"She will do this herself."

J. S. Hogg tried to keep in touch with his younger sons. He sent a short letter to Tom: Write to me the news if you have time. Tell about the country, the people, the pleasures you have, the lessons you take, the reading you do, and how Ima and Mike pass the time. Give me an old-time gossipy letter. And tell me (in confidence if you please) if you have a sweetheart now and how you are getting along with her. And how about Mike’s? Is he in love with the widow yet? And do not tell about Ima’s. She will do this herself.         

        

         As for Ima’s romantic attachments in the summer of 1904 (and how much she told her father about them), there were at least two young men who wrote ardent letters to her: Harry Taylor, whom she had probably met at the Holyoke house party mentioned earlier, wrote to her after the party, but evidently she did not write to him. He ended a letter with, the lady doesn’t seem to overmuch care

         to write to her

Sincere friend, Harry K. Taylor

         At the end of the summer he wrote again: If you go back to Austin & I never see you again . . . it will be horrid. Do you care?

Apparently she did not.