Evening star., 1940-03-07
Chepter Fl.

eyes were like fiery probes as he
searched Elaine's tense, strained
face.
Nothing is wrong, Mr.. Monticelu. u
Elaine told him with a tired sigh
Perhaps it's just because am a
little tired. I haven't been sleeping
so well lately"
He wagged his leonine head slowly
from side to side and his eyes held
q triumphant glitter. "You, my
dear, are lying to me. Every one lies
to the great Monticello, but they
don't get away with it. know the
truth when it is told to me, and I
know a lie when I hear one. Is
this radio job worrying you-is it
making you nervous?"
I'm not going to sing over the
radio" Elaine informed him quietly.
She moved listlessly across the room
and sank into a chair. yesterday
went over to the Blanchard store
and told Mr.. Blanchard that he
would have to get some one else for
his program"
And what else happened?" he
queried shrewdly You are not
telling me all. And you must tell
me all If I am to help you."
Monticelli Tells Secret.
There isn't anything else," Elaine
said stift1y, feeling her cheeks burn,
I did have an argument with Clara
but that hasn't affected me at all" "
Monticello shifted and stalked
across the room for a chair. His
eyes were compassionate as he sat
down close beside her and the eruffs
ness was gone from his voice.
Nov tell me all about it. It must
have been a pretty serious thing
o. you would never have ouarreled
with Clara. You like her and she
likes you; as a matter Of fact. she
likes you so much that she volun-
teered to pay for your lessons with
me-" '
Surprised, Elaine reached out and
laid skeptical hand on his. clara
onered to pay for my lessons? But
when, Mr.. Monticello? She never
said anything about it to me-"
He shrugged his shoulders. eve
will not change the subject, if you
please. Why In heavens name can't
you women stick to a subject long
enough to make sense? Are all
women crazy? Ha! But of course
they are. What did you fight about?"
Elaine looked straight into his
eyes. Her chin jutted out into a
stubborn line and she squared her
shoulders defiantly. II will not
discuss that with any one, Mr.. Mon.
ticelli. But if you must know why
I've acted strangely of late I'll tell
you. 1m-I'm not going to marry
Eric"
There, he had the information
he wanted. He could laugh now.
She wouldn't care. Once before
she had cared when he commented
teasingly about her romance. But
that was before her heart had been
broken. Yes, he could laugh now.
1t wouldn't hurt her. Nothing was
ever going to hurt her again.
Elaine Decides to Be Hard,
But strangely enough, Monticello
did not laugh. His eyes were warm
and filled with sympathy and the
consoling hand he placed on hers
was tender and compassionate. "And
OF course" he said in strange tone
OF voice, you think your heart has
been broken-that life will never
mean anything more to you."
Elaine shook her head decisively
from side to side and turned her
eyes back to his. The hardness
OF her voice, when she spoke sur
prised even herself, but then, that
wasn't so unusual; she had been
surprised so much of late.
I'm going to become a great
singer, Mr.. Monticelli, from now on
I'm going to have nothing to do with
any one. Clara took Eric from me.
she didn't have any mercy or any
feeling of kindness concerning me-
She wanted him and she took him,
That's the way people get ahead in
this world. If they want something
they take 1t, regardless OF the suf-
fering they inflict upon others. From
now on, I'm going to be hard and
merciless. Life will mean a lot to
me from now on. Up until a week
ago was just a native young girl
whose head was filled with pretty
ideas OF love. Well, all that is
changed-forever!"
Monticelli nodded his head. a
dreamy look in his eyes. Eyes, the
young always say that, Elaine War
burton. They toy with emotions
they know nothing about. Usually
they are hurt and then they swear
that from then on they're going
to be the ones who do the hurting.
You know, even I said that once.
I, the great Monticelli.
And look at you today" Elaine
remarked crisply. You're one of the
most successful singing teachers In
the world. You have position, money,
and you've learned 50 much that no
one will ever hurt you again."
MonticelH Has Surprise.
He shook his head vigorously and
stood up. mo, Elaine, I have all
those things in spite of all my talk
about being hard" He looked at
her shrewdly. Come! I think 1t
would be well for me to show you
something"
Elaine followed him o,1t at the