Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-09


HEAR AND SEE.
"A show before. When at length woman
in spangled blue satin came out and
sang with coloratura effect two popular
songs she was entranced. She went home
with those two songs ringing in her
ears, and the next day she was singing
them. Suddenly life had cast its anchor;
would sing in trills and cadenZas to as
tonish vast audiences. But she knew
that she could not sing without instruc-
ton. That day she went to beg Martha
Laudon. Westmore's leader in song. to
teach her.
Martha Laudon was incredulous even
after she heard the tones pouring forth
from Helena's throat. She was narrow
minded and jealous of her art. but she
was forced to allow that Helena could
felt it no honor to be teaching Bob
Herrons daughter, she consented to take
the girl
Helena paid for her own lessons by
the simple method of doing Marthas
washing and ironing or scrubbing her
floors and washing her windows. She
paid dearly in young energy for what
she received. but she knew not nor cared.
In year she knew all that Martha did,
and could sing better than anybody
Westmore had ever heard. Her voice
began to be talked about. But then she
was Helena Heron and She lived on
Hill street She did not dress fit to
see. Her red hair was frightful When
Martha Laudon gave a recital and
Helena sang at it the other performers
succeeded in ignoring her and the au-
dience stared and gasped without word
of her praise. Mrs. Sutton, indeed.-she
Of his income from Hill street. as his
father had done before him-chided
Martha for introducing such a pupil to
select Westmore.
IIala apffo
from further reproach. She hired out
TO sing with comic opera troupe that
came to Westmore a day or two later
When this was known Mrs. Sutton said
il was just what she expected. She was
glad the girl was out of the town.
good many other people said the same
thing. They were glad to be rid of
Helena. If now they could be rid of
Bob as we'll
westrnore was indeed soon rid of Bob.
They found him one fall afternoon among
the leaves and chestnut burrs in the
Westfield woods with a bullet through
his heart. His gun had gone off acci-
dentalIy. No one tried to inform Helena,
for no one knew where she was. but a
week later she appeared. white faced,
smudgery. and disheveled from a long
journey overland, having seen the ac-
count of the shooting in a paper some
where. They had buried her father in
the WeStfield cemetery, and her mothers
grave was already there. There was
nothing to keep her in Westmore She
had money to pay what her father
owed. AS for the poor household truck,
she left that to Hill street. Then she
departed.
1t was eight years before she was
heard from again. In eight years West
more had changed very little. Mrs. SUIT
ton had grown gray: her son Richard
was still gay bachelor. Martha Lau-
don was teaching a new generation Of
Spir re nd
grown a little shabbier.
1t was by way of the Sunday news
paper that Helena was heard from.
There was her picture and her name
and glowing account OF her. The name
attracted first and then the picture. and
lastly. that description of her which
said. Young, beautiful. her great black
eyes and marvellous red hair no less
than her exquisite voice set Paris af1ame
when she made her first appearance at
say that she will be greeted with rap
ture by her own country"
Helena Herron! Paris. No wonder
Westmore lost its breath and could not
was confirmed by others in the days that
followed. She had arrived, she had
made her first appearance, her Partisan
triumph was repeated in New York.
Martha Laudon wept when she talked
about it to Mrs. Sutton. "And to think
! discovered her: l set her feet on the
way to fame. She cannot have for
gotten what I did for her.
Well, when It comes to that" said
Mrs. Sutton, I'VE did as much in our
way Goodness knows what would have
become of them if my husband hadn't
heen easy on them. He could have got
more rent for that house. but it was
Bob. and he let it go. Helena must re-
Inemoer that"
ia like to see herr sighed Martha.
Why. SO would T. admitted Mrs. SUIT