. I am so enthusiastic over my new work, .Iinny dear. and when we get settled and ready for business I want you to eome and help nie. We need good instructors and you are just the one I need to help me out. ' ri Think it over .Iinny and eome out here in the mountains. The elimate is wonderful and you need never worry ahout growing old. Prohahly hy the time you are ready to settle down in a home of your own I will he ahle to tind someone to till your plaee. l know now that l shall never marry. I am wrappeil up, eoinpletely, in. my work and that settles that question for all times. It is funny how things turn out. Everyone used to think that l would marry hefore I reaehedy twenty years, hut anyway, it hasn't panned out that way and never will, for I won't have time to think of matrimony now. It has heen over a year sinee l left sehool and l suppose you are ready to grad- uate. lVhen you have linlished and if you want my offer, Jinny dear, eome to Kentucky and do something: that will he of henelit to a whole eommunity. Love Inoggy Meltonald tlrplian Asylum .Iune lith. l Darling' Jinn-y : I was sorry indeed that you eould not at-eept my otfer to eome here and help me look after my ehildren. l needed a partner so had- ly. However the vaeaney is tilled. I didn't even have to advertise. IVhile I am takine' eare of my hoys here in the only home they ever knew, he will he sailing aeross the Paeilie on our hattleships. I am very happy and my partner is liapliy, also. IVe hoth send you our hest regards and still Otter you a position in our sehool. I might want you in ease a leave of ahsen.ee doesn't eome very often. Iiove to you .Iinny dear, I am forever, yours sineerely, Mrs. Arthur IC. Graves, -Ir. Cf? Arthur E. Graves, Ensign II. S. S. Arizona nee Peggy of Cumherland, Ky. The End Page 105