The Widow's Mail Order Husband (Mail Order Brides) Read Free Page A

fatten up during the summer and we will take most of them to market following our roundup this fall. Our daily work consists of riding the fence lines and repairing fallen fences when found.
     
    “Our ranch house is rather large, and we have quarters for Rosa, and a bunkhouse for the ranch hands. We have a nice kitchen with water inside. My late wife and I had planned and hoped for a large family, so we built a large house in anticipation, When pneumonia took her from us two years ago, Emily and I were left with a large, unfilled house. I hope to change that. I look forward to your response. (s) Account 875.”
     
    Mary read the letter through twice, taking particular interest in the personal facts. She sat at her desk, contemplating her answer. “Dear Account 875, Your much anticipated letter received. I live in an average size home I inherited from my parents, since I was an only child. Your home sounds lovely and the operation of the ranch is interesting. How do you get them to market?
     
    “I have been a teacher in our local elementary school for several years and feel I get along well with children. What type of activity attracts Emily? Are there any friends nearby with whom she can play? We have some rather harsh winters here, but the summers are quite pleasant. What is your weather like?
     
    “It seems as if I might be asking too many questions. I hope you don’t feel that way. I would like to share your interests also. I attend a Lutheran church regularly. I enjoy playing the piano. I also belong to one of the circles, The Ladies Sewing Circle. It really is a chance for the local women to get together and gossip. I suppose I would be the subject if they knew about my ad. Where do your interests lie? Do you have family close?”
     
    She mailed the letter the same day and settled back to await an answer. Probably two weeks away. “I believe I will give the editor permission to release my name and address to number 875. We could cut the response time in half by writing directly,” she said to herself.
     
    Two weeks later, her answer came. When she opened it, she read that his name was Thomas Hartness, and he lived in Grapevine, TX. “Grapevine. What an interesting name, I wonder about the origin? It seems our minds run on the same track, I’m going to release my name and address also. Now that I have his address, I can write to him directly.”
     
    The rest of the letter was devoted to answering her questions. He had an older brother on a neighboring ranch. There were children on the ranches, but none close enough for the children to get together for playtime and Emily was too young to ride. He told her about driving his cattle to Fort Worth to market. That excited her because it meant she would be close enough to Minerva for occasional visits. The weather gets pretty hot in the summer, but the winters were usually fairly mild, with occasional snow that didn’t last long.
     
    She responded directly to the letter, giving her name and address. Now, after one more letter, Thomas invited Mary to meet. He agreed to pay for transportation and also return transportation if she decided they were not compatible.
     
    Mary went back to the bank. “Jasper Stirnbaum I’m traveling to Texas and might or might not return, but I will let you know what to do, once I decide. Any costs involved can be paid from the rental account. I will give your trust department the necessary authority.” She packed one trunk and arranged with a close friend to pack and ship her other items if she decided to stay in Texas.
     
    Her ticket arrived in the regular mail along with funds to cover incidental expenses along the way. It would take three and one half days to make the trip. She would be leaving from the Hagerstown train station, change trains in Washington and from there to New Orleans, where she would change again for the westbound part of her trip.
     
    Everything was packed and she was ready. The day before she was to