按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Davis was a loyal friend； a thoroughgoing American devoted to the best interests of his country； courageous； sympathetic； and true。 His loss has been a very real one to all of us who knew and appreciated him； and in his death the cause of preparedness has lost an able worker and the country a devoted and loyal citizen。〃
Although suffering from his strenuous experiences in France； and more particularly from those in Greece； Richard continued to accomplish his usual enormous amount of work； and during these weeks wrote his last short story； 〃The Deserter。〃
The following letter was written to me while I was in the Bahamas and was in reference to a novel which I had dedicated to Hope：
MOUNT KISCOFebruary 28； 1916。 DEAR OLD MAN：
No word yet of the book； except the advts。 I enclose。 I will send you the notices as soon as they begin to appear。 I am so happy over the dedication； and； very proud。 So； Hope will be when she knows。 As I have not read the novel it all will come as a splendid and pleasant surprise。 I am looking forward to sitting down to it with all the pleasure in the world。
You chose the right moment to elope。 Never was weather so cold； cruel and bitter。 Hope is the only one who goes out of doors。
I start the fires in the Big House tomorrow and the plumbers and paper hangers； painters enter the day after。
The attack on Verdun makes me sick。 I was there six weeks ago in one of the forts but of course could not then nor can I now write of it。 I don't believe the drive ever can get through。 For two reasons； and the unmilitary one is that I believe in a just God。 Give my love to Dai； and for you always
DICK。
P。 S。 I am happy you are both so happy； but those post cards with the palms were cruelty to animals。
On the 21st of March； 1916； Richard and his wife and daughter moved from the Scribner cottage to Crossroads； and a few days later he was attacked by the illness that ended in his death on April 11。 He had dined with his wife and afterward had worked on an article on preparedness； written some letters and telegrams concerning the same subject and； while repeating one of the latter over the telephone； was stricken。 Within a week of his fifty…third year； just one year from the day he had first brought his baby daughter to her real home； doing the best and finest work of his career in the cause of the Allies and preparedness； quite unconscious that the end was near； he left us。 In those fifty…two years he had crowded the work； the pleasures； the kind； chivalrous deeds of many men； and he died just as I am sure he would have wished to die； working into the night for a great cause； and although ill and tired； still fretful for the morning that he might again take up the fight。
End