The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-04-26
F. - g
The Little Professor


By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

| about her lips. But in truth she knew
that nothing escaped the professors
keen eyes. not even the gradually in
oreasing turmoil in her own heart.
'And now he is going to drag my Sc
cret away from mel know he is. .
A blush tingled over Madness entire
being and she dropped her lids over
the shamed eyes reflected in the mir
ror.
When she entered the studio at 4
O'Clock she still felt an utter lack OF
control over herself
Nov, Miss Vance" the hint OF an
eternal smile in his eyes, and which
was a part of the professor, mingled
oddly with the gravity Of his voice,
you and / are going TO have a good
talk" He seated her on the wide
couch and dropped into his big arm
chair. He looked steadily into her
great brooding eyes for a moment
and said tenderly. "My nightingale
eyes are shadowed, her song Is
silenced and"-the little professor put
in his usual portion of the lighter
vein-"her features are extraordinar
lily beautiful"
A fleeting smile spent itself quick
ly in Madness eyes. Then she looked
at him in mute appeal, but she re
manned silent.
Come, tell your old teacher all
about It. You are fighting something
out in your own heart little girl
and it doesn't pay. Something \
bound to give way"
! AS the words give way" left his
lips Nadine felt the click of a key
open the door of her heart. She cast
a quick glance at the professor and
slipped over and onto the wide arm
Of his chair.
And because the little professor was
a strong man and of well-controlleo
emotions he in no way showed sur
prise, but only looked at her with his
paternal smile in his eyes. He could
feel the vibrations from her slender
body and wondered at the pent-uT
struggle within her He was not pre-
pared for the dry huskiness which
spoke of deep feeling when after
moment she found voice
Call me childish, unstrung-any
thing you like" She buried her head
in her arms on the back of his chail
and drew few spasmodic breaths
But I'm not. l have struggled ano
fought against this thing called love
But it is obsession, tyrrany-a dom
ineering master. And I am utterly
weary trying to escape it."
Nadine glanced shyly up Her eyes
were no longer brooding, but lumin
Gus and wonderful. The little profes
sor felt a subtle warmth stealing ovel
him. Unconsciously he drew in g
deeper breath of her fragrance. He
wondered, a trif1e apprehensively just
what the faint stirring within the
depths of his being might portend.
Madness voice continued in low
pitched. emotional cadence. She
dropped her head again on her arms
and spoke almost to herself. per
haps If / unburden my thoughts tC
you I may in a measure escape the
bondage if not the obsession. 1t may
be that in sharing my secret may
gain back the power Of song, Of laugh
ter, and win a few moments respite
from this unutterable longing, this
pent up love that is shadowing every
CLEAN of happiness in life"
She ceased speaking, but the little
professor was looking with unseeing
eyes at the white hand that lay idlt
on her lap; he had scarcely beer
needing her words, for the realization
| had stolen over him that something
big and desperately necessary to his
happiness was being dragged out o.
his reach.
Suddenly, aid with a force un
dreamed of, he turned and swept Ma
dine off the arm of his chair and into
his arms.
Stop! Don't tell me anything more
about this love of yours--I canno
stand it," The little professor was
trembling and his voice was ever
more husky than Madness own, "Yot
have breathed your low tones into my
ear and the scent of your hair in my
nostrils and now your heart is pound
ing against my ownand when yol
have set my soul quivering with love
for you do you think l am going t
stand by and let you talk of love fo
some other man? You can struggl'
all you like, but am going to hol'
you for my own!"
AS suddenly as he had taken he
he let 20 his clasp, with a contrit'
realization of what he had done
Forgive me, Nadine; it all came
over me SO suddenly-iust how deal
you are to me-" The little professor
made brave attempt at his kindly
paternal smile. "Can you forgive m,
now and leave me"
But with a long-drawn sigh Of con
tentment Nadine crept back into hi
arms and twined her arms abou
him.
Whom did you think loved?
she asked him.