277

I have no idea where we shall
go or what to do, when we do leave
here. But at the first favorable
opportunity we shall sell. For
myself I do not so much care for
this failure. My hopes are not so
high [?] [?] [?]. It is for
mother and Willis that I care –
for them – and for a dear girl
away up in [Dakota?], whose
happiness for life is in my
keeping, and upon whom my own
depends. For I must tell you brother
that I am engaged, though it will
be long before I can marry, owing
to the circumstances I have just
related. Last winter [?] [?] did
great injury to Fla. in that it
stopped many from coming to the
state, and in some measure destroyed
the confidence of those who are here.
For this reason it will be difficult
to dispose of property here, though
we are on a section which suffered
very slight loss. Willis is looking