Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-17
Professor VanderhOff'S
 Conversion By ADA MARIE PECK.
,cepynshs. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,,

THAT a pretty young woman like
 Pamela should care for the eld- erly professor was one of the anoma- lies of life. It was another that he should be so totally indifferent to her evident infatuation.
 When remonstrated with, she de- clared that she adored him; that his blue eyes behind their glasses were mild and kind; that his slightly bent form stood for just so much erudi- tion; that she positively loved the little bald spot which shone out from his fair, curly hair just touched with silver, and that it would be Heaven upon earth to be permitted to copy his manuscripts.
 As for Professor Vanderhoff, he was not only indifferent to, but se- renely oblivious of her too patent her love as well.
 What was love in the abstract, the silly emotion young men and women professed to entertain for each other, compared to love in the concrete, as embodied in some statue of love to which sculptor had put the touch of his genius thousand years be- fore? The professor would scrape the dirt of the unearthed marble and gloat over it. but would not wipe the dust from his glasses to see Eros lowering close at hand.
 The custodian of the Museum of Art regarded him as a fixture, for when the closing hour came he was rarely ready Do go, but would pre- sent a card, which would be received obsequious1y with a certainly, sir," when Prof. vanderhoff would finger until the setting sun shone in the windows and tinted the marbles with touch of rose that seemed to warm them into a semblance of life.
 He noticed this vivifying effect at the close of an a2ternoon, and paused fin his walk alongside the shelves of small figures to look at the center cases. He even dropped his precious notebook in his surprise How, gtrangel" he exclaimed. Number e3s might be a head of flesh and blood, thereis almost lifting of the eyelids, almost smile on the lips" He stopped to pick up the book and as he rose saw that the afterglow had died away and the moon had come up and was looking at him with a most. human face, SO very hu- man, In fact, that it gave him a ner- vous start. Its mellow glow shone through the windows and reached out radiant fingers which touched the marbles. investing them with an unrealiAy of aspect. He could have sworn that one of the heads moved; that he heard low whisperings. He assured himself that his strange fan cy was the result of too close appli- cation to his notes, that he was over tired; but notwithstanding his req soning, felt thrill of superstitious fear which made his hand tremble as he adjusted the rubber band around his papers and prepared to take one more look at the figure be- fore going.
 The marble was not in its place; instead, his fascinated gaze saw, clearly defined in the flood of moon- light, tall youth with the finely out features, grand brow and noble head he had admired In the bust. The youth remained standing for a mo- ment, long enough for the professor to see the look of adoration md longing in his eyes, then, with state ly step and outstretched arms, has tened to meet and embrace beau tiful girl who glided toward him with radiant face. He held her close, with rapturous kisses.
 1,~. t~mz~a ao mured.
 "Two thousand years Is not long to walt for this," he answered. Then with his arm around her. waist and her head resting on bis shoulder they passed on, the silver rays of the moon lighting up his robes of richest crimson and snowy white, and his companion's draperies of azure and gold making beautiful picture at which the professor looked with dazed eyes. s..... ..
 'That was. Number sso with him." he unused. IA madonna face that has always seemed to me of the pas- sionless type" Then he took off his glasses and rubbed them clear. My head is getting confused. Of course I saw nothing. Tt Is just freak of imagination. It is purely imaginary" he added firmly, trying to be philo- sophical, and giving hurried glance back as he hastened to leave the gal lery, but pausing and sinking into seat when he saw the figures re- turning and heard the distant, mel ltfiuous tones of the youth, who was saying to his companion:
 Such moon shone centuries ago in Cyprus, and then as now the welded odors of flower and leaf and shrub hoated in the window and my riads of insects filed the air with &hAs~ ~>~s4 ~-----~1-S--A-s