Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-05-24
JACKS RED CROSS GIRL
BY JOSEPH I. Resell.

he. On the Texas border, called her
Z his Red Cross Girl :" we, in the big
government hospital, Merry Sun
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, Wills
beaming into upturned faces.
I Nature had made her light. She
was light Of complexion, and beneath a
spotiess cap OF white, in the bright
morning sun, her light hair shone Ike
newly beaten gold She had laughing
blue eyes that sparkled Ike Tippling
waters.
The big ward-our ward-was filed
70 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. It might be her Jack,
dear old Jack, 90 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, bur
many miles still separated them.
One bright August morning they car
RED into the ward q khaki-elad, de-
lIrious figure, who waved an imagin-
airy saber with his unbandaged arm,
shouting wildly, up and at them.
Jack; up and at them Good boy,
Jack; see them run. They're break
ing, they're breaking. Wen chase EN-
into the gulf"
with eager trembling hands she ex-
amined the regimentaI number on the
sick mans uniform. Il was the same
regiment as her Jacks Was It pos
sible this tossing. fever-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 a few days later, Merry Sunshine's
attention was rewarded By a gentle
sigh from the new patient He was
freed Of his deliriun and his eyes
slowly grew clearer. A wan smile
parted his iips as she bent over him
Jacks sweetheart. the Red Cross
girl" he whispered jOyfully. Il know
you from the picture in his watch
case"
With a cry of delight she heard
what followed.
Yes. Jack was by my side when we
charged across 4 stretch Of cactus
covered plain during some drill maneu-
vers. I remember ny horse pitching
forward, my head striking the ground
and nothing else until this moment"
The voice gradually weakened Al
most inaudibly he mumbIed, ~Pu
tired now, very tired. Letter-inside
-UOcket-blOuse= I was 10 mail
-because Jack-statiOned long way
from post Office His eyes closed and
he Iapsed into peaceful slumber.
"a letter from Jackl Oh. how
good :" A bell rang the call 10 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
shrieking whistles and the h0arse
shouts Of the multitude upon the plat
form.
Accompanied By the grinding OF
brakes and release OF air, the train
came To a fun stop.
At the edge Of the crowd 3 fair
faced woman energetically waved her
counrys nag with small. ungl0ved
hand.
Shifting her intent gaze continually
over each ves6bule SIS man after man
descended the expression In her eyes
showed eager expectancy while she
scanned each healthy, sun-hrowned
face.
Why did he not appear? Could It
be possible he had not Gomez Il was
his regiment. Had anything hap
pened?
It seemed TO her tension-wrought
mind that they had all disembarked.
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 on her face.
politely lifted his hat and asked IL he
could be Of service. She thanked him
and explained In a quiet, even tone
he said. -PasSageway, please" The
crowd respectfully fell aside and he
her n the cars
Merry Sunshine arrived with him nc
an open vestibule. just as three figures
started 10 descend 4 big man in the
center, supported by his two com
panfOns. saw her coming he at
tempted TO rush forward. but his IN
certain steps were checked by his
who sang out, STEADY.
Jack. steady
A deep flush Of color shot to his
cheeks. His eyes. clear and bright