Letter 2020.102.34

[Melluiville?], Ind. May 28, '99

My dear Miss Hartzell:

Your letter, both as to constructs and length, was very enjoyable, and if it is simply fear of using [pencil?], which makes short and infrequent [errors?], don't let that disturb you in the least. I don't know of a better place than your knee, to write on, and, [are?], in hopes you will be busy when this reaches you, so you can duplicate the last.

Haven't heard from Mrs.,[Mae?], in some time and think she has forgotten me, yet from an account received from her husband yesterday, I expect

she is too busy trying to get into their country place, which is not yet done, and, amid all this, she has Mrs. Hall, and her daughter from Nassau meeting her. We boarded with Mrs. Hall and found her much nicer than her table. The weather has been unpleasantly chilly ever since my return until the mast week and now it is beginning to warm up and feel like summer; for which I am glad, in many ways, among others, the horses can be mounted up and are beginning to go fast enough to think of racing about the first of July. I expect now to race part of my horses in the cart at Portland. Mr. and President R. I., now and now, if I do, will probably go there for a short time, anyway, probably making two trips. Couldn't you have a patient down in that direction about that time? I'm afraid my trip to the coast is knocked out, but am glad to know I can count on you for any little excursion, "sich as that," and shall, most certainly, hold you to your word, whether meant in jest or not, before the summer is over. I have just heard word that a party of my friends from town are coming out to the little hotel in this town tomorrow evening and they have kindly invited me to partake of their hospitality, so I suppose this country Jake will be strictly in it. I forgot to mention the event is

in honor of Miss Lee, daughter of Gen. Lee, who is visiting Mrs. Harry Ness, the wife of Mr. Captain Ness, whom I inquired if you met in Jacksonville. By the way, speaking of Jacksonville, how are your particular friends getting along, I mean your male friends, ot Mrs. Marshall? I tried to take a picture of your namesake the other day, which has not yet been developed. It was almost my first experience and I am afraid it may not be successful, but if not, will try again and send you one. The young miss is very precocious and bids fair to become quite a celebrity, if not cut off in her early youth. Everything was exceedingly quiet out here today and I wish very