Evening star., 1940-02-24
.Of HEARTS
M

MWhAAER

secretly and his mother would never
have known about 1t. might even
have become reconciled to the match
later on. But she had compelled
him to openly defy her. Why?
Was 1t because Of vanity, as Jane
had suggested: was 1t because some
quality in her character made it
impossible for her to yield an inch
to Mrs. Reardon?.
Wordlessly. she climbed beneath
the covers and Jane, sensing she did
not wish to speak further on the
subject. turned off the lights. A
sigh escaped Elaine's lips as she bur-
rowed her head into the pillow. It
had been a strenuous day. Things
certainly happen in New York!
During the first part Of her sing
ing lesson the following morning
Elaine felt buoyed up by the real
ization that she and Eric were going
to be married. 1t was not until after
she had sat down for a little rest
that she recalled James gloomy
prediction that the marriage
would prove q dismal fail
ure, and thinking Of the things her
roommate had said, a tiny, per-
picked frown swept the JOY from
her face.
Sudden Doubt Fades.
Again she wondered why Jane had
seemed SO sure she would prove a
bad influence over Eric. Her words
last night had seemed ridiculous and
in the cold light of day they sounded
even more so. Surely Jane couldn't
have meant what she said.
A sudden thought snapped her
erect on the chair. Could it be that
Jane, aware that her brother was
in love with her. was trying to do
everything In her power to break
up the match? Almost as instantly
as the thought came to her Elaine
dismissed it with a feeling of
shame for even thinking it. Jane
was not the type of girl who would
stoop to such a despicable level.
She had really been sincere last
night; Elaine knew that even though
she didn't know the reason for Jane
believing what she did.
She sighed and dismissed the
whole affair as being one OF those
puzzles one never solves. And James
opinion was Of no importance any,
way. She loved Eric, and that was
that, and thinking of Eric she won-
dered whether he had received a re-
ply to his telegram. She remem-
bered also that they had not ar
ranged date for that night. But
Eric would be over anyway and she
hoped. for his sake, that the news
he would bring would be good.
Il despise women who daydream," :"
Monticelli said heatedly as he came
back into the studio. Life is real;
people should face it instead of run
ming away from it in dreams"
Monticello SCOTS at Love.
II wasn't dreaming" Elaine told
him fatty. unperturbed by his angry
manner. Yesterday afternoon she
had learned that this was just q
pose. a mask he assumed to hide a
kind heart. He would not fool her
again. Il was just thinking about
something"
He nodded his head sharply. "All
morning you have been thinking
about something. Your body Is in
the studio but your mind is not. And
you have the disgusting expression
of woman in love. Is that what s
troubling you?"
Elaine felt herself resenting the
sarcastic way in which he enu,~
ciated the word "love." She stood
up and walked back to the piano. ut
isn't troubling me-" she said sharply.
Il was just thinking how happy I
would be when I was married"
He laughed harshly. You won't
be happy. No one Is ever happy in
marriage"
How do you know about that?"
Elaine asked coolly. Were you ever
married."
Il am not fool, Miss Warburton, /"
Monticelli declared haughtily. And
one does not have to be married to
know about marriage. I have taught
hundreds of married women how to
sing and not one of them was ever
happy. That's why they studied
voice instead Of remaining at home
where they belonged. But you'll find
out about that yourself. Do you
know anything about waiting on
tables?"
Monticelli Offers Job.
He had changed the subject so
abruptly that Elaine had not fol-
lowed him and it was only after a
long moment that she realized he
had asked question.
"I used to wait on tables in my
aunt's restaurant" she told him,
wonderingly.
He smiled and rubbed his hands
together. "A friend of mine needs a
girl in his restaurant. The hours
are from IL until $50. The pay is
IS a week, plus tips; all in all,
around $40 q week. Do you want the
job? But of course you do! You
must have time to sing. Department
stores don't leave singing in any
of their employees. Well? Well?
Do you want the job?"
"Why-why yes. of course" Elaine
stammered, confused at the ease
with which her final problem had
been solved. She smiled her thanks
at the crusty teacher. "And I'm
very grateful to you, Mr.. Monticelli."
He sprang from his chair. every
muscle in his squat body trembling
with rage. "Hogwash! I wasn't
trying to help you. Come! You
must sing. We cannot waste all
day"
Elaine sang no complete songs
that morning. Instead. Monticello
sat down at the piano and accom-
panied her over and over again up
and down the scales, pointing out
flaws, teaching her the correct
things to do as they went along.
Elaine had never thought that cor
rect singing was q difdcult thing to
learn and she was exhausted when
Montice11i finally sirnified thev had