Evening star., 1940-02-22

the notes tinkled like falling
icicles on frosty morning. Departed
lover! Return-return! Her song
was the song Of life-harsh-
bitter-despairing life. The tinkle
vanished as the plea became more
somber, dreary note coloring the
song as, realizing the lover would
never return, the woman cast about
for a means to end it all Warmly,
sympathetically, Elaine interpreted
each notes despairing throb, wrung
the last tear from the words. The
music thundered to majestic ere
scendo and all was still-terribly,
terribly still
There were nervous tears in her
eyes as Elaine turned to face the
great Monticello She felt limp,
breathless, as weak and heartbroken
as the character she had portrayed.
Not attempting to conceal this, she
sank upon a chair close to the piano.
She glanced again across the room
and was surprised to find Monticello
staring at her with a peculiar, fierce
blazing in his eyes.
do Not Overdo It."
Again." he commended after a
moment. But do not overdo it.
The world doesn't come to an end
when a man jilts a woman"
"It does-for the woman" Elaine
contradicted, rising to her feet.
He seemed to explode from the
chair. "You are impertinent" he
cried, storming over to her. II for
bid you to be impertinent! 1f-if
you do so again I shall slap your
face!"
Elaine felt as though every last
drop of blood in her body must have
risen to her cheeks. Tears half
blinded her; unaccountably she
wanted to cry. Unaware that the
events of the past two weeks had
drawn her nerves as taut as bow
strings, she inwardly denounced
herself for being so rude. She
started to apologize to Monticelli
and WIS surprised when she looked
up to see that he was again seated
in his chair across the room,
grinning like Cheshire cat.
"No," he said with a pleased shake
of his head, "you have not the tenn
perament of a clod. I think my
studio will be very interesting now"
Elaine at first did not dare be-
lieve her ears, but catching the
full import of his remark she rushed
eagerly across the room. "You
mean you'll accept me as a pupil?"
He nodded. you have a good
voice, Miss Warburton. I will teach
you. 1t will take time and will mean
hard work, but some day, perhaps,
you might even get to the Metro
politan."
Offers to Teach Her.
Elaine smiled happily at him, but
then, remembering that she might
not be able to afford the lessons,
the pleased CLINT left her eyes.
"How-how much are you going to
charge me?" she asked after a mo-
ment's hesitation.
He shrugged his shoulders. IT do
not charge those with real ability
There are enough 'mooers' who are
anxious to pay me for my time. But
that is unimportant. When do you
want to come for your lessons?"
II don't know" Elaine told him
dazed by his generosity. "I have to
work, you know. I think my hours
will be from to s."
"Well, I'll work something out,
he said shortly. He made a gesture
of impatience We've wasted enough
time. Do that song over again"
Elaine walked happily over to the
piano and again sang the song. She
sang it the rest Of the afternoon
with Monticelli storming and ravine
and abusing her numerically. Once
he told her she was cow. A dozen
times he told her to return to Cali
fornia. But always he asked her te
sing again, and when she became
tired he repeated the process with