isa-normaladvance-1903-00177

Description:	THE NOEMAL ADVANCE.177leaned over his desk and looked with faded blueeyes out beyond the honeysuckles and beyond thewhite clouds.There was something pathetic in the folds of theblack coat which hung loosely over his shouldersand in the wistful gaze of his eyes, which broughta little sob into her throat. She buried her faceagainst his shoulder close Up to his.Dadda, dear, dear Dadda—dont—Ill never,never go if you will be lonely,—if you look thatway. She stroked his beard and patted therounded shoulders.How will it ever be here without me, Dadda?Who will ever be here to dust you books and knowjust where to put them ? She raised her head andlooked around the little room, full of happymemories and dear associations.Never mind me—Ill be all right. Tige and Iwill take care of things. Tige thumped his tailsolemnly in approval. And there are the beesand the grapes. Ill be so busy that I wont evenmiss you. But he held her closely and stroked herhair. My little girl—shes going on the quest ofWisdom. Ive no doubt its a great palace outthere—the abode of Wisdom. He lifted his thinhand toward the clouds beyond the orchard trees.But she will never be too anxious to be happy andto keep a little room in her heart where Dadda andthe honeysuckle and the robins songs may dwell,will she? And when she gets tired she wont forget to open the door, will she ?He looked out of the window and far away ashe smiled to himself. Then, when her palace hasfaded away, I pray God that the honeysuckle androbins songs will be fresh and sweet enough to fillher life with the quiet peace that knows no understanding.His voice had grown so low that she did nothear. She would not have heard anyway, for,nestled close to her father, she was again lookingout with the strength of hope in her face. * * *The robins were singing again, fresh, giddyrobins, sending their music with the gay infectionwhich the commencement season brings, out overthe shady campus. Mildred heard them againand lifted her face to smile up into the mapletrees. A leaf sailing down brushed her hair softly.She closed her eyes quickly as she caught a faraway fragrance of apple bloom and heard the songsof robins and felt the red honeysuckles wave above.A hard pain caught in her throat and blindedher eyes. She saw again the thin bowed shouldersand faded blue eyes of her father. He had waitedso patiently and lovingly for the four years to goby, had not murmured when she said the work inthe busy city claimed her summers, had writtenher always of Tige and the grapevines and thehoneysuckles and bees. And now—a wave of bitterness and longing for the old home life cameover her—now she knew the grape vines wereclambering wildly for need of the careful pruninghand she knew that the bee-hives were empty that the honeysuckles tapped in vain at the littlestudy window.She threw out her hands and brushed it allaway—all the wise things she had failed to learnthere. What did it all mean when her heart washungry for Dacldas love and—The starlight fell very, very softly down throughthe leaves and on her face and white gown, on theold school she was leaving, and on him. He didnot twirl his hat on his finger, but he saw the sameseriousness in her eyes and on her lips. As hebent and looked closer, he saw the new shadowsthere. His face brushed the soft puffs of her hairand the warm flush sprang into her cheeks. Hesaw that, too, and knew that spring had dawnedagain.That was why he leaned forward and whisperedto her—Little girl, there isnt anything else, isthere ? And that was why she lifted her face andanswered. No, and youll take me back where thehoneysuckles are. —Nellie Head, 03.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/33991
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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