Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/199

WHAT JONATHAN FOUND know what it is. We didn't at first. It was a grand spree! A holiday parade! It didn't matter so much when some one else was doing the fighting, and we were comfortable at home. But the war is at our doors now, and bare living has grown so hard that something must happen—and soon. And, now, right now, boys, is the time to make it happen—before the country is destroyed. And you can do it—you! Come! Don't you want to?"

Again Kratz waits, but not a word. He looks all about to catch an eye. But all look away.

"The man who puts his name down next," says the editor, "will be an officer. He may have the captaincy. I don't want it. My God! Don't that move some one? Don't you all want to be captain or lieutenant?"

No one seemed to want to be an officer—though soldier companies was about half officers until they got to the front.

"Good God! Is it possible!" says Kratz, wiping the tears out of his eyes. "I have 183