Letters from Grandpa 5 April 1916

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

Dearest, that Manhattan I spoke about yesterday as a failure.-- It didn't come even close to putting vim into me,-- in fact it almost knocked me senseless. And if I hadn't wadded it down tight with a big dinner I think I'd have gone clear "out". Never did like 'em anyhow and after I take one ---- or two - I always think I'll never take another, but my memory is short.

Your second installment dear came this morning, - a day behind the first -- and I like it, because you've taken the liberty of asking me a personal question and it give me an opportunity to tell you that I don't want you to feel that you haven't a perfect right to ask me any question you want - at any time. And what's more, dear, I want you to know me, so of course you'll have to ask questions, and I'll delight in answering 'em ------- if I don't overlook or forget.

I'm not a Catholic dear, in fact I don't profess any particular faith. My mother belonged to the Episcopal Church and two of my sisters were Episcopalians also; the other two were Presbyterians.

I'm glad you liked the suit, tho' sorry about the hat, and if you call that cruel when you tell me your likes, dislikes, etc - well dearest your cruelty is very delightful. There's no need of forgivness where there's been no sin.

Always with love
yours
Frank
April 5th, 1916

P.S. I almost forgot-
We go back to Elko Saturday and will stay over Sunday. Monday we go up to a ranch about 20 miles from Elko - expect to stay one day only then back to Elko then to----well that's counting a little to far ahead dear - We've got to go back to Eureka for a short time soon. What's that swearing I hear? Guess you were just joining my chorus. Well we've got most all the summer to put in and the road looks best, financially, to us.

Frank

Letters from Grandpa 4 April 1916

The Allen Hotel
Geo. Allen, Prop.
Wells, Nevada

Miss Allene Kelley,
Modesto,
California

And now I know my Girlie is mistaken; I wasn't peeved at all-and furthermore it's no fault of mine if "two days and part of the third" went by without a letter. I only missed one day, dear, so you should get a whole flock of 'em at once.

I'm glad the storm has blown over, as I note by this mornings letter, and you are all calmed down,-but I did sure enjoy yesterday's. You're some "spit fire" when you want to be, I see. Did you take any of your vengeance out on the boys, or did you give me the full volume of the explosion? Surely I got it all, and until then (yesterday) I didn't realize my capacity was so great. Believe I could weather a real storm, if you put the same loving finishing touches to it. And such letters with such endings are proof positive that  while you maybe very disappointed and "peeved" you can forgive, and isn't that one of the first and principal teachings of the scriptures?

Say dearest I'm not possessed of one single bit of vim or life today-lately-guess I need a good punch in the ribs to wake me up--and there's nobody around here I'd care to have do it to me. I wonder if a Manhattan Cocktail would help me--I'll go see.

Adios por esta tiempo, with all my love.

Ever yours,
Frank

April 4th, 1916

Letters from Grandpa 3 April 1916

D. Quilici Brothers
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
General Merchandise
Wells, Nevada

Miss Allene S. Kelley,
Modesto,
California

At the top of the first page of this letter was an ink blot and this note: "What do you say when you've finished a letter and then throw a drop of ink like [arrow to the blot] this on the first page? Well that's what I said."-ed.

Thank God, Dearest, I was miles away when you wrote the letter I received this morning. Distance may lend enchantment but it often acts as shelter from explosions, etc. and now I'm safe and unharmed after the "show" you put on when the boys and I disappointed you.

Say dear, if you can growl and show your teeth as plainly in reality as you did in this letter you must be a terror. If you think I didn't laugh when I read that letter this morning Allene, you're "sure" fooled. And I smile (and want to laugh out loud) every time I think about it. I don't blame you a bit (d--n the grease or whatever it is on this paper!) for exploding in a case of this kind.

When a fellow's got all plans made for a good time and something turns up to shoot said plans all to pieces it's sufficient grounds for most any kind of an outburst. ~~~But the letter I didn't write wasn't because I was peeved at your lengthy silence. "Twas the day we left Elko and came up here and I was busy at that end getting packed up etc. and at this end unloading and so forth, so come out of it dear and calm down and let's be nice and not scold nor anything anymore. What do you say, huh?

Always yours,
Frank
April 3d, 1916