Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-04-27
Only aLittle Singer

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400 one knew where Dagley had
I'M come from. He turned up one
day at the restaurant where l
always took lunch. and after standing
awkwardly at the door for few min
utes advanced to the table where l
was seated.
He began talking to me as though he
had known me for years. and although
he was making merry little bluff of
being entirely at his ease, embarrass-
ment was written all over his good
natured rural countenance.
1t was my vacation time, and as l
was bit bored for amusement, l was
offered to show him the town. and. as
l expected he joyfully accepted.
am sorry to say that Mr.. Dagley
developed decided taste for investi
eating dance halls. beer gardens and
like places. But, most Of ALL he liked
to attend all sorts of variety perform
ances. He seemed determined to find
something very, very bad.
l took him to a concert hail. and he
sat quietly through the performance,
merely remarking that it was not half
bad. l had expected that he would
find 1t very bad, indeed.
Seems pity, though, for all of
them nice boys and girls to be going
to the bad"
what boys and girls?" l asked, in
establishment.
"Why, the ones as danced and
sung" he replied.
but they are not badw exclaimed.
well, was always told they
was" was his calm reply.
When Sunday came around asked
him If he did not want to include
visit to one Of the fashionable churches
in his city experiences. The flowers
on the pulpit were always fine, and the
music would be worth hearing
mo. don't care for the music" and
there came into his face look Of hard
ness and bitterness.
II used to go to church, but that
was before my little girl"
"Have you lost herr"
"Yes lost her-five years ago."
"My! Look at that womanv he ex-
claimed, as an elegantly attired lady
swept past and entered the church.
"Never saw such fine fixings before"
She was n famous singer, the idol Of
the cOncertgoing public. who. during
her short visits to her native city, gra-
ciously lent her sweet voice to the
church where she had worshiped as a
child. When l told Dagley all this he
said, the bitterness coming back into
his face:
"Oh. She is one Of them singing peo-
pie is she?"
be set right In one thing. at least, and
l believe that I'll tell you little story
Of an experience of my own"
ut was like this: One night was
coming home rather late from the the
ater. AS turned into my street my
attention was attracted to a young girl
who stood at the edge Of the side
walk. She was crying bitterly. was
about to pass, when she turned up and
looked into my face. She was adorably
pretty, and l stopped in answer to
the mute appeal in her eyes.
"'YOu are in trouble?
"'Oh. sir she sObbed. Il have no
place to stay tonight. IL don't know
where to 60
well, took her to a lodging house
kept by an old lady who, knew,
would care for the girl. and paid for
a room for her. She did not seem
to be used to that sort of thing. and
could not have done anything else,
she was so fair and innocent. Thank
God. | found her that night.
Il promised to look in in the MORN
ing and see what could be done for
her, but hardly expected to see her
again.
well, the next morning | was met
by the old lady, who told me the girls
story. She had run away from home
to go on the operate stage. 1t was
the same old story of few months
struggle and failure. Now her money
was all gone, and she had been turned
out on the street on the night | found
her.
1.-THE landlady was motherly old
soul and was quite touched by the
girls story. We arranged that she
should stay with her for few DAYS
and that l was to try to find some
for her."
"Where is she nowY'
"Singing in that church there on the
corner The girl really has a sweet,
sympathetic voice, and the choir di-
rector was delighted to secure her
services"
"Why didn't she go homer"
"Her father told her when she left
that he never wanted to see her again."
well. wasn't there anybody else she
could go too"
mo. There was young man she |
seemed to think a good deal Of, but he |
,urned against her. too, when she left"