The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-17
A FORTNIGHT's GREAT NESS.

leading dry goods store of Suggville. Through his ambitious head ran the melodies of "Trovatore," and as he gazed abstractedly into the dusty street he felt like Manrico and hummed an impassioned Italian love song. For | Claude was "reckoned' the leading amateur of the town, led the First Bap- tist choir and had hopes that some day in some incalculable manner fortune would so favor him that he would find a place in the front rank of operatlc stars, And now the Anderson Ideals Were in town, and the dry goods busi- ness grew smaller and meaner in the wistful mind of the aspiring Claude.
 He had on the previous evening heard a little bandy-legged, weezing tenor bring down the house" with the tenor solos of he opera, and he, Claude un- thank, of Suggvile, knew in his heart of hearts that he could sing much bet ter Besides, he was six feet tall handsome-had not the Suggville Voice proclaimed him the Adonis of Pratt & l Prouty's dry goods emporium?"
 Then why, oh, Unthank, do you not see the manager and flee from this counter jumping obscurty into the up- lifting arms of the muses?"
 Just then a swaggering, silk halted, | long-coated man walked in. Claude mechanically advanced, lingering the tape measure that hung about his neck, and said;
 What can I do for you this morn ing?"
 T want to see MT Unthank," said the stranger.
 That s me" quoth Claude, coloring.
 "Haw!> Glad to know you, Mir Un- thank. I'm the manager of the aw- l Anderson Ideals--heayd you were quite a tenor-thought of strengthening up my aw-chorus. If you'd care aw-to | join us, aw-!"
 The clerk could hardly believe his ears If he'd care!' Here at last was the realization of his cherished dreams. | The manager at once became friendly, | affectionate, purring. The Ideals were a trife weak in the chorus. Signor l Garlocci the leading tenor was bit anxious to get back to "N' Yawk, 1 chance for promotion, shw booked ahead for ten weeks, houses crowded nightly, thirty seven people in the cast; | finest aggregation west of Pathway Would he mind running up to the opera ' house at noon just to try his pipes?' | Poor Unthank's ears tingled to the l trumpet tones of his destiny. Surely he would come to try his voice; must he bring his music? No; Sing any old 1 thng"
 "O--aw, fact is I've heard all about you explained Mir Holiday, the man ager No doubt but youll suit as to voice, then-if you can act or learn to act a bit-why- made!" And the distinguished parsonage bowed himself out leaving Claude in the very vestibuie of Paradise. At noon he walked proudly into the stage door of the Suggville Opera House fund Holiday with his coat off playing the piano and Signor Garlocci, the Manrico of the night before. lounging about the empty house with bottle of beer in one hand and d cheese sand wich in the other. Claude Unthank, bit confused by the presence of the great tenor, cleared his throat and be- gan to sing, the manager accompany ing him and the star by smiles and gestures, time beating and arn-wav- ing, encouraging him to his work. "Splendid" cried Holiday when the first song was done, by Cracky Jim my" he added turning to Garlocci, the kid is all right, isn't her"
 Magnificent voice!" cried the gene rous eignor. I'd give him trial to- night"
 "Will you go on to-night?' asked Holiday turning to Claude just try a turn at chorus Work?"
 Claude agreed that he'd Ego on and 1t was arranged From the opera house back to Pratt & Prouty's he walked upon sunbeams, and there, marching up to the head of the firm, he proudly tendered his resignation.
 I've signed with the opera troupe, he explained as the country merchant gazed at him with inereduous admira- ton. "If it's all the same to you, MT. Pratt, I'd like to draw my money and get home to pack up.'
 MT. Pratt agreed, sure that his young clerk had at last put his hand on the latch which opens the door to fame and fortune, and In ten minutes the lad was
  more than three hundred dollars, in his inside pocket. The news of Unthank's "engagement' spread like wild fire, and before dark the town was filtered with dodgers announcing the appearance that evening of MT. Claude Unthank, the phenomenal young tenor of Sugg- vile, who has just been engaged at a princely salary by the Anderson Opera company" It was a proud day for Claude. He was back upon Main street in an hour receiving the congratula- tions of his friends. He was inter viewed by the reporter for The Voice" and his breast swelled with conscious pride when he passed the corner and heard the small boys say:
 There he goes, That's him, He's fined tn opery troupe
 All Suggville was in the opera house that evening. Claude, dressed in bar baric splendor, was in the front rank of the chorus; he sang as he had never sung before; the girls of Suggville threw flowers across the footlghts and when the performance was over Mana ger Holiday personally congratulated him on his great hit" In order to get quickly into the atmosphere of the pro- fession Claude stopped at the hotel that night and drank more beer with than ha was acrIlSt On1pd tO