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The reason I could not come by automobile was because I had a falling out with the 〃mad dogs〃 and they would not give me a pass。 So Evans； with whom I was to motor to Holland； got through Friday afternoon and sent the cable。 As soon as I reached Holland； I cabled I was coming and kept on telegraphing every step of the journey； which lasted three days。
I telegraphed last from Folkestone； even telling you what to have for my supper。 As you directed； Ashford opened the cables； and when I drove up； he was at the door in tears。 He had made a light in your rooms and； of course； as I looked up I thought you still were in them。 When they told me I was a day late； I cried； too。 It was the bitterest disappointment I ever knew。 I had taken the very first train out of Brussels； the one with the wounded； and for three days had been having one hell of a time。 But I kept thinking of seeing you； and hearing your dear voice。 So the trip did not matter。 I was only thinking of SEEING YOU； and thanking God I was shut of the dirty Germans。 We had nothing to eat； and we slept on the floor of the train； the Germans kept us locked in； and； all through even Holland； we were under arrest。 But nothing mattered； because I was so happy at thought of meeting you。 As I said neither of us was at fault。 You just HAD to go； and I could NOT COME。 But； you can feel how I felt to learn you were at sea。
I was so glad I could use your old rooms。 I went to the table where you used to write and was so glad I could at least be as near to you as that。 No other place in London could have held me that night。 Not Buckingham Palace。 I found little things you had left。 I loved even the funny pictures on the wall because we had talked of them together。 It was ROTTEN； ROTTEN luck。 But only the Germans and their hellish war were to blame。 I drove straight to the cable office； and tried to wireless you； knowing you would feel glad to know I was well； and safe and sound。 But the cable people could not send my message。 You were then out of reach of wireless； on the Irish coast。 And for nine days there was no way to tell you I had come back as fast as trains and boats and the dirty Germans would let me。 Oh； my dear； dear one； HOW I LOVE you。 If only I could have seen you for just five minutes。 As it was； I thought for five days more we would be together。 What I shall do now； I don't know。 I must go back with either the French or the English until my contract expires； and then； I can join you。 Tomorrow I am trying to see Asquith and Churchill to get with the army。 And I will at once return across the channel。 But； do not worry！ I will never again let a German come within ONE MILE of me！ After this； between me and the Germans； there will be some hundreds of thousands of English or French。 So after this reaches you I will soon be on my way HOME。 Don't worry。 Get James back and Amelia and everyone else who can make you comfortable； and trust in the good Lord。 I have your cross and St。 Rita around my neck； and in spite of what the Kaiser says； God is looking after other people than Germans。 Certainly he has taken good care of me。 And he will guard you； and our 〃blessed〃 one。 And in a little time； dear； DEAR heart； I will be back； and I will become a grocer。 God love you and keep you； as he does。 And you will never know HOW I LOVE YOU！ Good night； dearest； sweetheart and wife！ I am writing this at your table； and； thanking God you are going to the farm； and to peace and happiness。 I SEND YOU ALL THE LOVE IN ALL THE WORLD。
RICHARD。
LONDON； September 3rd。 MY DEAREST ONE：
It was a full moon again tonight and I think you were on deck and saw it； because by now； you have passed the four days at sea and should be in the St。 Lawrence。 So I knew you saw the moon； too； and I sent you a kiss； via it。 It was just over St。 James Palace but also it was just over you。
Today has been a day of worries。 Wheeler cabled that the papers wanted me to be 〃neutral〃 and not write against the Germans。 As I am not interested in the German vote； or in advertising of German breweries （such a hard word to SAY） I thought； considering the EXCLUSIVE stories I had sent them； instead of kicking； they ought to be sending me a few bouquets。 Especially； as I got cables from Gouvey； Whigham； Scribner's and others congratulating me on the anti…German stories。 So I cabled Wheeler to tell papers of his syndicate； dictation from them as to what I should write was 〃unexpected；〃 that they could go to name…of…place censored and that if he wished I would release him from his contract tonight。 Considering that without credentials I was with French； Belgian and German armies and saw entry of Germans into Brussels and sacking of Louvain and got arrested as a spy； they were a bit ungrateful。 I am now wondering WHAT I would have seen HAD I HAD credentials。
I saw Anthony Hope at the club last night。 He had to go back to the country； so I dined alone on English oysters。 Fancy anyone being NEUTRAL in this war！ Germany dropping bombs in Paris and Antwerp on women and churches and scattering mines in the channel where they blow up fishermen and burning the cathedrals！ A man who now would be neutral would be a coward。 Good night； NEAR； DEAR； DEAR one。 It has been several weeks since I had sleep； so if I rave and wander in my letters forgive me。 You know how I am thinking of you。 God bless you。 God keep you for me。
Your husband who loves you SO！
LONDON； September 7th。 DEAREST：
I just got your cable saying you were at the farm； and well！ HOW HAPPY IT MADE ME！ I cabled you to Quebec； and to Mt。 Kisco； and when two days passed and I heard nothing； today I was scared； so I cabled Gouvey to look after you； and also to Wheeler。 I went to the Brompton Oratory today； which is the second most important church here （the cardinal lives at Westminster） and burned the BIGGEST CANDLE they had for you and the 〃blessing。〃 A big woman all in black was kneeling in the little chapel and when I could not get the candle to stand up； she beckoned to one of the priests； and he ran and fixed it。 Then she went on praying。 And WHO do you think she was？ Queen Amelie of Portugal； you see her pictures in the Tattler and Sphere opening bazaars。 So she must be very good or she would not be saying her prayers all alone with the poor people and seeing that my Bessie's candle was burning。 I have been waiting here hoping to get some sort of credentials from Kitchener。 But though Winston Churchill has urged him； and tomorrow is going to urge him again； they give me no hope。 So I'll just go over 〃on my own〃 and I bet I'll see more than anyone else。 I have fine papers； anyhow。 I am now writing Scribner article； so THAT is off my mind。 And now that you are home； I have no 〃worries。〃 I wish I had got your cable earlier。 I would have had oysters and champagne in BATH TUBS。 Give my love to all the flowers； and to Shea and Paedrig； and Tom； and Louise； and Gouvey and the lake。 And take SUCH good care of yourself； and love me； and be happy for I do so love you dear one。 I DO SO LOVE YOU。
YOUR HUSBAND。
September 15th。 DEAREST：
Tonight I got your cable in answer to mine asking if you were well。 All things considered twenty…four hours was not so long for them to get the answer to me。 You BET I will be careful。 I don't want to get nearer to a German than twenty miles。 At the battlefield I collected five German spiked helmets but at the Paris gate they took ALL of them from me。 I WAS mad！ I wanted to keep them in my 〃gym；〃 and pound them with Indian clubs。 I wrote all day yesterday； so today I did not work。 There is nothing more here to do。 And as soon as my contract is up October 1st； I will make towards YOU！ Seeing the big battle was great luck。 So far I have seen more than anyone。 I have had no credentials； and yet have been with ALL the armies。 Now I am just beating time； until I can get home。 The fighting is too far away even if I could go to it。 But I can't without being arrested。 And I am fed up on being arrested。 Today all the little children came out of doors。 They have been locked up for fear of airships。 It was fine to see them playing in the C