University of Virginia Library

Letter from Adelaide E. Case to Charles N. Tenney, December 19th, 1861

I have returned
from school but how should I answer
your kind letter: If I should answer
it as Irecievedit; it would be
with bitter oh, such bitter tears.
Should I tell you why I wept?
No, dear Charlie I cannot now perhaps
I never can, but be assured my
reasons are resistless. Dear Charlie
my spirit has striven to watch
over and guard thee, and hourly
& fervant prayers has risen to the
throne of Grace for your safety.
But that prayer was only as a
true and loving sister would
pray for a brother. I have striven
aquired any other feeling save a
sisterly love and Dear CharlieI

if I have caused any other
feeling to rise in your heart save
the feeling of friendship I entreat
of you to forgive me for I did
it unintentionly. And if you
cherish such feelings toward me
Dear Charlie for my sake and
for the sake of your future happiness
quench them. Promise me that
you will. Only remember me as a sister or a friend.

One would perhaps conclude
that I was the affiancied of an-
other, but dear Charlie, thank God
I am not--this may seem strange
to you and if you demand my
reasons lay the case open before
God, and he may give them.
But dear Charlie ought I to
be recognized even as your

; I fear if you knew
my reasons you would but
curse me, but it is
getting dark.