Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-23
THE DAILY STORY
Light Opera

had a good voice for singing.
Young Mr. Chope was the foreman Of a
! department Of his fathers factory. He
i wasn't like other young men OF the town.
He didn't r4ay pool nor cards, nor put
on any particular style as to dress. He
had been dubbed "Old Steady when he
was IS. He loved solid reading and there
were problems In mechanics that he was
anxious to solve.
I when Il became known that he and
! Florence Mabiey were engaged the major
| ity of the young folks said: why don't
she marry man OF 20 and be done with
! nr
There are two things that heaps OF girls
have made fools of themselves over. and
others win do so while time lasts They
| either come to believe that they were
born 10 become a great actress or a
famous singer. Miss Florence Mabley be-
lieved In the latter.
What pity that you don't go to Bos-
ton and have your voice cultivated so
that you can sing in light opera"
The wedding had been set for six weeks
hence, when a stranger arrived In the
| town. The advent OF a stranger was no
novelty, but this stranger was about 30
years old. rather distinguished, and came
on an errand that brought him in con-
tact with the people at once. Mr.. George
Swift was an agent of the great Uni
versal Fire and Life Insurance Company.
When he had prevailed upon the four
leading merchants to insure. the rest was
simple. When he had called at every
business place the doors OF all the pri-
vate houses were open to him. 1t so
happened that on the first day of his ar
rival Mr. Swift met Miss Florence on
the street, ard he saw her two or three
times subsequently before calling at the
house to see about insurance. The girl
was singing and playing the piano when
ba arrival had oh
surance in making a good impression,
and he said TO the mother before his
presence was known to the daughter:
What a sweet and wonderful voice!"
"Yes7"
'Is It a professional singer?"
"Oh. no. 1t is my daughter"
Wonderful! WONDERFUL
And when he came to introduce him
self to Miss Florence he said: You must
have been told that you ought to have
your voice trained?"
Yes. many times"
You should go to Boston or New
York"
II do want to-"
But she can't" put in the mother;
ITS too expensive"
Yes. If you don't know the ropes"
smiled Mr.. Swift.
How the ropes?"
THE first step is to find a home. 1
York. She as taken pupils of the con-
servatory at half price on my recommen-
dation.'
That's nice, mother" said Miss Flor
ence.
And know the officials Of the conser-
vatory, and all the teachers. In fact. I
am q stockholder, and that means a saw
ing of one-half to any one recommend"
Il have been told that it would cost
more than $1,000 a year." replied Mrs.
Mabley.
ITO the general pupil, yes; to one
recommend about $780,"
Hear that, mother?"
"It don't seem possibleT"
There are five lady pupils of mine now
going through, and the cost to them is
even less than that"
why. mother, you ought to let me start
tomorrow
ut is kind of you, SIR" said the mother
to Mr.. Swift, but my daughter Is to be
married in few weeks"
"Ah!"
"She couldn't put that Off, you know"
But would, motherr exclaimed
Florence.
Mr.. Swift had no more to say on the
subject. He talked insurance, and he
talked It so well that he talked s. out of
the mother. When he left he said that it
was rather 1onelysf FOR a stranger to en-
tertain Thimsehfin a strange town. The
hint was taken and he was invited to call
any evening. g.--------
Mr.. Chope was informedrof the agents
call and what he had said about Miss
Florences voice and the rates she was to
get II she took training, and he quietly
replied: -tsi
Don't get excited over II. 1 believe
the Universal Insurance Company is
fraud, and believe this man Swift knows
II is"
Then he must be a fraud" bristled
up Miss Florence.
II think he isl"
Il shouldn't bit wonder II he was"
said the mother. land am sorry paid
him that S."
Phillip Chope, you are as mean as
dirt exclaimed the gorl "and, mother,
am actually ashamed of your
DO you know thos man Swift?" was
asked of her.
This man! This man! Why do you
| call him this man?'
well, let us call him Mr.. Swift, then -
"He is a gentleman"
wait a week or so!'
"And he offers to put me through the
| conservatory for half price"
Very kind of him, but why?'
Because he sees a great future for
me-"
Florence. don't be silly" chided the
mother.
IT'S you and Phillip who are silly, and
he is jealous, besides He does not want
me to have any future"
you are to be my wife" he calmly
| said.
| Perhaps so!''
Mr.. Chope saw trouble in the air, and
he wisely changed the subject and cut
short his call. He had hinted that Mr..
Swift was fraud. He had a detective
at work seeing what could be unearthed
against him. and the prospects looked
| good.
Twice more did Mr.. Swift call at the
Mabley house. and on the second occa-
sion the mother was out. Three days
later livery stable keeper met young
Mr.. Chope on the street and said:
There's rather mysterious things go
Ing on. That insurance agent is prepar-
| ing TO skip out tonight"
You don't say7"
| HE has engaged a rig of me for 7.a0
70 drive over to Monroe to catch the 3
| o'clock train for New York. He Is 10
drive Il himself and leave Il at a stable
/ there"
II guess it's time for him to 60"
| And guess he will not 20 alone"
What do you mean7"
III bet that woman goes with himI''