January 11, 1909
Kelowna, B. C.
My dearest Kathleen,
I went down town last mail day on the chance of getting a letter and my hopes were realised for there was one there [Kathleen–December 24, 1908], so I shan’t have to wait another weary month in silence. I do sincerely hope that I shan’t give you cause to find fault with me for any other reason in the future, for one or two sentences in your letter read somewhat reproachfully and I didn’t like it at all. A mild reproach from you is so far worse than an awful slating from anybody else. Really, dear, I think you have been most awfully nice about this and I am awfully glad I told you as I am sure it isn’t right that two people should settle down together unless they know most of the important things about each other. I have been having a pretty bad time every now and then this last month or two but it’s all over now, isn’t it? Sometimes I thought it was bound to be all wrong but at other times I was sure it couldn’t be, it would be so hopeless without you.
It is still frightfully cold here. I stayed in one day as there was nothing to go out for, but I didn’t like doing it. Luckily some people came to tea–Jock Thomson, Ethel and Bobo Thomson (brother and sisters of Mrs. Mallam and Mrs. Lysons) and a Miss Black who teaches school down in those parts. I gave them tea and thawed them out in front of the stove. They brought me an invitation to a dance down at “The Meadows”, the Thomson family’s place, for the following Friday and would I tell Mr. Leigh to come too. So on Friday I rode up to his place in the morning. It was somewhere below zero with a real cold wind and found him and two other fellows sitting over a red hot stove, apparently just having breakfasted. I gave him my message and came home again and in the afternoon rode down town to get your letter, got home about 6:00, and after supper went off in the sleigh to this dance. We danced in the kitchen and the walls were all covered with frost despite about ten heated couples dancing violently and the fact that it was a small room. It was about the only dance I’ve ever been to that I didn’t get too hot dancing. We all managed to keep warm though! It was 27° below outside.
Saturday we tried skating, which wasn’t a success (too cold and too much snow), and then Harry and I went up to the Mallams’ for the weekend. Mallam has just bought a pianola-piano just like yours except it’s all in one, and you can play it softer than any pianola I have heard yet. We shall certainly have to have one here, or do you find that the possession of one and unlimited opportunities of using it palls after a bit? I am sure I shouldn’t find that, I am much too fond of music. I believe you are too, as long as it isn’t the violin.
I hear you had bad luck with your horse but I don’t know which one. I don’t quite understand how it happened unless the horse was looking round too. It seems to be a case of pure bad luck. It’s a very long time since I heard any news of you. I expect it was all in that unfortunate letter that was torn up. How did the Stow Ball come off? I hope you enjoyed it. It’s usually too crowded to dance and much too hot and one has a house party to look after.
You will very likely get this just about the anniversary of the Ladies’ Ball. I wish I could have it all over again–not this year, but that evening. There are some moments in a man’s life that are absolutely perfect. That was one, another was when I opened the photograph you sent me this autumn; and there are lots to come, aren’t there? I wish I could come home right away. I want to see you and talk to you again worse than ever now.
As soon as ever I can get things started right in the spring and in working order I shall come back, so do please write and say that you want me to come as soon as possible. I rather want a few assurances like that just now.
With all my love, dear,
Yours as always,
Robin