CHAPTER IX.
A year has passed away. Ruth has not heard from Cresto, or even dreamed of him. All this time she has been doing all the good she could with her pen and dear old violin. Cathy de Bathe had gone to California to study music. Aunt Mary had just brought Ruth a letter from Cathy.
“Here, honey, is a fat letter from youah sweetheart, Miss Ruth.”
“Thank you, Aunt Mary.”
“My Own Darling Ruth:
I was so glad to get your last letter. I am very sorry you do not have any more visions. I do. I keep it a secret, for my husband and his folks are all Adventists and do not believe as you and I do.
Forgive me, dear, for not telling you of my marriage before. I married for love and money; all California girls do. We are not so sweet and good as you are. My young husband is tall and handsome, with brown eyes, light curly hair, and weighs over two hundred pounds. You see, my dear, he is a dainty little California boy. His name is Addison MacRay. Addison gave me a lovely, modern bungalow. We have a smooth, velvety lawn in front. A great variety of hanging ferns on our large stone front porch; around this porch are many kinds of lovely roses, violets, ferns and other plants. There are two broad stone steps; on either side of the steps are massive square pillars on each of which is a drooping tropical plant. There is a great, large oak door, with four pretty, small windows. We have a long living room, with a sturdy old mission fireplace. Addison bought beautiful furniture for every room. There is a large dining room, and a cute little breakfast room. Our room is a dream—all in blue and white. Off from our little breakfast room is a large, sunny aviary filled with canary birds that sing all day long. My husband bought the birds in Paris. We have fruit, flowers and vegetables growing the year round back of our home. We gather fruit and flowers every day. We have imported chickens, doves and horses. We drive in the country every day. Please come and visit us for a few months. I want you to enjoy our new home. Ruth, come and see it for yourself, I haven’t time to tell you how beautiful it is. My dear, I have a few friends that come to our home twice a week, just to investigate the immortality of the soul. The name of our class is ‘The Divinity Club.’ I have two new angels in my band, Asa and Ione. Asa said he used to weigh two hundred pounds; now he only weighs seventy-five pounds. Now he and Ione have a lovely home in Mars. His twin-soul, Ione, is sweet and just as pretty and young as you are, Dolly dear. They both worship each other and look alike; only Asa is much taller. Ione told me a man on Mars would be eighty-three times stronger than a man on earth. And she said there was plenty of water from the wonderful canals to supply every one. The red planet, Mars, is very interesting to me. Do you know much about it? Please tell me all you know about it, will you, dear?
Lovingly,