The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-30

him. and he might rival Carusc if we
 sent him to New York or Berlin or Mi-
 Ian or somewhere to study"
 That night Herman Grant in his neat
 blue serge made his appearance in
 Mrs. Presidents" parlor. He had not
 been forewarned. Perhaps the club was planning to give an entertainment and
 wanted him to sing. That would please
 his mother very much. The entire executive committee was present, also owego's leading musicians
 Herman Grant sang through his roper tolre of college airs, church solos Che had long led the singing at a church
 so unfashionabIe that the members of
 the executive committee barely knew
 of its existence) and a. few popular songs The leading musicians nodded
 their heads and the president of the club made a speech. Herman nearly plucked the red and blue ribbon of his straw hat during that speech. He tried hard to follow the patronizing tones of her-who-would- e-his-p -patroness, but in the end he went home with his mind
 tn tumble of such phrases as 'musi- cal centers," "Owego and the future Caruso," and the duty of the club to the community"
 The next night things were clearer The evening paper had column story on how the Women's Club had dis covered a phenomenal tenor in an hum ble drug clerk. whom they would edu- cate for grand opera to the everlasting glory of Owego. At home he found his mother smiling proudly through tears. Of course she would miss him, but then she could not stand in his light. And when he went back to the store, MT.
 Bradley asked him how soon his sue cessor had better come In. Now, Herman Grant was not stupid young man, but never before had he been the Object of motions, amend ments. and new bylaws. The awful truth never really sank into his mind until he found himself in theatrical boarding house in New York, with a letter of credit and more new clothes than he had ever owned at once before in all his life. His last few weeks in Owego had been one long nightmare of receptions, teas and dinners, through which there shone just one redeeming ray of light-his mother smiling proud ly In her black silk frock, with the cameo brooch and real lace collar hand ed down by a maternal great-grand- mother
 Now. as he sat in the dim room on a narrow court, with his trunk still strapped and locked before him, his umbrella-glIL or an ShtAuSA"StAS StN'' worker-and a neat Gladstone bag, "a mere trifle from the program commit tee" lying on the bed, the awful truth flashed through his being.
 He - Herman Grant - able-bodied aged twenty-three, self-supporting since his twentieth year-was actual | Iv dependent upon women, and a lot or women who were not related to him.
 many of whom he had never seen! They were to pay his board, give him music lessons. allow him so much spending money etc keep up appearances worthy of Owegos advanced feminine lthought"D, send him to the opera and
 hest concerts, and pay for evening clothes to be made by a good tailor And he had agreed to such an arrange
 He flung the bag one way and the
 umbrella another. His solI rose ang- riIv against itself. His face flush
 ed.
 Then suddenly from across the court came a voice, fresh. vibrant and tune
 full:
 ..The sweetest flower that blows give you as we part
 Herman bent forward to listen, his hands claspar about his knees. That was a song his mother had sung the mother from whom he had inherited his fine voice. The older singers voice had been tender and reminiscent This
 younger voice trilled and -quivered with life and hope and anticipation.