n the harmonious
colorings of an old French tapestry stolen from a deserted chateau.

All the earth seemed so sweet and so pure, and we were enjoying the
world as a clean open-air playground. A few fluffy clouds began to
appear, but old Boreas blew them away as soon as the west wind brought
them up.

Suddenly his gaze betrayed remembrance and he drew me into his arms and
our lips met. Thus we remained, languidly content, until long after the
sky man had studded the heavens with millions of silver nails. And
there, near a field of cattle, like Paul Potter painted, under a sky
worthy of Raphael, in a cove overhung with trees like a picture by
Hobbema, he asked me to be his wife. And then the sweetest ceremony
that ever was solemnized under God's loving eyes was fulfilled there in
the stillness of the night. He said: "I love you," and for answer I
said: "I love you too," and on my finger was placed a cool new band,
which reads within: "For all eternity." As old and worldly as I am, I
felt all the instinct of chastity and delicacy which is the very
material of a first love. Our wedding feast was spread out in the bottom
of the craft, with no effulgence of light save the reflection of God's
own lanterns.

All sorts of night things chirped and sang of our joy, and trout leaped
from the water in answer to the bread that I crumbled for them.

Our boat rocked and swayed as the current reached us more directly, and
leaves and sticks and weeds went floating by with turgid little
whirlpools swirling aft. We were lazy lurdans, nestling there in the
moonlight, but time is the precious gift of the Almighty and man may
gamble it away if he chooses. Finally dawn found us floating homeward in
the mists of awakening morn.

Months and months have passed since then--strange new mother instincts
have arisen in my soul, and he still presses me to his heart and
whispers: "For all eternity."

You could not discover my whereabouts, as I left no address in Sioux
Falls. I did not want the world nor society, not even you, but just
solitude--and my husband. Now we want you to know that in this beautiful
wilderness we have a home--a mountain home with placid Indian servants,
who glide in and out and serve noiselessly and speechlessly: I must
confess that I am only one-half brave, as the world, all but you, thinks
that a minister has mumbled over us for a second time.

You are great enough to appreciate the joy we feel in cheating all
humanit