Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/174

WAR "Of joy, I expect," says I, for a joke.

"For joy," nods Jon, serious. "Why, daddy, a young girl's wedding is the most wonderful thing in her whole life!"

"Mine wasn't. But I suppose you're thinking about the time you were a young girl. And how many times you were married!" says I, for another joke on Jon.

But he laughs and understands, this time, and hugs me so that I thought my ribs were cracked.

"You see, daddy," Jon goes on, "I have known this for a long time, and if you'll come with me I'll show you and prove my faith in my own prophecy."

He drags me behind the barn, where he has a nice little hotbed with some funny flowers in it.

"Well, that's nice and unexpected," says I, "but go on and prove it. These are flowers; that's a wedding. What's the answer? Please tell me."

"There's the answer," laughs old Jon. 158