Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/281

WHERE OUR CLUB MET flesh of another's flesh! Oh, my dears, all a girl's life leads to and from that day. When we are old everything happens such and such a time after our wedding. When we are young every date is subordinate to 'When I am married.' Don't you wish you were all girls, working on your wedding gear, even though you sicken and die for it? Don't you wish you were ready to melt into some man's arms and be lost—lost forever? Have no name but his! Be nothing apart from him! Live only in his life, die when he dies!"

For a while no one spoke. Then Jon says, soft as praying:

"Yes. I wish I were a woman. There is nothing on the earth so beautiful!"

Now, what do you think of that! A man wishing he was a woman!

"Jonathan," I says, "don't be foolish. There must be men and women. Be glad to be what you are."

And, it was about the first time I ever knew Dave to be speechless. He didn't say a word. 265