Friday night
Ruth darling,
Just a hasty note before the last mail is collected. First I want to tell you that I’m sorry I sent the letter I did this evening, although you probably won’t see as much in it as I was thinking. At any rate you’ll probably be really peeved at me, for, somehow, I haven’t been able to figure it out yet, the news has leaked out. One of my classmates offered his congratulations this evening. I acted surprised and innocent (because I thought you’d want me to), but seems as if there has been a leak. I told you I had let Jerry, who hasn’t told, and Bob Stephens ((research and note in early letters)) in on the secret. Bob must have told, although I was sure he wouldn’t. At any rate I’m sorry it’s out because you didn’t want it known, but I can’t do anything excepting to keep my mouth shut from now on ^(as if that would help much)! I was so proud at first it seemed as if I must tell someone—now I guess I shouldn’t have talked at all. I’m still, and shall always be, proud of what has happened, yet I’d rather this hadn’t happened on account of the way you feel, and because
You mean more than everything else to me,
Harold