Augusta County: John D. Imboden to Annie Lockett,
November 6, 1870
Summary:
Imboden explains another delay in his returning to visit a young woman in
Virginia. He blames railroad-related business affairs for the delay.
Sunday night Nov. 6, 1870
Richmond
My dear, dear Miss Annie.
You don't know how much I am grieved at your long silence. I reached here last
week confident I should find a letter from you but none has come to hand. Before
this reaches you I may, & hope I shall see
you. Colonel Flournoy left here yesterday and tomorrow
I follow him to Danville. On Saturday I am compelled to return to New York for a few days on business vital to the
V.&G.W.Railroad which it would take too
long to explain on paper. If it be possible for me to
get away from Danville on Wednesday night, I will come down to Keysville and
Thursday go to Lombardy
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Grove, spend the night and Friday get back in
time for the down train, so as to go on to New York
Saturday. But so earnest is my desire to see you, and
in person assure you of my unalterable affection, that I mean to do so if it is
in the compass of human effort. Our railroad affairs
are in a crisis so vital to the success of the grand scheme that I have
subordinated everything to that. If we can accomplish certain objects we have in
view in the next two weeks it will be plain sailing for us afterwards. All this
I can explain when we meet, & you will then understand what a struggle I
have had between my obligations to the
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public and my personal
happiness. One day with you would be a compensation for weeks & months
of work and trouble. Should [added: you] ever be my
wife our happiness is largely involved in the success of this great railroad enterprise, for I have a fortune dependent on
it. And the very love I bear you has been an additional stimulus to my efforts.
Since I parted from you not one day has been at my
command. It has been with me like Hood's song of the shirt "Work! Work!!
Work!!!" Such a life, unblessed by the love of such a woman as you would be
intolerable - but with that reward I am willing to bear it, till [deleted: such] such success crowns the effort as will compensate all the labor.
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Believing we shall meet before this reaches you I will not anticipate
on paper what I shall then have to say. I have written to "Sister Lou" tonight
& sent her my photograph. I enclose you one, if fate should decree that
I may not deliver it in person this week. I did so hope you would be at the
Fair. It would have crowned my happiness completely.
My darling, if you will let me call you so, be patient with me, for I can not help the delay that has kept me from you so long.
Goodbye - God bless you.
Sincerely & devotedly yours
J.D. Imboden
