The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-04-12
lacks RED CROSS GIRL:
BY JOSEPH 7. REscEL.

He, on the Texas border, called her
his "Red Cross Girls" we, in the big
government hospital, "Merry Sum
shine" Indeed she was to us a ray
of sunshine. Moving among us with
her CHEEKY good morning." she ar
ranged pillow here and there, while
beaming into upturned faces.
Nature had made her light. She
was light of complexion, and beneath
spotless cup of white, in the bright
morning sun, her light hair shone like
newly beaten gold. She had laughing
blue eyes that sparkled like ripping
waters.
The big ward-our ward-was filled
to its capacity. The sudden call of
the militia to the Rio Grande had ex-
acted its full quota of sick men. AS
each pain-racked figure was brought
In, Merry Sunshine could not conceal
her anxiety. 1t might be her Jack,
dear old Jack, so noble, good and
handsome, who had been one of the
first to leave for the border. Wishing
to be near him and also to serve her
country, she had followed her sweet
heart the day after his departure, but
many miles still separated them.
One bright August morning they car.
ried into the ward khaki-clad, de.
liriOus figure, who waved an imagin.
airy saber with his unbandagcd arm,
shouting wildly, Cup and ut them,
Jack; up and ut them. Good boy,
Jack; see them run. They're break.
ing, they're breaking. Well chase 'em
into the gulf"
With eager, trembling hands she ex.
amined the regimental number Oh the
sick mans uniform. 1t was the same
regiment as her jacks. Was it pos.
sible this tossing, fcver-stricken form
knew her sweetheart?
Far into the night she sat by the
wounded mans side.
In the cool quiet of the early morn.
ing few days later. Merry Sunshine's
attention was rewarded by gentle
sigh from the new patient. He was
freed Of his delirium and his eyes
| slowly grew clearer. A wan smile
parted his lips as she bent over him.
"Jack's sweetheart, the Red Cross
girl" he whispered joyfully. II know
you from the picture in his watch
case.'
With cry of delight she heard
what followed.
Eyes, Jack was by my side when we
charged across stretch of cactus.
covered plain during some drill maneu.
vers. I remember my horse pitching
forward, my head striking the ground
and nothing else until this moment"
The voice gradually weakened. AL.
most inauiibly he mumblcd, "I'm
tired now, very tired. Letter-inside
-pcckct-blCuse-w was to mail
because Jack-statiOned long way
| from post Office" His eyes closed and
he lapsed into peaceful slumbcr.
"a letter from Jack! Oh, how
good!" A bell rang the call to duty
The letter must wait. With q long.
sweet kiss she placed it over her
| heart in the folds of her immaculate
uniform.
| Months passed and the strained stu.
alton at the border had calmly sub
sided. A long troop train pulled into
the station of a northern city amid
Shrfeking whistles and the hOarSe
shouts of the multitude upon the plat
form.
Accompanied by the grinding of
brakes and release of air, the train
came to u full stop.
At the edge of the crowd fair
faced woman energetically waved her
ccuntry's flag with small, unglovcd
hand.
Shifting her intent gaze continually
over each veStfbule as man after man
| descended the expression in her eyes
showed eager expectancy while she
scanned each healthy, sun-brOwncd
face.
Why did he not appear? Could 1t
he possible he had not come? 1t was
his regiment. Had anything hap
pened?
1t seemed to her tcnsion-wrought
mind that they had all iliSembarkcd.
The flag of her country was firmly
clasped in her hand, as with her head
erect she tried to force her way
through the crowd.
A tall, well-built militiaman, who
noted the look of anxiety or her face,
politely lifted his hat and asked if he
could be of service. She thanked him
and explained. In quiet, even tone
he said. "Passageway. please" The
crowd respectfully fell aside and he
conducted her to the cars.
| Merry Sunshine arrived with him at
an open vestibule, just as three figures
started to descend. A big man in the
center, supported by his two com.
panions. saw her coming. He at
tempted to rush forward, but his I'M
certain steps were checked by his
comrades, who sang out, "Steady,
Jack, steady!"
| A deep flush of color shot to his
cheeks. His eyes. clear and bright,
watched the figure that came rapidly
toward him and eagerly sprang up the