The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-23
TIE EVENING STORY
TYle Haralxiri Sword.

| When the late Russo-JaDanese war
was at its height and the -th Jap
anese infantry was awaiting orders, or,
rather, transportation across the sea
of Japan. lieutenant Sakae Seshino
fell i'll. and the hospital facilities not
being suited to his case the surgeon
tordered hts removal to a private house.
He was taken to one in which dwelt an
/ old woman alone with her niece. The
aunt was an invalid requiring a great
deal of care. but her niece found time
to do much for the lieutenant. Often
wien he was burning with fever he
would feel a cool hand on his fore
head and, opening his eyes, would see
a sympathetic face looking down into
his There would usually be smile
on the girls lips, intended for encour-
lagement, and world of sympathy
/ would look out at him through her
eyes. Her name translated into Eng
lish would mean Sunshine, and she
was well named. for she gave warmth
to the hearts of those about her.
Sunshine seldom came to Seshino's
room but that she was followed by her
aunt, whose health did not prevent her
from moving about the house. Seshi-
mo inferred that the aunt had some
property and the niece had nothing.
This was true, and, in addition the
aunt did not intend that Sunshine
should marry a soldier. The old lady
preferred that her niece should marry
an ordinary man who had a good
!. chance to live. rather than a hero who
was doomed to go to his ancestors.
There was one whom the aunt pro-
posed Sunshine should marry; that
was Jungo Amakuki, contractor who
was getting rich furnishing supplies to
, the army. Here was something the
old lady could appreciate. She was
willing to give all praise to the gal
: liant defenders of their country, but
; for a husband for her niece she pre-
} ferred the contractor. Sunshine. on
the contrary, deteSted the dried UP old
; man and uorshiped the brave boys
who were going to save Japan.
: Sakae Seshimo, when the regiment
( sailed for the mainland, was able to
1 march to the transport with his COM
2 rades The kindly attentions of Sun
shine had won his heart, and the night
T before he left the house he endeav-
ored to get chance to tell her of his
: love, but the aunt kept a strict watch,
! never for moment leaving the two
alone. Seshimo could only write on a
lpiece of paper, 81 love you" and slip
it into Sunshine's hand when he said
goodbye. But he told them that he
q morning and hoped to have the pleas
. ure of seeing both at the window. He
l. knew that if his answer was favor
: able Sunshine would show it in hel
d face.
a When morning came and the sol
a diers marched by the house where
Is lSeshimo had lost his heart he looked
IS eagerly, beginning as far as he coulc
" see it, and keeping his eyes fixec
O upon it as he went by, till he could ses
it no longer, but no one appeared a
e the window. Then he made up hi
d mind that his suit was rejected. H
l. had seen the contractor at the hous'
& and suspected the aunt's intentions
If Now he was sure that Sunshine mus
lie marry Amakuki.
N Seshimo, not being permitted to liz,
with Sunshine, was quite willing to 81
It to his ancestors. Consequently h
ID fought with great bravery, and hi
i regiment having been sacrificed in
preliminary attempt to capture {
IS Ifortification, he was one of the few
e miraculously spared. He was put Ii
k command of a regiment, and from
that time his rise was rapid. He soor
It became a general of brigade and a
d the battle of 4I4iaoyang was made
d general of division. At the battle o
Mukden he was wounded and Marsha
Oyama- being unwilling to lose so dis
tinguished soldier, sent him home t.
: from which he had sailed.
The surgeon asked the genera
u where he would like to be lodged, ant
II he replied that if it would be agree
liable to the inmates he would go to tht
g house in which he had been ill befor;
!. his departure. The answer came tina
n so great a general would honor the
) house by coming into it, so SeshimC
e was carried there, and when he saw
d Sunshine smiling at him he knew tina
l. he would get well rapidly.
y The first thing that Sunshine told hin
n was that on the morning of his depart
l. ure she was about to go to the window
1t as she heard the tramp OF men Wner
n her aunt was seized or pretended to be
e seized with a sinking spell and held OF
to her till the troops had passed. She
: was going on to tell him more, when
/ looking out of the door, she turned
deadly pale. There stood man holding
p a cushion on which was short curved
sword. She knew at once that it was
the harakiri sword and presumed that II
e had been sent to Seshimo. To whom
: this sword is sent in Japan he is ex-
pected to commit suicide with it by
L slashing open his bowels.
u The sword bearer advanced to the
u door and said:
ST have message from the emperor
: to Jungo Amakuki, who has been send
= ing decayed meat and spoiled rice to
the army. I have looked for the con-
tractor at his house and, not finding
him, was told that he might be here. I"
y At that moment Amakuki came up
= the steps and the messenger, turning,
) offered him the sword The contractor,
! seeing it, staggered into another room
and the door was closed behind him.
D | Thus it turned out that Seshimo was
: perrnitted to remain on earth with the
r girl he loved. and his rival, Amakuki,
/ was sent to his ancestors. who doubt
4 less gave him very cool reception.
CHARLOTTE SHERWOOD.
I
4 0TIAKER REFLECTIONS.