April 15, 1931 - Wednesday

My first proposal came today. I got a letter from Steve asking me to marry him. I wish I loved him, it would make things so simple. Otherwise life proceeded as usual today.

She saved the letter in her scrap book.

Sunday, 12 April 1931

Dear Annabelle,

I need not tell you how happy I was to receive your letter. Your plans for next year and for ’33 duly noted. It’s nice to make plans, don’t you think so Annabelle? That is to say I make them too. The main one is concerning you when you graduate in ’33, for I want us to be married then or before (this summer) if you wouldn’t mind giving up school. We have never talked about his before, have we? I’ve always though about the things I couldn’t do for you because of my zero financial circumstances, but I don’t think those things count very much with either of us after all. I pray to god to make everything in your life beautiful and happy everyday.

There probably isn’t a more glorious place in the world than Oregon in springtime. It thrilled me to read of your horseback ride into the country. I didn’t go to Church on Easter Sunday either. They were all so crowded. At dawn East services were held on the steps of the University library, almost beneath my window. The Riverside church clarion bells played all day (and is playing now). There were Easter parades all over town, and even so many flowers. Ninth Avenue, down near the lower east side, was almost blocked by push cars sagging under the loads of flowers.

Yesterday afternoon as I was getting my hat to leave the Army and Navy Club I met General and Mrs. Halbroah, and Virginia and Frank. They asked Tawwauy and I to come out to Fort Hamilton on May 15^th for a homecoming party for Jack and Alice. Tawwauy and I intended to visit New London, but Jack’s submarine will be out the next three weekends.

Our class had a reunion luncheon at the club. There are sixty in New York, fifteen of us still in the Navy. I met some of the boys I haven’t seen since Midshipman days, and especially Cliff Alderman. He and Baldwin and I were together on every Midshipman’s Cruise. It was recalled that we once perched on top of the main mast watching the moon rise up over the Tagus River from behind the hills of Lisbon, and the three of us talked of what the future might hold.

On Tuesday evening President butler is giving a reception for us, so the uniforms are out of the trunks once more and are being pressed.

I don’t know anything about UCLA. One of my sisters said she might go there next year. She is coming to Annapolis for June week and will be married after graduation to Midshipman H. M. Drake. He is going to one of the ships based at San Pedro and Catherine thought she might go to USLA while he is away on cruises. My older brother still lives down there in Long Beach. It’s been so long since I’ve been there that I’d probably fail to recognize any landmarks, even though that’s where I was raised.

There is no further information about orders to sea. The rumor was that everyone in our class would go to the destroyers at Charleston, S.C. Could you be persuaded to be married and come there with me Annabelle?

If you stay in school next year I honestly think you would be much happier at Oregon than at UCLA (since I don’t know anything about UCLA I ‘m hardly qualified to express an opinion). If I am fortunate enough to go to the West Coast in October I’d be delighted if you were in Los Angeles. If you stay at Oregon I’d like to come there for my leave.

These questions in this letter aren’t intended to be problems which you must solve, just to make your life difficult. I know you will understand. All my loyalty is for you, Annabelle.

Sincerely,  Stephen