CEHBates_1922-1923_005d

I at first wanted to go down to Long Beach
as Lesley has always wanted me to go down
he feeling that there is a great opportunity
in oil, real estate etc.. I was going but
finally called it off as Martha didn't care to
live down there etc which would mean that
much more worry for me if we were living
there knowing that she was discontented. Of
course this is never to be repeated or written back
so that she may get word of it but such are
the facts & here I am with Lesley quite disappointed
because I didn't come down.

There's one thing you'll learn from experience
& that is you "Cant cry over spilt milk" so you
don't hear much from me. I'd rather be
in Hell & know all were content & happy than
to be elsewhere with discontent about me.

Of course I may be making the wrong move
by doing what I am, enduring long hours etc but
no one can tell without giving a thing a chance
and that the world is anyway, a gamble.

I read a recent letter the other night
Edward in which you harp on marriage
etc. Of course it is perfectly natural that you
would want to, and that is your duty but
there are many things to be entertained in ones
mind before taking the final step. Before I start
I want it understood that I am not discouraging