Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE JAP VETERANS STORY.
tOriginai.1


man for a soldier 1 ever knew. The
army is no place for gentlemen, at least
without bravery. and many of US felt
contempt for Kurata- Nevertheless
! there was something about him that at
tracted us. We had not seen him in &C
ton and did not know how he would
behave; therefore ] for one was dis
posed to suspend Judgment
But circumstances prevented my re-
manning in this dispassionate mood to-
ward Kurata. He was taken Ill and
removed to the hospital Soon after i
also was obliged to go under the care
of the surgeons and was taken to the
same hospital and put i'll the same
ward as he. There were several volun-
teer nurses in attendance. young ladies
OF good families in Hakodate. who hit
ted here and there among rs like an
gels. Among them was one who TO me
was especially charming. Her name
translated into your language would
be Cherry. There is little Of the cherry
in our japanese compilations, but there
was a slight tinge of red in Cherrys
cheeks, and her eyes were very bright.
She was especially kind to me, and 1
learned TO look eagerly for her coming
to my bedside. Indeed when she was
absent I was miserable.
That l loved Cherry was revealed to
me in this wise: Kurata occupied cot
opposite mine. and one morning I saw
Cherry go to him and ask how he was
getting on. l saw tears in his eyes as
he replied. Tears in the eyes of SOL
%Io
had thus far repressed. Then I saw
Cherry take his hand, press it warmly
and look tenderly in eyes that respond
ed with equal tenderness. Instinctively
| felt for my sword. which. of course.
was not Mt my side. That is how
learned that loved Cherry.
We were getting ready for a fight.
and | insisted on being discharged
from the hospital that / might take
my place at the front. Before setting
forth | could not refrain from saying
some Ill ma -ured words TO Cherry about
the sympathy that was passing be-
tween her and Kurata. | was so dis
agreeable about it that Cherry told me
TO mind my own business That bust
ness being to fight. went forth to kill
huSSlstiIS poSoibits
This was just before the battle of
Liaoyang. Kurata rejoined us before
the fight opened. and, though his health
was fairly well restored. his spirits
were much depressed. He seemed to
me 10 be nerving himself TO meet the
trying ordeal I'm store for all of us.
When that ordeal came | saw him ex
posing himself recklessly during the
heat of the fight. but when our part in
it was over he collapsed. We who had
watched his bravery with surprise and
admiration were suddenly turned back
10 contempt at seeing him tumble over
in faint. Some said that he had left
the hospital toeosoon. This satisfied
others. butt was not in a position to
do him justice.
On the third day of the fight | felt
numbness in my leg and n sudden col
lapse of nerve power. Looking down.
saw n red stream running down my
trousers into my boot. | tramped on
for a few minutes. then sank down and
i'm time was carried To the rear on
stretcher. A temporary hospital had
been set up in Il field, which was
crowded with wounded. Some of the
nurses | had seen during my illness
were there. but 1t was no place for
well persons save surgeons. who were
cutting and saving in the manner usu-
al at Il battle.
One sight | saw maddened Inc. Ku
rata had been severely wounded. and
kneeling beside him. holding his hand
and encouraging him while lie waited
for n surgeon to attend him. was Cher
nv. Presently she went to one OF tho
surgeons, and / saw that she was
pleading with him 10 go to her lover.
for | could not doubt that such was the
relation between her and Kurata. The
surgeon went with her and. unbutton-
ing the wounded mans coat, ripped
open his shirt. Cherry was between
me and the wounded man. so that
could not see what was going on. but
there were some words between the
surgeon and Cherry. who got blanket
and held ii between Kurata and the
rest of us.
/ supposed that Kurata was liable to
die under the extraction OF the bullet
or whatever the surgeon should do to
him. but in field hospital filled with
men, some one of whom was dying
every few minutes, l could see NO ne
cessity for so much delicacy. But what
could be expected In the case of a man
who would faint after a fight? Well.
doubtless the boy had got his quietus,
and j should no longer be puzzled
about him.
When Kurata had been attended to
Cherry bent over him and kissed him.
Though had long given her up to him.
the sight CALLED me. and | was mean
enough 10 wish that Kurata might die
Of his wounds. Cherry. turning noticed
me, and / saw anxiety In her eyes at
once. Coming TO me, she begged me to
tell her bow seriously I was hurt and
with an earnest interest that under
other circumstances would have de-
lighted me.
Go" I said. land attend to your cry
baby soldier / can get on alone"