From Boston
to
Adorra Rose, c/o Cicsi Loop
1 West 2nd, Apt. B
Indianapolis, Ind.
to
Adorra Rose, c/o Cicsi Loop
1 West 2nd, Apt. B
Indianapolis, Ind.
September 11, 1834
Dear Sister,
You must come home. Mr. Cougar has been asking for you. He is very ill, and the doctor believes your presence will do him good. I never did understand why you left. He loves you so much, and I thought you loved him. He speaks of you often. Last night he held a dinner party in your honor, to your return. It took so much out of him, and his face, his eyes, were so down trodden I didn’t’ think he would be able to entertain. Many women made a move on him. He warded them off, thinking only of you. We talk often, but he will not tell me what it was that made you run. Please come home, just to brighten those eyes of his. It is sad to see him this way. When he hears your name he brightens, only to sink back into the deepest depression of himself. This party brightened the house, for the curtains were pulled back, and still are—this gives me hope.
I’m writing this letter against his judgment. He says you must come to him of your own free will.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
XOXO
I miss you!
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February 24, 1835
Dear Sister,
I was exuberant in seeing you, as was mother, after two years. Your return made him alive; but you left so abruptly that day. What was wrong? Won’t you speak to me? Mr. Cougar expects your return any day again, and waits. I think he wants to marry you. Miss Tossil has tried to catch his eye. I overheard her speaking to him, making snide remarks about the way you have treated him. I must agree on one thing, your actions leave things open for gossip. Anyhow, Mr. Cougar thwarted her advancements, detouring her thoughts into starting a shelter for widows—or more less, made Miss. Tossil think it was her idea. The Old Hill place, the one left abandoned, that will be renovated.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
P.S. My friend in Indy visited today. He said something very odd. You don’t live at this address. The residence acted as if my friend had lost his mind. Why would they lie? Or have you moved? Let me know.
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January 30, 1836
Dear Sister,
Mr. Cougar is bedridden. He will not see any person, not even the doctor. I had to force him to allow the doctor in. I’m surprised he even allows me to come and visit. But he has me read your letters to him; they comfort him. After I read a letter I see a small shine in his eyes. What have you done? What did he do? I’m afraid if you don’t come soon he will die. The doctor says there is nothing more he could do for him.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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March 1, 1836
Dear Sister,
I’m telegraphing you because we will be burying Mr. Cougar in two days. Is there anyway you can come? Boston isn’t far from you, by train. I think you should give your last departing words to Mr. Cougar. No women made him stray from your love. His last words to me were he wanted a family, to have a family with you. Since he is gone now, come on home. Mamma misses you, and so do I. Have you liked the pictures I’ve sent you? You never mention them in your letters. Mr. Cougar wanted you to have them; he took most of them himself, with the new type of photograph box. I’ve learned how to use it. I think there is money in this new product. I’ve strayed from the subject. Please come to Boston.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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March 15, 1836
Dear Sister,
You will find the photograph box enclosed in this package. Mr. Cougar’s Will will be read March 4th. Please come.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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March 26, 1836
Dear Sister
Mr. Cougar left you everything! The house and all within it, the stables, the new business that he bequeathed me to run, as president! Sister, why is it that you ran, and keep away? Can you not share your secret? Something had to be wrong. Every moment, every hour, he spoke of you with love, nothing more. What was it that kept you away?
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
P.S. Finalization cannot be completed until your arrival or that of your offspring. Come soon. Why would he request you offspring?
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April 11, 1836
Dear Sister
I’m sorry to hear you feel that way. And in turn, I and ma, and my new husband thank you for the home, but we cannot keep it. We will send you rent money. Mr. Cougar made it very clear that the property could never be sold, and any heirs that you were to have would inherit the property. Mr. Cougar bought a law firm to secure this. Please come home and claim what has been given to you. In the mean time, mamma and I will keep the place in shape.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
P.S. The business keeps us real busy. Short letters will be my best. Come home.
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October 13, 1836
Dear Sister,
I was surprised to see you open up. I will keep this news from mamma, as you asked. But you must know, mamma wants grandchildren, and if I told her she would stay off my back! Come home. I really need your help here. The business is crazy! Who did you marry? You did marry? Why didn’t you tell Mr. Cougar and release him from his pain? Two girls: Darling and Precious. Lovely names. Boston is wonderful, so full of life, a wonderful place to raise children. Think about it, would you.
Your letters worry me. Are you ill?
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
P.S. There is one room we cannot open. The skeleton key won’t even open it. Do you know where this key is? The house plans does not even show that the room exist. If we do not find a key soon, I’m afraid Alfred will cut down the door.
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November 25, 1836
Dear Sister,
Why so frantic? I’ll do my best to change Alfred’s mind about opening the door. Whatever is behind it? You sound frightened by it. Please tell me why. Come home so the door will never be opened and the secret of Mr. Cougar’s will be kept. I’m sure you are right that Mr. Cougar never wished that door opened by anyone but him.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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February 12, 1837
Dear Sister,
Do not worry, Alfred has given up on opening that door. Mamma was very forceful in persuading Alfred that the room was a sacred place and that Mr. Cougar would haunt him for disturbing it. I’m confused by mamma’s way. She seems just as frightened of that room as you do in your letters. What is behind that door?
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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June 27, 1837
Dear Sister,
Why did it take so long for you to tell me all this? What do you mean you are not married? Were you raped? Did you let yourself . . . go? I understand why you do not want mother to know. Were you having an affair with a married man while you were away? This is not you. What happened all those years ago? Maybe I have jumped to a conclusion, and you are a widow. Many widows do not speak of their dead husbands. It causes too much pain. I apologize for judging you. I have no right, I do not know what circumstances you were in.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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July 19, 1837
Dear Sister,
Your last letter was . . . . I don’t know what to say. No one would have known what Mr. Cougar was. Why did you not tell me? tell mamma? But you were wrong in not telling Mr. Cougar about the children, for they are his. No matter how much of a disorder he had, he was a man with a heart, more heart than a full-fledge man. I understand your fear of the girls becoming animal like in instinct, but don’t you think living in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a wild forest that it would make it prominent? The city does not contain the same hunt as the woods. I will pray for you.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
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October 1, 1838
Dear Sister
I’m sending the last letter. All funds due you for rent and profits will be done through a lawyer. I only wanted the best for you and your daughters; and regardless how you feel, your daughters will inherit everything. I’m sorry you feel as you do. I didn’t send anyone to bring you home. I don’t even know this Mr. Lyon! Someday I hope to see you and the girls. I have a son, Will. I will no longer take these accusations from you.
Love, Your Darling Sister
Cherish
P.S. I do believe that Mr. Cougar had a nephew, which visited mamma and I before Mr. Cougar died, sometime after you left the second time. Whom you describe sounds like that person. But he didn’t say his name was Mr. Lyon, he called himself Detroit.
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