The desk reveals.... not much. After carefully untying the pretty hair ribbon from the bundle of letters and cards, I can conclude nothing about the card left by the secret admirer. The letters, addressed to Helen Elizabeth before 1937 and Mae afterwards (one letter from a choral society she belonged to told her that her choice of name would be reflected in the next program.) One curious letter, written on Eastern Steamship Lines stationery, was addressed to "Honey" and was signed by "your sweet-heart." Apparently a cruise with a buddy, he would see her Monday night. That letter was dated November 4, 1938. But in the same envelope, a letter written on what looks like toilet paper, from Bellevue Hospital on November 6, again with a salutation that he would see her on Monday. He did have a sense of humor, writing "How do you like the writing paper? Bellevue Hospital's best. It's non-skid." The rest of the stack of mail were delightful Christmas cards from her minister and wife, a neighbor, and a friend. There is also a post card, showing the General Post office in Philidelphia, addressed to Lizzie. Finally, there was a picture of a young woman, sitting on a daybed in the bedroom of a home in Los Angeles, California, dated 1909.

So that is the end of the line on the story. Did Helen/Mae meet the young man? Why did he (sweet-heart) go to New York (that must have been the reason for the cruise, Boston to New York.) I'm guessing, gentle readers, that this was the total of her relationship with the young man. The toilet paper note may have ended this romance.


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