or anything in the world, but I wouldn't hurt you for
nothing." And he said, "The only way you can hurt me, Nan, is to say you
won't have me and you don't say that, do you dear?" I looked up at him
for a minit and he must a saw what was in my eyes, cause he was quiet,
just a looking deep into my eyes. Then he drew my face to him with his
two hands and kissed me. Kate I went all of a tremble and it seemed my
heart came right up on my lips when I felt his touch mine, and when he
said, "Say, 'I love you, Tom,'" I only needed to whisper it for him to
hear, and I was glad cause I couldn't have spoke it out loud to save my
soul.

Oh, Kate, I didn't know there was such a thing in the world as what I am
feeling. I am so happy it keeps me quiet, and I like to set by myself
and think of Tom, how big and strong he is, how he will always fight my
troubles. But I feel I will never have troubles if I live with him,
cause he is so good and kind and gentle, that sorrow could never come
near him or his.

I won't write you more, cause if I wrote you a hundred pages, I couldn't
say more than that I'm the happiest girl in the world, cause I love him,
love him, love him.

_Nan_.

XXXIX

_Dear Kate_:

Tom told his mother this morning at the breakfast table and she put down
her saucer of coffee, and come over to me and kissed me, and said,
"Faith, the Gosoon, I thought he never was going to do it. Sure he's not
the son of his father, or he'd a asked you the question the second day
you was here. I've always wanted a daughter and now I've got one that
couldn't a suited me better if I'd ordered her making."

She was so happy, she spent the whole morning making plans for the
future, how she would pass part of the time with me and Tom, and then
when we got tired of her, she would go over to see you and Jack. And
Kate you sure will love her. She is just a dear little Irish woman who
has always had a great big husband or a son to stand between her and
anything that might hurt her. And just think, dear, I won't never have
to be alone no more, never have to worry about things all by myself,
cause I, too, am going to have a great big man all my own.

Your happy
_Nan_.

XL

_Dear Kate_:

We were married this morning by the priest at the church near here.
Mother was there (oh, Kate, it is nice to say "mother"), and Jack and
the Captain of the station that bullied me so, but he is really all
right when his uniform is