"Forgive this, boy....

Is it also true you were engaged to marry that Helen Wrapp--and she threw you down, while you were over there ?" "Yes, that's perfectly true," replied Lane, soberly.
"God, I guess maybe the soldier wasn't up against it!" ejaculated Pepper, with a gesture of mingled awe and wonder and scorn.
"What was the soldier up against, Pepper ?" queried Lane.

"Frankly, I don't know." "Lane, the government jollied and forced the boys into the army," replied Pepper.

"The country went wild with patriotism.

The soldiers were heroes.