Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/212

WAR I see no reason why you should have any veneration for your country after this. It's discouraging, disheartening. Shall we drop the company?"

He gets the company roll to cross our names off if we like when Jon stops him—still very polite.

"No," he said, "these men are only doing their duty—foolishly though they do it. They have their orders—just as you and I will have, presently. Keep our names where we put them. Keep the company."

Well, the crowd that had gathered is floored by that.

"My God!" weeps the editor. "Such patriotism!"

The two soldiers seems ashamed, and one of them says:

"Gentlemen, you may go to your homes."

The other one says:

"If you need to pass our lines again, the countersign is Washington. There is our confidence in you both!" 196