Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-14

| V Ellen North dropped her
| music roll on the kitchen
| table. and with shaking
hands fumbled at the clasps of her
| long white gloves. She simply could
| not afford to cry in them.
Mrs. North set the iron back on the
stove and came around to Ellen's side
| Here, honey, I'll take them. and
your hat. Now She drew the
bright bObbed head TO her thin shout
der. and with n gulp Ellen released the
sob she had been fiercely holding back
! all the way home. What did Nine.
Vanecchi say, dear?" the mother asked
gently.
Ellen raised tear wet eyes. I'VE
| didn't even sec her" she answered
| dolefully. "She has n whole suite at
| the hotel. mother, and we only got as
| far as the reception room. There was
| a crowd waiting. tOO-repOrteTs.
guess, and Herr Mueller with two of
| his prize pupils--you know. those fat
Goodbinder sisters. And all the other
musicians in town. it seemed to me
"And what did you do?" her mother
asked.
"Nothing-just waited. The cutest
| little French maid let us in and then
went on arranging loads OF flowers in
vases. Well. and at last a funny-loOk-
ing little Italian man came out OF an
other room-madame's secretary, they
said.
Mueller and Miss Newcombe both
started for him, but Miss NewcOmbe
era bbed him first. She began telling
him about how she'd written madame
! OF her talented pupil, and how much
| we hoped she would give me an audi
, ton. Then Mueller chimed in about
! his talented pupils and they both
talked so hard at the little man-it
was funny. really" Ellen forgot her
/ grief for moment ard SigSled
| weakly.
%irs. North smiled. Eyes. and
| them" she prompted.
/ E.llen's mirth faded "Oh. he Just
| put his fingers in his ears till they
| both ran down. she answered un-
smiingly. Then he said angrily. II
H. impossible. Madame sees no one be-
/ fore fhe concert. Madame reposes her.
self."~ And he gave us stiff little bow
and went back in the other room and
/ slammed the door. So we came
away"
| Mrs. North sighed. More even than
Ellen and her teacher she had built
high hopes on this enterprise. II was
not often that singer OF Nanecchi's
l
coal town. II might be years before
il happened again. And Ellen's voice
| was wonderful. Mrs. North knew ii
| was simply question Of the girls get
ting the right training. the right start.
| Kind Miss NewcOmb could do little
more for her. and though mother and
daughter through years Of rigid econo.
my had built up a little fund Mrs.
North was painfully aware that they
could afford no false moves. Just a
few words from the great diya-where
to go. what teacher. TO approach
would make all the difference between
success and failure.
| With an effort she pulled herself
back into her accustomed cheerful
| ness. oh. well. lets not worry" she
| said. You're very young yet. Let's
have lunch now--I want ~ have
| plenty Of time TO get ready fo- the
| concert"
Ellen slipped bingham apron over
her best frock and lisIlessly set about
| laying the table. She ate little. and
| when the meal was ended she began
gathering up the dishes. Then she set
them down again and turned impul-
s.vely TO her mother
! IL just can't &c. mother" she
| broke on, with trembling lips. Would
yen mind very much going without
me-"
Not go? Why. Ellen. the tickets
are bought and paid for-and they
cost S@,'
Il know" Ellen answered miserably.
hut my head aches. and-weu. I just
don't think / could stand il
Her mother eyed her ;houghtfully.
Il expect you're a little done up.
dear she said n, length. You've
practiced so hand. and then this dis.
appointment or course. Ellen. stay
home and rest IL you'd rather"
Ellen squeezed her mothers hand.
| You always understand she sail
| gratefully. "You run along and tell
/ me all about il. ] know I'm silly. bur
Just couldn't sat through j, now
/ I'm sorry about the tickets. though.
! II does seem an awful waste
/ Well" Mrs. North paused on hex
way 10 the bedroom. Ii you're sure
You went go. Ellen. though, Nigh;
ask Mrs. Giolot,i. mex; door-she'd
/ love IL. l know"
| rro;e>tinsiy. She'll So in a purple
/ beaded ,affeta and "a pink satin hat
| Ncu don't WANT In he seen OIL, with
/ her"
! AIRS. Ncrth's rare frcwn showed
| Itself. Il don, Ike 20 hear you talk
/ iha; way, dSuSh,er." she ssi! r,spYs,v.
ingly. Mrs. Gialoiti has old country
WAYS, Know. bur she Is the kindeS;
soul alive. And. like all Italians. she
| knows and loves good muSic>--i, WILL
i"a real pleasure TO have her with
me.
Ellen bent 10 Kiss her mother ..l.nr