Appreciates her help getting through scrapes during years at the university. Now another one. Keeps making a fool of herself! Keeps trying on personas (the scholarly, the bohemian)! Would consider suicide but knows her stupidities spring from liking someone too well. People always watching her, waiting for her to do something unusual. Feels superficial and useless where she is. Little brother Jack is the one consolation. Has been to a dance with Douglass and actually enjoyed it. Miner girls there. Met a Miss [Anna] Gayhardt and talked all night. Can't talk like this to Katharine [Weston], of course. Hopes to get up to Lincoln soon. Professor Bates very happy in his new job. Willa [Stout #24]
Has taken pictures to be developed, shopped with Miss [Evelyn] Osborne for underclothes, and overeaten on Mme Sibut's excellent fish. Please scold the laundress who failed to return a set of underwear. Willa [Stout #75]
Thanks for sharing what Miss Roseboro' said about the stories. Roseboro's own are a sentimental muddle. Best wishes for Dorothy's doctoral exam in May. Hopes to get to Vermont this summer. Will mainly be in New York near or with Edith Lewis. Hopes to finish novel there. Might take an English course at Columbia, if there is one in the summer. Isabelle still droopy from bad throat. Parents [Cather's] have just moved into a new, roomier house and want her to come help select furnishings, but she needs to finish the novel for McClure. Willie [Stout #97]
Has received her telegram about "The Profile." Character resembles Miss Osborne only in that she has a scar, not uncommon. Miss Osborne shouldn't take it as a reference to herself. Sorry Dorothy is upset. Willa [Stout #100]
Can't withdraw the story without canceling the entire volume, which is already in type. Doubts Miss Osborne will ever see it, let alone take it to heart. Does not agree it is a portrait of her. Isabelle, who has a strong moral sense, does not see anything wrong. This has spoiled the pleasure in her first book of fiction. Wouldn't ask such a thing of anyone. Is very hurt by Dorothy's attitude. Willa [Stout #101]
Appreciates his writing about her story. A volume is being published. (Miss) Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #102]
Will take his poem "The Road at Night." He may recall they met some time ago and shared an admiration for Miss Guiney. Hopes he liked Guiney's "Wood-Doves" in the October issue. Enclosed: $20 check. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #121]
Looks forward to seeing her this afternoon. Sorry to have telephoned so persistently. Has long wanted to know her and Miss Jewett. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #135]
Is sending a present for Peter Rabbit. Don't open until Christmas! Will send books for Mary Virginia as soon as she and Miss Lewis (with whom she is partners in housekeeping) have read them. Found these nice children's books from England in a local book shop. Willie [Stout #144]
Sorry for the tactless letter. Still not used to having to reject things. Glad she likes April Twilights. Thinks "The Palatine," published in McClure's the previous summer, is better than poems in the book. Suggests Zoë study Miss Guiney's work as a model of richness combined with restraint. Willa Sibert Cather [Stout #152]