The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30

Winnie Andrews gazed at her wonderingly
just as Herman and Grant appeared They dis
cussed the girls plight and decided to work out
some plan of saving the girl and breaking Herr
man. Mona and Mary took the girl to their home.
The next morning Mary appeared at Herr
mans studio.
possible for me to be enrolled one OF your
students?' she hestated bashfully. my name is
Roberts,"
The Professor smiled and rubbed his hands.
1--WE always looking for promising stu
dents.' He looked at her again appraisingly.
Have you had vocal lessons before?"
Mary shook her head. "No-but have been
told so often that have remarkable voice, and
that it ought to be developed that 1 would like
to have the opinion of expert like yourself"
"Just so! Just so! You acting wisely.
1t will be pleasure to test your tone qualities
and infections, Miss Roberts. If you will follow
me- will take you to our private conservatory
and will do myself the pleasure of examining
your possibilities myself rather than entrusting
you to assistant.
Professor Herman closed the door, twirled
the piano stool with flourish, and seating him
self at the instrument, asked Mary if she had
any favorite piece of music that she would like
to sing The girl named popular melody at
random and the Professor ratified off the refrain,
playing with the exaggerated flourish of vaude-
vile artist" Mary sang through the opening
verse, and the chorus. She quite well aware
that Nature had not given her "voice," and that
the most expert teaching in the world could never
have developed any vocal ability in her. But
she sang with all the eagerness and trepidation,
which she imagined young woman, hoping for a
musical career, would display. When she finished,
the Professor swung around his stool and
again rubbed his hands.
Marvellous! Marvellous !" he cried Permit
me to congratulate you, my dear young lady
Assuredly you have tremendous future before
you! l can see great credit to us from your
enrolment as student Yes, can that you
have done wisely, very wisely in coming to us J"
After the necessary arrangements regarding
money, ETC., Mary left.
Several days after she had been given her
first lesson, Mary felt it safe enough to venture
on more intimate footing with Herman. AS
they were concluding their lesson she said in
sudden burst of confidence, IF only had the
money had year ago, could organize my own
opera company, and win fame easily!"
AS the Professor expressed his sympathy, she
explained that her father had been swindled OF
a large fortune by two INSCRIPTIONS spectators,
who had visited her home town. and that she had
suddenly found herself thrown the world, with
of looking forward to a life of ease and luxury.
She dropped the subject abruptly though un-
able to endure the bitter memories which 1t
called up. Two days later however, she returned
to it excitedly.
"What do you think has happened today,
Professor" she asked.
II / have no idea," was the SYM
pathetic answer. Tell me-"
'You remember the story was telling you
of the two swindlers who had stolen my fathers
fortune?"
Certainly! They ought to be put behind the
barsw
"wen they are in town now, and they have
brought with I'm girl. who used to be my