The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-06-04
A VOICE In
THE NIGHT
Or, the Professors
Mistake
By AGNES G. BRoGAN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,

sssssssssssssssssssesssess
Professor Brunn, looking over the
head of the dull pupil, saw the cir
standing in the doorway. She entered
the room half diftdently at his nod OF
invitation.
81 am Marguerite Rainor," she an
nounced simply, "and would like tc
take singing lessons. VIII you kindly
tell me your price?"
The professor was fully aware of the
anxious note in her vibrant voice as he
drew forth chair. No one knew bet
ter than he the constant struggle of a
young musician with poverty. PROBES
sor Brunn was not even now as pros
porous as this luxurious studio would
seem to imply; therefore he made q
hurried mental calculation, and then
as the girls eager, questioning eyes
sought his, he deliberately cut his
teaching price In two. Her delight was
very evident
81 am so glad" she said, with a sigh
Of relief, "for l feared the lessons
might be more than l could afford"
So Marguerite's lessons began, and
the three afternoons each week when
she appeared for instruction came to
be bright spots In the professors life
He grew to know her moods, to glory
in her advancement to fret and trou.
BILE himself because of hardships he
feared she might be secretly enduring
Her pretty ways and little tricks of
speech fingered with him long after
she had gone, until it seemed that the
professors very life had become one
long thought Of her, while Marguerite
calmly accepted his devoted friendship
and installed him conf1dant and adj
wiser. To him she read the home let
tiers, looking up through tear bright
eyes as she told of the invalid sister,
the mother who called her daisy.
dear" instead of the formal Marguer-
tie.
Her CHEEKY greeting as she entered
the studio could not blind him to the
fact that the piquant face grew paler,
more transparent, as time passed, and
he wondered painfully If she was de-
priying herself Of proper food in order
to further her ambition. And one aft
ernoon when the hours dragged slow
ly and no laughing face appeared In
the doorway the professors anxiety
became uncomfortable, and he went him
self to ascertain the cause of her alb
sence. He had some difficulty in find
ing the quaint side street and the old
fashioned house where Marguerite
made her home. But, after all, it was
not SO bad as he had feared, for the
small sitting room, with its wide win
dow, faced the street, and, though its
only noticeable piece of furniture was
an old piano, still an air of comfort
pervaded the room. She came to meet
him wrapped In her heavy cloak and
shaking her head In mock reprovaI.
you should not have come all this
way to find me-" she said. 'I merely
have cold, very slight cold, which
will not let me sing"
The professor glanced at the dark
ened CRATE. you have been keeping
your fire too low" he accused.
Marguerite laughed 1t was a shaky
sort Of laugh. Yes" she replied, 81
have been keeping my fre-too low"
you must not let it occur again." the
professor said sternly. zone cannot
afford to take risks with a voice like
yours"
What a troublesome luxuryp' the
girl exclaimed, but she was smiling
He regarded her closely when she came
again for lessons, and that afternoon
Professor Brunn instituted the fashion
of serving afternoon tea in the studio.
1T is quite the custom" he assured
Marguerite, watching with satisfaction
her hungry enjoyment of a sugared
roll, while the dull pupil poured the
tea, and afterward he sang to them. 1t
was an old fashioned air which Mar
guerite chose-a song of love-and his
voice found its half forgotten strength
and sweetness as he bowed low above
the dusky head Of his accompanist.
When he had finished she looked up
at him, her eyes shining.
1T carries me back to my home.'
she unused dreamily "A-a boy used to
sing this song"
The professor could not speak He
was watching her face with tense
earnestness. ut is hard for him also
making his way here ia the CITY," Sh
continued, but we try to console each
other, Billy and |. He came when |
did, you see, and it was he who ran
about coaying the mothers to let me
take their children to teach Billy has
such a pleasing way that he managed
1t much better than | could possibly
have done" Marguerite jumped III
and ran for her cloak; then she came
back, looking with concern into the
mans white face.
you are not WELL" she reproYed him
You are working too hard"
Il am quite we'll" the professor an
swered duly. She paused a moment.
still vaguely troubled; then her face
frightened
Mother is coming to see me tomor-
row." she said. "She has heard so
much about you, Professor Brunn.
would be very glad to have you pay
us a visit" The professor arose
YEARLY.
Every well" he replied, II will come.
He would not confess to himself Just
yet that this numbing heart heaviness
bespoke the hopelessness Of all that he
longed for and desired. Yet what else
could it mean? 1t was. after all Bill
ly's song she had loved, ana MS sing
ing had been but It's echo. And still
and still one does not so easily despair.
He would hold hard, hard to this one
hope of a great joy. So he walked
through the Park at twilight on his
way to Marguerites home, and the
sounds and scents of coming spring
gave to him new courage. The hya-
cinths, poking their heads above
ground, seemed to watt a breath of
promise, and he approached the shah
by house where Marguerite lived in
an almost happy frame Of mind. Then
as he looked at the open window,
where muslin curtains tapped gently
in the breeze, tall youth sprang
nimbly up the steps. The professor
was enjoying the youths gay assur-
ance when it suddenly occurred to him
that this was Billy-Billy, straight
and fine and strong, who sang the
song of love. So undecidedly the pro-
fessor waited, and after time voice
came ringing down to him, mans
masterful voice, now reasoning, now
entreating, until the professor became
aware at last that he was listening to
an ardent avowal of love. His heart
contracted suddenly as he heard wo-
mans quickly stlfied sob. Then the
x,,o,,o .-oioa br1raf ONT again nacai0n.