Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-22
TTfEsREfuB11oAN MARSH

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nected with your career, you wont
mind my explaining 1t to you, will
you?"
mo, indeed" Margaret was inter-
ested at once. do tell mel" she said,
leaning forward q little.
WELL" he began. I've 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?"
Eyes, believe So"
1T is, you can depend upon 1t. Now,
what I want to know Is, why you and
I shouldn't go into 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 a
new plan to a board ot 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, mean a first-class
opera house and not barn. Well
employ the best architects to build it.
and, Of course, I'd leave everything
about it to you. I've got a 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 I'M
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 1t, and the public
will pay us back. Well call it the
Cordova Opera, If you like, and you'll
run 1T 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 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 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 a hammer OH the anvil.
I'm in earnest" Van Torp an
swered with perfect calm. Eve
thought the whole thing over in all its
aspects. just as would railroad, or
canal. or mine, and I've concluded
to try 1t, 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 we'll equipped for
the business as you are. I'm not nat
tering you, either. In your own kind
OF parts you've simply got no rival.
Everybody says so, and 1 suppose you
won't play kitty and deny it. Let's
start fair. now"
'It would be silly to deny that I'm
one OF the first" Margaret admitted.
"That'll do, thank you. One Of the
first, and the first is one of them, and
you're 1t. Besides, you've got before
you what's behind most Of them.
You're young. I'm not talking about
your personal appearance, but that's
just one more item in the assets. An.
other big one is that you're first
class musician, whereas half these
singers can only bang the box like
great, laundering overgrown school
girls. Allow that?"
I suppose must allow anything"
laughed the prima donna.
Well, now, I've told you. You've
got the name need. and you've got
the voice. and the talent, and you've
got the science and culture. 1 suppose
you'll let me say that I've got the
business ability, won't you?"
The iron mouth smiled a little
grimly.
Rather! I fancy some people have
wished you had less!"
And the moneys here, for I always
have blank cheque in my pocket. II
you like. I'll fill it in, and wen de.
post it wherever you say, in the
name Of the 'Cor<lova Opera Company
or Mime. da Cordova, Rufus Van Torp
& Co. We can make out our little
agreement in duplicate right here, on
the corner of the table, and sign it:
and before we leave here you might
go around and speak to the best sing
ers about an engagement in New York
for a Wagner festival, a year from
next Christmas. That's business, and
this is a purely business proposition.
II you'd like to think 1t over, I'll go
and take little walk before dinner"
1T sounds like dream!" Margaret
answered, in wondering tone.
Moneys an awful reality" Van
Torp remarked. I'm talking bust,
ness, and as I'm the one who's going
70 put up most of the capital, you'll
do me the credit to believe that I'm
quite wide awake"
DO you really. really, really mean
lit" She spoke almost like a child.
1t was not the first time in his life
that the financier had seen the stun
ming effect Of big sum, projected
with precision, like shell, at exactly
the right moment. He was nlavine