Mr. Young, this unhappy letter is a poor return to make for your friendly courtesy, but _so long_ my dark thoughts have turned to you that I cannot find myself with the privilege of communicating with you without expressing them. I cannot think where I have found the courage to do it, but I _have_. I know how unwise a thing it seems but if the pressure is too great the bands may break, that may be my case, and fearing that my better judgment might bid me put these sheets in the fire—I send them without once glancing over. You will glance them over and put them in the fire. Forgive me. You need not forget, but kindly _remember_, rather, that they are the wail of an aching heart and that is all. Nature has provided a sure and final rest for all the heart aches that mortals are called to endure. If you are in the East again, and I am here, I pray you come to me. Receive again my thanks and permit me to remain, Your friend, (Signed) CLARA BARTON. Earth naught nobler knows Than is the victim brave beneath his cross. ’Tis in the shadow that the dawn-light grows. ARCHAG TCHOBANIAN. SCHEMERS—DEFAMERS—PIRATES Bakersfield Club, Bakersfield, Cal., February 2, 1904. My Dear Miss Barton: Your favor of January 13 received, and read with exceeding interest. Mr. and Mrs. Canfield appreciate your letter to them personally, as well as your kind words sent through me, in recognition of their slight token of high regard for you. While here a day or two ago, Mrs. Canfield requested me to convey these sentiments to you. Now, Miss Barton, why you have confided in obscure me is a mystery I cannot solve; such a compliment is more than I can hope to deserve. (Having written the above General W. R. Shafter came into the Library and sat beside me at the table. I stopped writing and we entered into a discussion of you and your affairs. He is exceedingly complimentary to you and of your work. He especially requested me to extend to you his greetings and sincerest good wishes.) I have known for several years more of the secret plottings than you think. From our mutual friends I have known also of your heart aches and the causes, and a thousand times have wished that I might say something, or do something, so that you might know that in my inmost heart I was in sympathy with you and your struggle against the coterie of schemers. I have also wished that I might have power long enough to show you in what esteem you are held by the households in America; what a charm attaches to your name wherever spoken,—such as neither royalty possesses nor money buys.