The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
NEWS FROM FAsER.
Copyright, 1920. by til Mcc lure News.
paper syndicateJ.



officer IN the Cameron Highland
ers. he had seen stpvice galore and
could easily have written reams Of
most interesting epistieg-he usually
Bcribbled a fen words ON field card
and let that suffice.
Mother, sweethearts, friends. all
waited in vain for news from Eraser.
He simply Wouldn't be induced to lei
How lengthy thought ON paper.
Nstther did he break this habit
when having taken position in New
York, far from his native Glasgow, he
really owed 1t to his friends and rel
atives to write His Impressions Of
he much talked OF big city should GER
tainly have found their way by.letter
across the great pond.
But they did not and Ned Mcleod
closest Of pals 10 Fraser, waxed elo-
quent in his expression Of opinion re-
harding the closeness Of the Scotch
rs race.
And, hoping TO arouse the ire ann
thereafter the penmanship of Fraser,
he secuted about Glasgow for an
merican stamp, attached 1t to an
addressed envelope, incIosed bit of
blank paper and sent 1t to Fraser.
Pull yourself together, old chap,
and write a line or two Ned had
written.
lie and Fraser had been pals since
the day they met as office boys and
smoked their first cigarette together.
Later they had gone to the War office
together. fought the common enemy,
returned 70 Mother Scotland safe and
sound; and Ned Mcleod didn't in
tend to.haye Fraser's lack, OF letter
writing stand between him and the
.inest friendship two zen had ever
tnown.
And Faser upon receipt OF the
stamped envelope laughed good hum.
gredly. He put II in his pocket with
the inward reflection that Helen
Tranwood might be amused with it.
Fraser was in the habit of talklig
aver everything that happened tc
him and his with Helen. For girl,
Fraser considered her most happy
mixture Of pal, and, well-Fraser>did
not know exactly what other emotion
Helen was capable Of arousing in
him.
He only knew that the hours spent
with her were decidedly contented
ones, and he was grateful to the lack
OF convention that had thrown them
together during cold wait on the
wharf while each was awaiting the
arrival Of friends from the incoming
Baltic. a
Fraser was ultra Scotch In the re.
serve Of his mind. but inwardly. he
admitted that New York would be a
cold and chastity place to be stationed
in were IL not for. the friendship of
Helen Tranwood.
/ They were having cup of tea IN
Helen's studio when Fraser showed
hs- 9cLeod's letter.
\ How would you likeGto write Ne.
s4cIecd and tell him, all. about you,
your business, Your Impressions OF
New York. and all the news?" Helen
asked, half in Jest, but fully prepared
to act on the impulse of the moment
Fraser gazed back at Helen, won.
dering IL this suggestion were some
more OF the American Kidding" that
he was beginning to comprehend. He
had had many d1aes of that same kid
ding at the merciless hands of Helen.
The girl watched Fraser's express
i've brown eyes while he foundered
before the un-Scotch unconventional
ity OF her idea,
y think know more about you
than most any one else does" she
added, and could write Mr.. Mcleod
fcgular document OF experiences
if you will let me-"
The III You will let me" STRUCK
rather appealing note. Fraser
laughed al the little odd emotion /
stirred within him. He was not in the
habit Of feeling any special emotion
when Helen was about. They were
Just good pals.
II don't mind, he said finally. 'Ned
will appreciate hearing in so unique
a Manner
Helen laughed. you couldn't DOS
sibly have said charming instead Of
'unique 1t was always a source
( of great amusement to her that this
Scot was so averse to paying COM
pliment- She was delighted in trying
Ito drag an occasional one from him.
SO IT happened that Helen Tran
wood and Ned Mcleod established a
most interesting and frequent news
service between Glasgow and New
York.
Fraser sat by much amused and
when the letters came to Helen from
Mcleod he was not wholly conscious
that his mind leaped at every ex-
pressed thought therein to fird out !
the news service was becoming per
|haps a trif1e more personal with the
sailing of many ships.
He certainly detected fast-grow-
/ ing interest on McLeod's part for Hell
en-. Between the lines Fraser read
steadily augmented desire for clos
er acquaintance.
A month or two more passed and Nc
Lecd sounded both Helen and Fraser
as to the adyisability of his crossing
ITO New York.
That WIS the first real jolt that
Fraserss calm mental state received. !
Why should Mcleod come across
. the Atlantic II not because he was
tbent on meeting Helen personally?
Had her letters so much power as 10 |
draw q perfectly unknown Scot three
thousand miles-a Scot with mos,
level head and an otherwise reason
able and sane outlook on life?