y. Carlton has willed all of his possessions to me and to our
precious little future reproduction of our love, who can but be perfect,
as he is a creature of perfect conditions. We are also but half great,
as it pleased us that the New York papers reported our marriage; but in
our lives we are all-great and all-sufficient for each other.

Our bungalow is built in rugged, primeval "Spearfish Canon," but you may
address all mail to Custer, where Carlton goes in his motor every day
for things that please me.

I am so happy, so proud, so grateful that my mate is as far-seeing as I
am, and we feel a mutual dread for the time when we must forsake our
Black Hills for the fuller and less satisfying life in New York--but we
can't play always, out here in the sunshine.

Write to me soon and forgive me for doubting that you would understand.

MARIANNE.

Black Hills,
November 25.

Dearest:

How happy your letter has made me and how slow you were in making up
your mind, but I'd rather have you love me after thinking than to love
me just because I'm I. Had you not understood, I should have loved you
but because you understand I bow down and idolize you as I have done all
my days.

Every girl deserves a mother--it is her natural heritage and Nature
risks a great deal in cheating her out of her original right. I have
been defrauded, but a friend like you compensates for much and is a
straight gift from God and Heaven.

Carlton and I have motored over to Custer every day for your letter but
not until yesterday were we recompensed for all the anxiety and doubt
that I might have suffered. We read it together and I am not ashamed
that our eyes were moist with joy as we drove slowly away from the
little village and out into our free and glorious primevalism again. The
twilight fell like a silver dust on the crests of two double rows of
ancient elms in a long and lordly country road, and lighted up the sand
and the drying wild grass that had waved like so many spears of gold in
the sunset of a few moments before. On and on we flew--he with a
trembling hand on the wheel and I with my arm around him and my lips
pressing his cheek.

The rays of our acetylene lamps began to cast lurid lights before us as
the darkness thickened, just as my soul's fire is luminous now in an
atmosphere ordained to bring forth all its normal glory--a