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 end of December, when I started on my long cruise. I felt very, very sorry to leave you, but something told me that it was better to do so. I remember you seemed to feel the same, and we kissed each other goodbye as though we were both sorry for something that had to be. Leaving the question of dual or multiple personality aside, and putting the matter very simply, I believe that my soul made a right choice in you my wife. I believe that alcohol was necessary for a while to put my body, even at its expense, into a state of conductivity, so that my soul, when I was somewhat alcoholized, could gain some expression; give some glimpses of itself and suggest the trend of my powers. For this reason I believe that some men are made to drink and drug--but that is another subject which I hope to take up with you more fully at some future time.