Dearest, I don’t want to worry you or frighten you, and I can’t follow out my own gloomy fancies.  Don’t you mind too much what I think.  Only you must realize that Wade is the greatest factor in our hopes of the future.  My faith in him is so unshakable that it’s foolish.  Next to you I love him best.  He seems even dearer to me than my own people.  He has made me look at life differently.  Likewise he has inspired you.  But you, dearest Columbine, are only a sensitive, delicate girl, a frail and tender thing like the columbine flowers of the hills.  And for your own sake you must not be blind to what Wade is capable of.  If you keep on loving him and idealizing him, blind to what has made him great, that is, blind to the tragic side of him, then if he did something terrible here for you and for me the shock would be bad for you.  Lord knows I have no suspicions of Wade.  I have no clear ideas at all.  But I do know that for you he would not stop at anything.  He loves you as much as I do, only differently.  Such power a pale, sweet-faced girl has over the lives of men!

“Good-by for this time.

     “Faithfully,
          “WILSON.”

     “January 10th.

“DEAR WILSON,—­In every letter I tell you I’m better!  Why, pretty soon there’ll be nothing left to say about my health.  I’ve been up and around now for days, but only lately have I begun to gain.  Since Jack has been away I’m getting fat.  I eat, and that’s one reason I suppose.  Then I move around more.

“You ask me to tell you all I do.  Goodness!  I couldn’t and I wouldn’t.  You are getting mighty bossy since you’re able to hobble around, as you call it.  But you can’t boss me! However, I’ll be nice and tell you a little.  I don’t work very much.  I’ve helped dad with his accounts, all so hopelessly muddled since he let Jack keep the books.  I read a good deal.  Your letters are worn out!  Then, when it snows, I sit by the window and watch.  I love to see the snowflakes fall, so fleecy and white and soft!  But I don’t like the snowy world after the storm has passed.  I shiver and hug the fire.  I must have Indian in me.  On moonlit nights to look out at Old White Slides, so cold and icy and grand, and over the white hills and ranges, makes me shudder.  I don’t know why.  It’s all beautiful.  But it seems to me like death....  Well, I sit idly a lot and think of you and how terribly big my love has grown, and ... but that’s all about that!

“As you know, Jack has been gone since before New Year’s Day.  He said he was going to Kremmling.  But dad heard he went to Elgeria.  Well, I didn’t tell you that dad and Jack quarreled over money.  Jack kept up his good behavior for so long that I actually believed he’d changed for the better.  He kept at me, not so much on the marriage question, but to love him.  Wilson, he nearly drove me frantic with his lovemaking.  Finally I got mad and I pitched into him.  Oh, I convinced him!  Then he came back to his own self again.  Like a flash he was Buster Jack once more.  “You can go to hell!” he yelled at me.  And such a look!...  Well, he went out, and that’s when he quarreled with dad.  It was about money.  I couldn’t help but hear some of it.  I don’t know whether or not dad gave Jack money, but I think he didn’t.  Anyway, Jack went.