You're a young man....

The war hit us all, I guess," he said, and at the last, sighed heavily.
"It's been a long pull--Blair Maynard and I were the first to enlist, and we left Middleville almost immediately," went on Lane.
He desired to plant in Iden's mind the fact that he had left Middleville long before the wild era of soldier-and-girl attraction which had created such havoc.

Acutely sensitive as Lane was, he could not be sure of an alteration in Iden's aloofness, yet there was some slight change.

Then he talked frankly about specific phases of the war.

Finally, when he saw that he had won interest and sympathy from Iden he abruptly launched his purpose.
"Mr.Iden, I came to ask if you will give your consent to my marrying Mel." The older man shrank back as if he had been struck.