Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1948-09-24
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FICTION:
Corner

THE deafening applause thun-
L dered about her, and the cries
of Bravo" rent the air of the staid
old Music hall. Even through the
din, Marya could remember the
first time she had heard Louis play.
It was the day she had left her
music on the train-a brief case
filed with sheet music. Even then
she had known that this day would
come-the day for which she had
waited. But she would wait no long
er. She remembered how she had
gone to their house after church. 1t
was the first summer she stayed in
the city to work at Hull house.
At the social center she had met
Eleanor, Louis sister. They were
such charming family, the Alva-
nois. Mother and father, first gen.
GRAFTON immigrants from Italy, and
the children were American as only
the children of immigrants can re-
joice in the land of the free.
AS she slipped into her coat to
leave Carnegie hall, Marya re-
lIldL OIllCl ollS
had taken the train to Kedzie ave-
nue., and then followed the long
streetcar ride to the south side.
They had invited her for dinner,
but they had asked her to bring her
music so that she might sing for
them.
When she arrived, dinner was
ready. They had been to church
early so that they would have all
in readiness for her visit Albert
Mr.. Alvanio-was not home. Albert
Travelled for a drug company, and
frequently had to be on the road.
In fact, the only time she could re-
member having seen Albert was at
the concert later. But Carmen and
Eleanor and Louis were there. And,
of course, Mrs. Albert was there.
Talking. Talking and chattering all
the time, and yet accomplishing all
the things necessary on the part
of a perfect hostess.
What a jolly, wonderful dinner it
had been. They ate spaghetti and
artichokes. She especially remem-
bered the artichokes, because it was
the first time she had eaten them.
They had to show her how to pull
out the little spines and slide the
soft, pulpy, white meat off between
. your teeth. And they had served
chestnuts for dessert.
Then Adele-that was Mrs. Al
vanio-was saying,
"And now, Miss Ames now,
you sing for us!"
Marya had sung for them, huge
dinner Notwithstanding. She sang
the songs she was studying ..
beautiful melodies from the operas
of their beloved Italy, songs of re-
igion, love songs all the songs
in that brief case Mrs. Albert had
accompanied her and sang with her.
They all sang.
Then a group of noisy young peo-
pie from the settlement house clubs
joined them. Carmen played the
cello, Eleanor sang, Marya sang
again, and they finally coaxed Louis
to play the violin. Louis was twen-
ty, just Marya's age, but he was so
shy. Louis played for them, resting
his round, somewhat boyish face
on the chin rest of the instrument.
His black, sparkling eyes danced
with the music as the inarticulate
strings became the medium of mag
ic. His eyes danced like the tar
antelle that he played. And all the
music of the ages poured from those
strings.
Marya sensed that this was the
real Louis. Louis with the laughing
black eyes and the tight ringlets
of raven hair. When Louis stopped
playing, the others were noisy again,
but Marya sat quietly in the chair,
contemplating the magic artistry OF
Louis. They wanted her to sing
some more, but she refused. How