The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-13
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The war Service Bureau.
THE WAR SERVICE BURAU gee.
BY MELVIN STEVENS.
{ Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure


BY MELVIN STEVENS.
{ Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
HT was late spring in the mountains,
and bud EmbuTy vas gazing ques-
tfonfngIy into the clear blue eyes OF
Doris BALDWIN. Somebody or other mas
told us an about a young mans
thoughts IN the springtime, SO it seems
hardly necessary to mention the tact
that Dud was wondering whether or
not he dared to tell Doris how much
he cared for her. They hadn't known
each other very long; only for two
weeks, to be exact but both were
graduate of the same college, which
makes all the difference in the world
''It's Just as if we had known each
other for four years" the man explain
ed. $50 want you to treat me as one
of your Oldest friends"
That had been two weeks ago, Then
bud had arrived at the Smith farm
house for a brief rest from business
worries. It was just a coincidence that
Doris happened to be the village school
teacher, but the new arrival consider
ed st about the luchest thing that ever
happened to him. For Doris's eyes
were like the October sky on a cloud
less day, and her lips matched the
petals OF crimson rose. She had only
ben out OF college year.
Their two weeks together had down
on enchanted wings, and the time had
finally come when it was necessary for
Dud to go back to the city again. So
he looked into tho depths of the girls
eyes and became suddenly brave.
81 love you" he said.
He had always thought that when
he spoke those words, the girl to whom
they were directed would ope1 her
arm and smile at him. But Doris did
no such thing. Instead. she dropped
her eyes and traced an aimlesS pattern
Of the floor OF the porch. Then man
could not see that her heart was wild
with the Joy OF his confession; that
her whole being Quivered for the touch
of him. He only knew that she did not
come to him at once; and because his
knowledge OF girls was limited, he i'm
agined that she did not care.
So. very quietly. he turned away
from her and hurried upstairs to his
room. On such MISUNDERSTANDING.
world of tragedy Is based. For the man
believed that the girl did not wish to
answer him, and the girl believed that
the man, having spoken inpulstveiy,
regretted his action and escaped be-
fore it was too late.
He went away the next day while
she wG5 making mcc,:ery of her geo
grc ply Lessen; and for seemingly
enEeSs month he ate his heart out for
her. And then, when he could not stand
It n Err lc2=er, he wrote her a let
te-, tc,z-:.g aga.n Of his love and asking
he il size could ever care for him.
Ext IN Q week the letter came back
v tie announcement that Miss
Z. : Baldwin had gone from Noun
f av-..!e and had left no address. And
n s-..te OF all that bud could do, her
r. cGbouts remained unknown toj
Il then. having found business
suddenly uninte-est:as, he applied for
S.-i..-c.@.;:oa into the first series OF Of
fice=S Training Camps AID was admit
ted to PiattSburg early in the sum
mery where fifteen hours day OF drill
and study kept his mind busy and his
body strong.
In the course OF three months he
was graduated with a captains COM,
mission and was assigned to Camp
Dix, N. J. Then it was that he heard
about the War Service Bureau OF
Glenwood College. The Bureau was es
tablished by a classmate OF his who
was unable to fight because Of physical
defects and who had decided to de-
vote his time to the Glenwood men
who had entered the service OF the ma
ton. Every week he sent letter TO
the alumni and studnts OF the college
in the camps, telling them OF the