Dear Old Man:—

After you left I had a slight touch of homesickness, or something like it. Unusual for me. I am little given to lonesomeness. I am still enjoying your visit — it grows.

Nora May French's volume arrived, and I have devoured it. My favorite is the sonnet with the line "always the out hall is very still", but throughout I find a strangeness that lyric poetry, or any poetry for that matter, should have. What a face that creature had! I know what you mean about her looks by lamplight.

Smith sent me his volume, as you requested. Will write about it later. Am very glad to have it.

Things are looking up about here. The cave & the back bedroom are finished & I have had some cement walk laid. If I am not careful I shall find myself living living in a palace! "Hugh Glass" forges ahead steadily. Am just getting to a bully adventure with three others waiting. Since you left, I have hit upon a new bit of epic material — or maybe ballad material.

I almost wish I had bored you with that Glass stuff of mine.

So yearns for — ? Evidently she is not looking for an honest man! I hope she gets whatever she is hunting for! Of course it is platonic. I believe it always begins so.

What did you do in Ann Arbor? How did you find your admirer? I mean [Hyatt?]. Did you meet Sam Lockwood?

It was kind of you to remember Mona in Chicago, & she appreciated your thoughtfulness.

Old man, I wish you & I could take a couple of ponies & disapear into the little Missouri country — go through the bad lands that Sully crossed with an army corps, pass through the Slim Buttes region & follow Crook's line of retreat in the Sioux Campaign of '76. I wonder if it will ever be possible for us to bat around together like that for awhile. You would get as much out of it for your work as I for mine & probably more in the end.

I'd like to be hungry & thirsty with you.

Whenever you want to make me very happy, just write me that you have started on the [Lillith?] poem. Big idea & made for you. I have thought much of it once you told me. No more now.

Always affectionately,

Jno.

Old man, you are still on that pedestal. Luck to you up there!

Enid

Sig.

xxxxx Their kisses for Uncle Sterling.