treasure.Somethingtogetyoustarted."

    "SoitisChristmastoday?"

    Luchóglookedaroundtoseeifanyonewaslistening."Youdidnotmissit."

    "MerryChristmas,"Isaid.AndItoreopenmygifts,ruiningthepre-ciousenvelopes.Overtheyears,Ihavelosttwoofthefourletters,buttheywerenotsovaluableinandofthemselves.Onewasamestubwithpay-mentenclosed,andathisey,Luchógreceivedthechecktouseasrollingpaperforhiscigarettes.Theotherlostpieceofcorrespondencewasarabidlettertotheeditoroftheloeer,denoungHarryTruman.Cov-eredbothfrontandbackwithcrabbedhandwritingthatscuttledfrintin,thatpaperproveduseless.Theothertwohadmuchmorewhitespadwithohelinesweresofarapart,Iwasabletowritebetweenthem.

    Feb.2,1950

    Dearest,

    ThehtmentsomuethatItuandwhyyouhavenotphonedorwrittensinight.Iamfused.YoutoldmethatyoulovedmeandIloveyoutoo,butstillyouhavenotansweredmylastthreelettersandnobodyahetelephoyourhomeorevenyourwork.Iamnotinthehabitofdoingwhatwedidinthecar,butbecauseyoutoldmethatyoulovedmeandyouwereinsuchpainandagonyasyoukeptsaying.IwaoletyouknowthatIamnotthatkindofgirl.

    IamthatkindofgirlwholovesyouandthatkindofgirlwhoalsoexpectsaGeobehavelikeaGentleman.

    Pleasewritebaeorbetteryetcallmeonthephone.Iamnotangrysomuchasjustfused,butIwillbemadifIdonotherefromyou.

    Iloveyou,doyouknowthat?

    Love,

    Martha

    Atthetime,IsideredthislettertobethetruestexpressionofreallovethatIhadeverknown.Itwasdifficulttoread,forMarthawroteincur-sive,butthankfull