The Van Buren press., 1903-06-27
PrOfeSSOrV VanderhOff'S
Conversion
BY ADA MARIE PECK.
coryright. laOs, by DalIy sloIy Pub. -

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Pamela should care for the eld-
erly professor was one of the anoma-
lies Of life. Ii was another that he
should be so totally Indifferent 10
her evident infatuation.
When demonstrated 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 Nanderhoff, he
was not only indifferent to, but Sc
renely obliyious of her too patent
devotion, and was a scotfer regarding
her love as we'll
What was love in the abstract. the
silly emotion young men and women
professed TO entertain for each other,
embodied in some statue of love to
which sculptor had put the touch
Of his genius a thousand years be-
fore? The professor would scrape
she dirt off the unearthed marble
and gloat over it, but would not wipe
the dust from his glasses to see Eros
hovering 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 TO go, but would pre-
sent a card, which would be received
obsequiously with certainly. sir"
when Prof. Vanderhoff would linger
until the setting sun shone in the
windows and tinted the marbles with
n touch of rose that seemed TO warm
them into a sembance of life.
He noticed this vivifying effect at
the close of an afternoon, and paused
N his walk alongside the shelves Of
small figures TO look at the center
cases. He even dropped his precious
notebook in his surprise. How
strangel" he exclaimed. "Number
s3S might be head of flesh and
blood, there's almost n lifting Of the
eyelids, almost a 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 most human face, so very hui
man, in fact, that it pave him ner-
vous start. Its mellow glow shone
through the windows and reached
out radiant fingers which touched
the marbles, investing them with an
unreality Of aspect, He could have
sworn that one OF fine 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 rea-
soning, felt a 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 food Of moon
light. a tall youth with the finely
cut features, grand brow and noble
head he had admired in the bust. The
youth remained standing FOR n mo-
ment, long enough for the professor
to see the look OF alteration and
longing in his eyes, then, with state
ly step and outstretched arms, has
tened TO meet and embrace q beau
, tiful girl who glided toward him
with radiant face. He held her close,
with rapturous kisses.
ut has been SO long" she mur,
INJURED
"Two thousand years is not long
p 10 wait for this" he answered. Then
with his arm around her waist and
her head resting on his shoulder
they passed on, the silver rays Of
the moon lighting up his robes Of
richest crimson and snowy white,
. and his companions draperies Of
azure and gold making u beautiful
picture at which the professor looked
with da2ed eyes,
"That was Number ESQ with him"
he unused. "a madonna face that
has always seemed 20 me Of the pas.
,donless type" Then he took off his
glasses and rubbed them clear, "My
head Is getting confused. OF course
/ saw nothing, II is just freak Of
imagination, II is purely imaginary"
he added firmly, trying 20 be philo'
sophical, and giving n hurried glance
back Hs he hastencd 20 leave the gal
lery but pausing and sinking into n
seat when he saw the figures re-
turning and heard the distant mel.
lihuous tones Of the youth, who was
saying 20 his companion;
"Such a moon shone centuries ago
in Cyprus, and then as now the
welded odors of flower and leaf aud
shrnb foAted IN The window and my.
rlads Of insects filed the air with
their soft complaints"
COME TO ME, LITTLE ONE,