ibute that an uncivilized mind could offer.
Silently he goes about his duties; silently he grieves, and more
silently he gathers flowers as a tangible evidence of his devotion.

Your letters have come each day and will come each day until I lie too,
beside my love on the desolate mountain side. Such is your unfailing
love and sympathy for me, all unworthy of your months of sacrifice and
isolation out here in my new home. My son, bless his precious heart,
tried to crawl today but the newly developed feat frightened his baby
mind and he cried. Closely almost roughly, I crush him to me a thousand
times a day, so fearful am I that he too may go to join infinitude.

You ask me to come back to New York. I must refuse your request. I
cannot--I cannot leave my home--the only place worthy of the name that
I have ever possessed! Some day, maybe, but not now--it is all too dear
and consoling to breathe the same air that sustained me in my perfect
happiness.

How can you say: "Don't regret." What do you mean? Regret the only joy
that my poor starved soul has ever known? No atom of regret enters my
grief--only a great unbounded gratitude to God, to the world, to Nature,
that one perfect year has been saved from out the wreck of time!

Gratefully,
MARIANNE.

The Black Hills,
September 20.

Two marvelous things have come to me today dear; my son took his first
trembling steps alone, and a letter came to me from the man who was my
husband. I am trembling with joy over the first and still dazed with
lack of understanding of the second. I enclose the letter as I have long
since given up trying to think clearly, and must depend upon you, to
decide for me any matters of grave import. I am plunged in perplexity;
advise me after reading the enclosed letter.

Lovingly,
MARIANNE.

New York,
Sept. 16.

Dear Marianne:

Six years ago, I found myself, though fond of you, glad when business
took me away. We spent that summer in different places, but about
October lived together again. I was still fond of you, but at that time
found Vera, whose company was very pleasing to me. You and I seemed to
be drawn away from each other and we decided to separate at the