LUSIVE 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