The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-12-26
FICTION an0
FRICTION
By Margaret Muzzey
By Margaret Muzzey
Copyright, 1905, by Homer Sprague


author, whose name and fame had sud.
denly gone abroad throughout the land.
Young DR.. Brandon, just returned
from Europe, FASTENED to congratulate
his successful friend, and to his amaze
ment he found the writer in the depths
Of despair.
"John Hastings, what Is the matter?
Are you not satisfied with being the
most admired and discussed man OF
the hour? You Ought to he ecstat!c,
elated, delirious with joy, and you look
as if you had swallowed bad oyster
.Why should rejoice in success
when the only reason tried for it is
gomez John groaned.
"What do you mean?''
II was engaged to Ethel Ransom,
you remember. and only waiting for
money to support her.
'Some people consider that an insig-
nifcant detail"
UNFORTUNATELY Ethel's father did
not, but now my fortune is assured
she refuses to marry me altogether"
May I ask why?"
"She declares that have drawn the
character of Aunt Mary Moffat from
her grandmother and held her up to
ridicule before everybody"
"She is crazyv' Brandon exclaimed.
There are plenty of Others" point
ing to pile Of letters. "All those are
from people who recognize themselves
or one Of their relatives among the
characters Of my book. Listen to this:
Dear Mc. Hastings-I was so pleased
to find you made me the heroine Of your
book. told the editor of our village pa
per, and he put piece in the Huckleberry'
Junction Post about it. Please send me
your autograph.
There are more heroines, number
Of heroes, and you remember the man
I called the spatriarchal parson'-the
woods are full Of grandfathers exactly
like him, it appears. AS for the Aunt
Marys, their name is legion-there are
at least three in every village in the
states"
Brandon helped himself from the pile
and read aloud:
Dear Hastings-Perceiving, as cannot
fail to do so. the depletion OF my late lam
entable aunt in the title character Of
your book, I suggest that it would be
thankful act for you to put q monument
on her grave. Her folks can't afford it.
It would be good ad. for the book too"
Brandon laughed heartily.
What fun it would be to get these
people together! Suppose we ss to my
house at knowlbridge and give . party
for them. Perhaps if Ethel see; the
numerous other claimants she will give
up her idea about grandma"
John demurred, but was finally per-
suaded by Brandon, who assumed the
entire responsibility, and sent the fol-
lowing letter to each Of the originals:
Mr.. John Hastings requests the honor
of your presence October the sixteenth at
seven o'clock to meet the ladies and gen
tlemen from whom characters in his
"Aunt Mary Moffat' were drawn.
Il have seen your capricious charm
er and prevailed upon her ITO come to
our party" said Brandon, "a few days
later. "She hesitated, but she will be
there-the unmistakabIe glitter Of Gu
riosity was in her azure orbs.'
First among the authors guests to
arrive on the, anspicious 10th was
an alleged '.patriarchal parson," per-
sonally conducted by a nephew named
Samuel Bangs The heroine was repre-
sented by q married woman (whose
husband came alsoe- a young widow
and sentimental maiden. Two clerks,
a bank cashier and q commercial trav-
eler appeared for the hero, and four
Aunt Marys in various stages of Sc
nifty came attended by .enterprising
relatives.
Il wish we had never invited them,"
said John nervously We will have
row as sure as sparks fly upward"
Leave it to your uncle said Bran
don. "Irwouldn't miss it Sor a golden
corkscrew.''
Suppose they find one another out
before supper
fidential between now and o'clock"
Brandon announced the guests as
they entered the drawing room. Sam
Bangs came last. his face radiant with
smiles and soap; placing one hand Oh
his spine, the other Oh his heart, he
made a real dancing school bow and
said:
This is the proudest moment of my
life"
John thanked him and Brandon said
he was lucky to keep his heart where
lie could lay his hand on it so readily.
Ethel arrived and insisted on going
with the housekeeper to the butler'a
pantry. where she stayed, looking
through the door.
Brandon, opposite John at table,
forced the conversation to besgeneral.
steering it off the book. until aae des-
sert appeared. then John rose.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he said. Il
have been fortunate enough to bring
together q number of people represent
ed in my book. We have the hero,