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Portland, Oreg.
Aug 19, 1937


My Dear Darling -

    I received your letter this morning which you wrote on the 16th. I was sure glad to hear from you again. It seems like such a long time between letters that I get from you. I just pester the Postal Clerk to death asking him twice a day if he has any mail for me.
    Darling, I have a confession to make! I told you the other day that I was going to that dinner at the hotel all by myself. Well that's exactly what I intended to do too. But here's what happened. I told the boys at the store that I was going to attend the dinner without a partner for the reason that I had a sweetheart back in Bemidji and that I would not step out on her; but the boys talked amongst themselves to my back making statements that I was only digging up an excuse because I probably couldn't get a girl friend to take to the dinner with me. These sayings came back to me yesterday. And it didn't set so good with me. I didn't want the boys to think that I was a piker, but I didn't know what to do about it. Finally I decided not to go. And then I thought to myself if I didn't go, they sure would think I was a piker. Evening was drawing nigh and Aunt Lu was serving a big dinner at 6 P.M. in honor of Uncle Vern's 51st birthday, and Mr and Mrs Shaw and their daughter Hope were invited as guests, and here I was supposed be present at the dinner at the hotel at 7:30 P.M. Aunt Lu and Uncle Vern wanted me to stay for dinner with them and then attend the dinner at the hotel also. But I didn't know whether to go to the hotel or not. Then all of a sudden I jumped at conclusions while eating at the dinner table, here at Lu's, and invited Hope Shaw to dine with me at the Columbia Food Co dinner which was only an hour and a half away. She accepted my invitation. Hope is as pretty as she can be. And did I ever show the rest of the boys up. Hope was the prettiest girl at the dinner which was held in a private dining room at the Hotel Benson. Boy but you should of seen those boys' faces when they saw my guest. They were simply amazed.
    But I showed them that I could do it if I wanted to. But never again will I take out any other girl but my own Darling.
    After we had finished our dinner, the different managers of the outlaying Col. Food Co. stores told short banquet stories and then they took us all to the Broadway Theatre where it cost the company 1.25 a person. There were approximately 25 young men and 25 ladies present at the occasion. Though the two features at the theatre were very good and the dinner was fair, I cannot say that I enjoyed myself. I could only think of you all night while at the hotel and theatre. I knew I was doing wrong. I did not love Hope though she is a nice girl. How could I love her when all my love is fixed on you. Immediately after the show I took Hope to her home and thanked her for her company. And she thanked me for taking her, as my guest, to the occasion. But there was no kiss or necking. I couldn't do that. My conscience told me that. After I left her at her home I came directly home and went to bed. It was 1 o'clock in the morning. I laid abed and heard the clock chime 1:15 then 1:30, 1:45 and then I heard it strike 2:00. I couldn't go to sleep. I was wishing that you were here. But you were 2000 miles from me. I hadn't received a letter from you for 2 or 3 days. It made tears come to my eyes. I couldn't help it. Finally I got up and took a drink of Bill's whiskey. Then returned to my bed and heard the clock chime 2:15. That was the last I heard until Uncle Vern called me for breakfast this morning.
    Vernon told me that I didn't have to tell you that I took Hope with me. But I didn't want to hide anything from my Darling.
    Darling, please write me with all your love and forgive me. It is 8 P.M. and I must catch up on my sleep so good-nite Elsie till the morrow.

                  x
          Love From
             Irvin



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