The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-18

Miss Amy Carter leaned back in the
Tor and watched the girl at the piano.
The girl had a true but quite unframed
voice, and she sang in commonplace, soul
less fashion the air of a four-part sacred
song.
Wasn't 1t shivery and grand where the
bass took up the tuner"
The girls hands came down on the
keys with crash. She had not dreamed
that Miss Amy had come into the room.
Most OF the boarders did not come down
stairs until the tea bell had rung. Miss
Amy was almost as startled as the girl.
She had been in the house fve weeks
and never exchanged a word with any
one save the landlady.
Were you at St. Augustin's this after
noon?" inquired the girl, swinging around
on the piano stool
"0h. yes" replied Miss Amy. simply
i've been there every Sunday since !
heard you sang there in the choir
I'm sure it is awfully kind of you 70
say so I don't do much. you know. just
one of the chorus, but its $3.50 per, and
you meet real. nice people. too. I'd have
Joined the Musical League. too, only
you've got to report for every rehearsal
or lose your tickets for the last concert -
Miss Amy sat Ike one entranced. Here
was girl who did not simply buy ad-
mission tickets and listen TO others. She
was in it all. in the world of music. from
which Miss Amy had always been ex-
Guided by the iron key. marked Duty.
'How-how do you manage to get into
a chOir-or league. or anything Of that
sort?r
The girl felt iiattered as she looked into
Miss Amy's kiadling face.
"Oh. they're always looking for good
sight readers with fresh. clear voices in
the big choirs. Sometimes you get paid
sometimes you don't. I didn't get any.
thing last year. But the easiest way to
get in Is 10 take lessons from the choir
master-private lessons. Then Mr.. Yves
ton will put you in the choir to jolly you
along. whether you can sing or not
You're new to New York. and you
wouldn't believe the graft"
The clang of the supper bell drowned
the latter part Of the sentence. and tbs
girl rose abruptly. Miss Amy followed
her down to the dining-room, but scarcely
knew what was spread before them
What mattered food or drink. or sordid
landladies, or gossiping boarders, when
she had found the key to her paradise al
/ last? Perhaps it was graft-perhaps the
/ girl spoke thOughtlessly.
The next morning very early Miss Amy
went shopping. She told the milliner she
wanted a brown hat to match her suit
| mo, not a toque like she had on; some
thing younger" and she described quite
accurately the hat which the girl hat
worn TO church the afternoon before.
"In wear this. she said, "and you
ican send the old one home"
/ Next she went to the nearest drug store
and studied the directory. Weston, Al
bert, singing teacher, 42l West --
J street"
1 As she left the drug store she spied z
florists window, and she stopped for z
/ bouquet of vioIets. Then again she hest
tated The crisis OF this. her new life
was at hand. She allowed three cars 4
pass, and then with firmly compressed
/ lips she signaled for a hanson. At tbs
! DDdEQltlE~ MOUSE every one cdiQ AldL II
New York one must keep up appearances
! Perhaps If he thought she could afforC
to ride in hansoms he would overlook hel
vocal deficiencies.
Albert Weston. worn by his struggle.
with an Indifferent pupil. was standing
at the window of his studio when tbs
hanson drew up before the building anC
the brown, wrenlike figure stepped eau
/ tiously from the vehicle and shot a CUES
tioning glance up the brownstone front.
I'm glad I took the hansom," com
mented Miss Amy as she mounted tn,
steps This was life! An absurd thrill
swept over her ands brought a dehcat,
and most becoming blush TO her face.
Mr.. Weston studied her curiousiy, handl
/ deep In his pockets when she asked
almost timidly the privilege of studying
| with him. Prices, hours, everything
seemed secondary to the fear that h
might not accept her as a pupil. H
tried her voice, paced the room few
/ moments, and then said gravely:
Yes. I viii take you as a pupil. but
want to be quite frank with you Yol
viii never be a great singer. You havl
a sweet, harmless, drawing-room voice
bat l don't want you to go into the worl
with any idea of being a grand operi
singer in time. You have begun-too lat
for that
Again the delicate flush mounted to he
face. \