MAY 15th, 1900 - ELG to RGJ ______________________________________________________________________________________

In envelope postmarked South Paris, May 16th, 1900, addressed to "Miss Gertrude Jones, Intervale, Maine, c/o Geo. Wharff. On the back, someone has pencilled "31." At this time, RGJ was teaching in New Gloucester and boarded with the Wharff family. The Wharff home still exists and is located on the west side of Route 231 just south of the junction with North Pownal Road in the Intervale section of New Gloucester. The Grand Trunk tracks ran directly behind the house, that is to the west. The district 5 "Bear Brook" school was located directly across the street, that is, on the east side of Route 231 and south side of North Pownal Road. Today the school has been converted into a private home and has been moved to the north side of North Pownal Road. The inscription discussed in this letter, and the ring pictured in the next letter, refer to RGJ's engagement ring which I have. It's a plain gold band with a pink Maine tourmaline. (I also have ELG's ring - also gold, with a garnet.)

Tuesday P.M. 5.30
May 15th, 1900

My Darling Ruth.

Yours at hand and you cant imagine how glad I was to get your lovely letter. Yes my dear I can see your love for me as no one else can and you need not worry about your not showing your appreciativeness to me for what I do. if it is but little my dear you know you have won the honest heart of an honest fellow if I do say it - and that is something that a very few girls can say of their choice ("now-a-days") and I am glad that I can say the same of you dear, and if we don't make as happy a pair as you ever met, I'll give up my half of the earth you bet.

Yes my honey (?) your face looked just as dear to me as mine did to you, and I never saw more in your face than I did that night after the folks went out of the room and you and I sat on the lounge hugging and kissing each other.

You say wont it be odd to have just E.L.G. to G.J. yes it would and it wont be for what ever goes in will be even letters on both sides.

I want it marked E.L.G. to R.G.J. and I don't know why it cant be do you?

If it cant be so then I think it better be just E to G & G to E, don't you.

Ruth I have to go up to my room every time I come into the house if I have time and look at that stone Ruth. I think it is the handsomest thing I ever saw in a pink tourmaline and what a happy moment it will be in my life when I place that ring on your finger I cant just feel my heart leap for joy at the thought of it. If every thing goes well my dear I wonder why we cant arrange to go to Portland to-gether when I have it set, if I go on a Sat? then you can see for your-self the setting and etc.

You could meet me at the sta. for the 7.11 train and I would be all ready to get off so you would know I was on the train, and we would have such a nice time together.

Well my dear how I thought of you last eve. we had a terrible shower here and such lightning as there was we seldom see. While we were standing at the station at Norway I saw four or five bolts of lightning go down in exactly the same line in-side of two minutes. The lightning struck the Catholic Church over on the "Rumford Road" and it came very near burning down.

It struck the chimney and fired the building burning through the roof in several places and also doing a great deal of damage inside but as usual the most damage was by water.

It was a light inside when we came over from Norway the first trip before No. 1. but there being stained glass windows the flickering of the flames that one would nat. notice through plain glass was vailed and 6. I supposed they were having a service there for I had seen a Priest here that day.

When we came out of Norway the last trip we had to hang up for about ¾ of an hour as they had two lines of hose across the track.

We have had another shower here this P.M. but not much lightning though lots of rain fell.

Did'nt get a chance to load any coal this morn. as we had to get out and finish up unloading stone up at the culvert above "Swifts Crossing"

Well I suppose Clayton & Grace are to be married to night. they have a day similar to the day Madge and Walter had for it was muggy and showery.

My pay was only $39.45 this mo. quite a diff. between that and $60.00 etc?

The railroad Commissioners went up over the road to-day.

Eng. 423 and one Coach

Well my dear I must stop and eat supper.

Hoping this finds you well, & happy and a good apetite.

Write to me as often as you can wont you dearest.

Hugs and Kisses from your loving Hubby.

Ned.