Date Read: 11/23/25

Written by: Leonard Kip Rhinelander

Date Written: 7/31/22

(Clift Hotel, San Francisco, California. Tuesday Night, July 31, 1922.)

(Last Letter until I get to Honolulu.)

My own dearest girl. All day long I have been dreading this very moment and thinking how can I ever write Alice tonight, because dear, do you realize this will be the last letter you will get from me for probably two weeks thats the reason, darling. I hate to sit down at this desk tonight, because it will be long, long time before I can mail you another one and dear, it will be a longer time still. I am sorry to say, before that letter reaches you. . . .

Last night, sweetheart, after writing there full pages to you. I undressed and scrambled into bed, but not to go to sleep. No baby, do you know what I did? something that you do when my letters arrive at night. Yes, loved one I took everyone of your notes which I received at General delivery and read them while laying on the bed. Oh! blessed sweetheart of mine, some of the things you told me brought tears of my blue eyes. Others made my heart seem as though it would burst with joy and when you mentioned the time we were in bed together at the Marie Antoinette. . . . Oh, Sweetheart, many, many nights when I lay in bed and think about my darling girl. . . . God! Alice can you imagine me reading your tempting notes in bed last night and. . . .

Baby love, do you remember. . . . Sweetheart am I tempting you and doesn't it bring back memories of past days?

Oh! Alice, love, be good, dear child, because I want you in the days to come and remember to keep our SECRET locked safely in your heart. You asked me if I met any other girl, didn't you, dear sweetheart, what a foolish question to put before me because you KNOW perfectly well that I havent bothered with anybody since I left you and NEVER will, old scout, for you, are my ONLY ONE, NOW amd ALWAYS . . . .

I am going to ask you to do something else for me, honeybunch. This may seem foolish NOW, but it wont later on. I am sure. Will you please stay in Paul Smith on TUESDAY July 13th. I mean by that not to go away to Montreal or another place. Just stay around there on that day, because I have a reason and you know that when I ask you do something I must have some IMPORTANT reason.

I understand you said you were going to Saranac Lake on the 19th of July if you had not told me that I would have asked you to stay in Paulsmith on that say. However, I ask you to remain there on TUESDAY JULY 18TH. Please do that for your Leonard. You will, won't you, dear? now, darling to sum up. Write me at General Delivery, San Francisco California every day beginning on August 1st, but not after August 18th and be sure to write on the envelopes, "Hold until called for." Stay around Paulsmith on TUESDAY JULY 18TH just because I ask you to dear heart, that's all. Good night, love, and have patience, for I will write as soon as I reach Honolulu. Do those two things two things for your boy and pray for my safe voyage over and back.

Your ever true, loving Len.
(I LOVE YOU ALICE.)

NYDN, 24 November 1925, 3.

NYDM, 24 November 1925, 3.