Page:The Phoenix Vol3 No1.djvu/4

2 speak of him as I first knew him). His gait was that of a man who would be wise and cautious in all ways, but who knew that the ordering of ultimate destinies is not within any man's power. He carried himself bravely and jauntily, yet with circumspection; and often he seemed to pause and listen for a word of the Fates. I could not imagine him playing the coward to Destiny. Short as was the grace allowed him, I believe he stood up like a brave man in the last awful moment, and that no man on the Lusitania met his death with a stronger soul.

But he died not alone. The woman who had been the great love of his life,—and for whom in the eyes of the world he had made shipwreck of his life,—shared his death. Hand in hand they went together into the Silence, called home by the Searcher of hearts, to whom alone is judgment. I must think it was a lovely and enviable consummation for these two, with just the touch of tragedy needed to make their story immortal: she, I am sure, would not have avoided such a death to live a queen!

But swift upon this thought, with its gracious and healing implications, comes regret at the striking down of the strong worker, the paralysis of that hive of industry of which he was the busy directing brain, the dismay of a community which loses in him its bond of union and support, the grief of the many throughout the country who admired his ready and versatile talent. And once more we realize that the empty space where but just now stood a strong man, is the most woeful thing in nature.

The present writer was unlucky enough to have been estranged from Elbert Hubbard, some fourteen years ago, by circumstances which need not now be recalled. The quarrel was actively served and diligently promoted by our common friends:—I don't think the hearts of the principals were ever much in it. But it was a very pretty quarrel, fed by mischievous tongues and eagerly ministered to by the creatures of envy, hatred and jealousy. There was bitter talk and counter-talk which the common friends alluded to traded back and forth with a quite incredible alacrity, never forgetting to dot