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e Boer farmers； in Dutch Station Masters who gave us a corner under the telegraph table in which to sleep； with Nelson who kept the Transvaal Steam Laundry； Col。 Lynch of the steerage who comes to the dividing line to beg French books from Cecil； and that we had cooked our food on sticks； drunk out of the same cups with Kaffir servants and slept on the ground when there was frost on it。 It will be so strange to find that there are millions of people who do not know Komali poort； who have thought of anything else except burghers and roor…i…neks It seems almost disloyal to the Boers to be glad to see newspapers only an hour old instead of six weeks old； and to welcome all the tyranny of collar buttons； scarf pins； watch chains； walking sticks and gloves even。 I love them both and I can hardly believe it is true that we are to go to a real hotel with a lift and a chasseur； where you cannot smoke in the dining…room。 As for Aix； that I cannot believe will ever happen It was just a part of one's honeymoon and I refuse to cheat myself into thinking that within a week I will be riding through the lanes of the little villages； drinking red wine at Burget； watching Chas spread cheese over great hunks of bread and listening to three bands at one time。 And then the joy to follow of Home and America and all that is American。 Even the Custom House holds nothing but joy for meand then 〃mine own people！〃 It has been six weeks since we have heard from you or longer； nearly two months and how I miss you and want you。 It will be a happy day when Dad meets me at the wharf and I can see his blue and white tie again and his dear face under the white hatwhere you and Nora will be I cannot tell； but I will seek you out。 We will be happy togetherso happy It has been the longest separation we have known and such a lot of things have happened。 It will be such peace to see you and hold you once again。
DICK。
AIXLESBAINS。 July 6th； 1900。 DEAR FAMILY：
Cecil and I arrived last night tired and about worn outwe had had a month on board ship and two days in the cars and when we got out at Aix and found our rooms ready and Francois waiting； we shouted and cheered。 It was never so beautiful as it looked in the moonlight and we walked all over it； through the silent streets chortling with glee。 They could not give us our same rooms but we got the suite just above them； which is just as good。 They were so extremely friendly and glad to see us and had flowers in all the rooms。 We have not heard a word about Chas yet； as our mail has not arrived from Paris； but I will cable in a minute and hear。 We cannot wait any longer for news of him。 I got up at seven this morning so excited that I could not sleep and have been to the baths； where I was received like the President of the Republic。 In fact everybody seems to have only the kindest recollections of us and to be glad to have us back。
Such a rest as it is and so clean and bright and goodOnly I have absolutely nothing to wear except a two pound flannel suit I bought at Lorenzo Marquez until I get some built by a French tailor。 I must wear a bath robe or a bicycle suit until evening。 We have not been to the haunts of evil yet but we are dining there to night and all will be well。 Cecil sends her love to you all Goodbye and God bless you。
Richard and his wife returned to America in the early fall of 1900 and； after a visit to Mr。 and Mrs。 Clark at Marion； settled for the winter in New York。 They took a house in East Fifty…eighth Street where they did much entertaining and lived a very social existence； but I do not imagine that either of them regarded the winter as a success。 Richard was unable to do his usual amount of work； and both he and his wife were too fond of the country to enjoy an entire winter in town。 In the spring they went back to Marion。
MARION； MASSACHUSETTS。 May； 1901。
We arrived here last night in a glowing sunset which was followed by a grand moon。 The house was warm and clean and bright； with red curtains and open fires and everything was just as we had left it； so that it seemed as though we had just come out of a tortuous bad dream of asphalt and L。 roads and bad air。 I was never so glad to get away from New York。
Outside it is brisk and fine and smells of earth and melting snow and there is a grand breeze from the bay。 We took a long walk to…day； with the three dogs； and it was pitiful to see how glad they were to be free of the cellar and a back yard and at large among grass and rocks and roots of trees。 I wanted to bottle up some of the air and send it to all of my friends in New York。 It is so much better to smell than hot…house violets。 Seaton came on with us to handle the dogs and to unpack and so to…day we are nearly settled already with silver； pictures； clothes and easels and writing things all in place。 The gramophone is whirling madly and all is well Lots and lots of love。
DICK。
The following was written by Richard to his mother on her birthday：
MARION； MASSACHUSFTTS。 June 27th； 1901。 DEAR MOTHER：
In those wonderful years of yours you never thought of the blessing you were to us； only of what good you could find in us。 All that time； you were helping us and others； and making us better； happier； even nobler people。 From the day you struck the first blow for labor； in The Iron Mills on to the editorials in The Tribune； The Youth's Companion and The Independent； with all the good the novels； the stories brought to people； you were always year after year making the ways straighter； lifting up people； making them happier and better。 No woman ever did better for her time than you and no shrieking suffragette will ever understand the influence you wielded； greater than hundreds of thousands of women's votes。
We love you dear； dear mother； and we KNOW you and may your coming years be many and as full of happiness for yourself as they are for us。
RICHARD。
CHAPTER XIII
THE SPANISH AND ENGLISH CORONATIONS
Interrupted by frequent brief visits to New York Philadelphia； and Boston； Richard and his wife remained in Marion from May； 1901； until the early spring of 1902。 During this year Richard accomplished a great deal of work and lived an ideal existence。 In the summer months there were golf and tennis and an army of visitors； and during the winter many of their friends came from New York to enjoy a most charming hospitality and the best of duck shooting and all kinds of winter sports。
Late in April； they sailed for Gibraltar on their way to Madrid； where Richard was to report the coronation ceremonies； and from Madrid they went to Paris and then to London to see the coronation of King Edward。 It was while on a visit to the Rudyard Kiplings that they heard the news that Edward had been suddenly stricken with a serious illness and that the ceremony had been postponed。
11； St。 James's Place； St。 James's Street； S。 W。 London。 June； 1902。 DEAR MOTHER：
This is only to say that at the Kipling's we heard the news； and being two newspaper men； refused to believe it and went to the postoffice of the little village to call up Brighton on the 'phone。 It was very dramatic； the real laureate of the B