The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-04-28
~oeNRIC14v 1907 ey l<;/v,4ls/oW c7Hwroe0

stock was in my own pocket. That's
only little illustration But | guess
you can leave the financial side in my
hands. You won't lose by it. I'm pref
ty sure"
Il fancy not" Margaret's eyes
We're wide open. her hands were
clasped tightly on her knee, and she
was leaning forward little. Be
sides" she went on, st would not be
the money that l should care aboutn
| can earn more money than want.
| and | have little fortune of my own
the hundred thousand | offered you.
Oh, MOI 1t would be the splendid
power to have the most beautiful
music in the world given as 1t could
be given nowhere elsel The joy OF
singing myself-the parts l can sing
in the most perfect surroundings!
An orchestra picked from the whole
world of orchestras. the greatest liv-
Ing leaders, the most faultless chorusl
And the scenery. and the costumes
everything as everything could be, if
1t were really, really the best that
can be had! Do you believe it is pos
sible to have all that?'
"Oh. yes. and with your name to It,
too. Wen have every thing on earth
that money can buy to make perfect
opera, and I'll guarantee it'll pay after
the first two seasons. That Is, II you'll
work at 1t as hard as ! will. But
you've got to work, Miss Dome, you've
got to work, or it's no use thinking of
1t. That's my opinion"
"I'l work like n Trninnip ,riaI Mav
garet enthusiastically
She had enough experience In her.
self, and enough knowledge of the
conditions to believe that her own
hard work, combined with Van Torp's
unlimited capital, could and certainly
would produce such an opera house,
and bring to II such artists as had
never been seen and heard. except
perhaps in Bayreuth, during its first
great days, now long past.
Then, too, he had put the matter
before her so skillfully that she could
look upon 1t honestly as business
partnership, in which her voice, her
Judgment. and her experience would
bear no contemplate proportion to HIS
money, and in which she herself was
to invest money of her own, thereby
sharing the risk according to her for
tune as we'll as giving the greater part
of the labor She felt for some weak
place in the scheme, cropping as II she
were dazzled, but she could find none
u don't think | shall need time to
think this over" she said, controlling
her voice better. now that she had
n, hnr mil I a
1t, ] am to put in what / can in the
way of ready money, and l am to give
my time in all ways, as you need 1t,
and my voice, when II is wanted Is
that it?"
Except that, when you choose to
sing, the company will allow you your
usual price for each appearance" an
swered Van Torp in business-like
manner. you will pay yourself, or
we both shall pay you. just as much
as we would pay any other first,class
would get in London or New York IL
you signed an engagement"
is that fair?" Margaret asked
why, certainly. But the company.
which is you and /, will probably
rule that you mustn't sing in grand
opera anywhere in the states east of
the rockies. They've got to come to
. New York to hear you. Naturally,
you'll be free to do anything you like
in Europe outside of our season, when
you can spare the time"
"Of course"
We'll, now, | suppose we might as
well note that down right away. as q
preliminary agreement What do you
say?"
Il say that | simply cannot refuse
such an offer!" Margaret answered.
Your consent is all that's neces
, sary,' he said. in matter-of.fact
tone.
He produced from an inner pocket
a folded sheet of foolscap, which he
spread on the corner of the table be
side him. He took out fountain per
and began to write quickly. The terms
and forms were as familiar to him as
= the alphabet and he lost no time; be
sides, as he had told the prima donna
l he had thought out the whole matter
u before hand.
What If Mrs. Rushmore comes In
just as we are signing it," asked Mar
garet
Wen tell her, and ask her to wit
: ness our signatures" replied Val
Torp without looking up. Il Judge
!, Mrs. Rushmore to have quite a knowl
i edge of business"
= You seem able to write and tall
at the same time" Margaret said
smiling.
Business talk. yes" The pen raj
" on swiftly. There. That's about all
should say. Do you think you car
T. read my writing? | don't suppos,
!, you've ever seen It,"
II ITO BE CONTINUED)