Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-12
The Lit of Spring.

The Winter had not been severe tina
year; that Is to say, there had beer
practically no snow, no frost even. Blu
instead a deep fog had brooded owe
tall buildings, making shadows tina
seemed stippled in performance on tn,
darkened windows Of flats overlookin,
courts
singing student. aged %. Dark herself
with an inhibited expression, she seemed
at one with the drearineSS on TO which
she looked In the seni-darkneSS on,
could see the sharp outlines of he
piano, a wfitiSh splash meant must,
scattered hopeleSSly on the floor TIL,
bed-couch was hidden under a 6iScon.
ISOLATE coat of three years vintage 4
heavy atmosphere of discomfort perme-
ateo the scene III emphatic and curious
harmony with the outdoors.
Aylmer had fine voice a contralto
She had just come home from the audi
tion--the best teacher in the city anC
vlSitine impresario had together en-.
Outraged her to so on and promised q
career
But Aylmer was heart broken. She
had come to the city armed with a
business collegs education. She could
spell, She could add rather remarkably
fast But miserable. interfering old
lady {Alymer'S words had forced her
to have her voice tested had paid for
lessons. and then today, utterly unwill-
inglv. she had been dragged TO the un-
wanted addition.
why must l. a born bookkeeper, be
forced 10 so on the STAGE" she thought.
OF course, it would be perfectly proper
to refuse. even now, and repay the nice
cid lady who loved art out of book
keeping wages. But she knew what
salaries remarkable contraltos won. She
could not allow any preference to in
terfere with money making. She loved
money. and for its own sake. Hence
the diiapi6ated coat II was not need
full 10 wear such clothes as she wore,
but 1t meant putting money away.
AylIner saved.
She left the window. turned on the
light. opened a closet that hid a gas
plate and cooked two eggs. She wished
she need eat only one, but she was eX-
tremely healthy and positively could not
resist two. She cut three large slices Of
bread and spread them with butter SUBJ
stitute. She poured large glass Of milk
and produced an apple from a paper
bag. This was her luncheon, as cold
ing fire escapes of her barren outlook.
A knock at her door ELECTED an I'M
welcoming Come int" A very young
man entered with cup Of coffee and
two French pastries. He spent his all
on food, but he admired Aylmer be-
cause she had the knack of saving and
he showed his admiration by adding
almost daily. TO her frugal meals. Ayl-
mer accepted, as she accepted the les
sons from the old lady Everything
helped.
How did it go?" asked the hungry
youth, drinking himself from the cup
of his well filled theTmos and taking
big bites Of a large sandwich.
'Oh. they say shall earn a fortune
as singer, and. of course, must go
On. I tried TO interest them IN the idea
Of singing principally Spanish music.
because that's the language of COM
merce. but they did not seem to think
u would do, excepting as kind OF side
line"
The youngster, who was a pensloner
OF the same old lady who helped Ayl-
mer. shook his head.
I'm tickled to death when they ac-
cept a poster" he said. Il Just can't
understand you at all D'you really
mean you want to be a b0okkeeper or
gtenographer? That awful army of
fresh kids or grim women who have no
real life at alp Do you want to get
married. What Is it. Aylmer?'
y like figures. ] hate the silly waste
OF time in singing SONGS about such