The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-11-11

West" o..
you don't trust me you'll 60 back to
thinking that I'm the Beast out Of
Revelation, or something, as you
used to-"
1--WE forgotten all about the Beast"
Margaret said.
Thank you." answered Mr.. Van
Torp. ITO change the subjective
got little scheme to propose. May
be you'll think well of it. Anyhow,
as it's a mere matter of business con-
nected with your career, you won't
mind my explaining it to you, will
you"
mo, indeed" Margaret was inter.
ested at once. do tell mel" she said.
leaning forward a little.
Well" he began, 1--WE looked
around this place good deal since
I've been here, and I've come to the
conclusion that it's not very well
done, anyhow, except 'Parsifal.' That's
what most of the people really come
for. I'm informed that they give all
the other operas better in Munich,
with the advantage Of being in what
you may call a Christian town, COM
pared with this. Is that correct, do
you Think"
"Yes, l believe So"
'It is, you can depend upon 1t. Now.
what l want to know is, why you and
| shouldn't 60 into a little business
partnership, and do this kind of thing
brown, as it ought to be done" Mar.
garet opened her handsome eyes wide.
Because" continued Mr.. Van Torp,
as coolly as If he were explaining
new plan to a board 81 directors,
we've got the. capital and the ability
between us, and there's a demand in
New York for what / propose to do.
It'll fill a want, know, and that
means success and money Why don't
We build theater together? When I
say a theater, l mean first-clasS
opera house and not a barn. Well
employ the best architects to build it.
and, of course, I'd leave everything
about it to you. I've got block in
New York just about in the right
place, and it won't take long to build.
I'll give the land and put up the
money for the building, if you'll un-
dertake the management. You'll put
in any money you like, of course, and
we'll share the profits. Maybe they'll
be quite handsome, for we'll lease the
theater to other people outside of the
season. Well have the best talent in
Europe, and pay for it, and the public
will pay us back. Well call it the
Cordova Opera, If you like, and you'll
run it according to your own ideas,
and sing or not, whenever you please"
Are you in earnest"
Margaret had some difficulty In pro-
nouncing the words clearly. Was
there ever a great soprano who did
not dream of having the most perfect
theater of her very own, and who
could receive unmoved the offer to
build one from a man who could build
20 If he chose? Very rarely in her
life had she been aware of her bodily
heart, but she could feel it now, beat
ing like hammer on the anvil.
I'm in earnest" Van Torp an
swered with perfect calm. 1--WE
thought the whole thing over in all it's
aspects, just as I would railroad, or
canal, or mine, and I've concluded
to try it, if you'll help me, because it's
going to be safe investment. You
see Miss Donne," he went on slowly,
there's no artist on the grand opera
stage now who's SO well equipped for
the business as you are. I'm not fat
tering you, either. In your own kind
OF parts you've simply got no rival.
Everybody says SO, and l suppose you
won't play kitty and deny it. Let's
start fair, now"
1T would be silly to deny that I'm
one Of the first Margaret admitted.
10 be continued,