Smyrna times., 1906-09-12
ano I:
FRICTION
By Margaret Muzzey
Copyright, 1906, by Homer Sprague
By Margaret Muzzey

c1~aNee1Ns~NNNsNNNN
The most popular novel and "big-
gest seller of the year was "Aunt
Mary Moffat," written by an unknown
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 ecstatic,
elated, delirlous with joy, and you look
as if you had swallowed bad oyster"
"Why should l rejoice in success
when the only reason 1 tried for it is
gomez John grOaned.
What do you mean?'
81 was engaged to Ethel Ransom,
you remember. and only waiting for
money to support her.
"Some people consider that an insig-
nificant detail"
unfortunately Ethers father did
not, but now my fortune is assured
she refuses to marry me altogether"
May l 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 crazy" 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 Mar. Hastings-I was so pleased
to find you made me the heroine of your
book. l told the editor of our village pa
per, and he put a 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
l called the 'patriarchal 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 Misunderstanding, as cannot
fail to do so, the depletion of my late lam
entable aunt in the title character OF
your book. l suggest that it would be 9
thankful act for you to put a monument
on her grave. Her folks can't afford it.
1t would be q good ad for the book too y
Brandon laughed heartily.
: What fun it would be to get these
people together! Suppose we go to my
house at Knowlbridge and give party
for them. Perhaps if Ethel sees 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
0 lowing letter to each of the originals:
Mr.. John Hastings requests the homo
of your presence October the sixteenth a
seven o'clock to meet the ladies and gen
tlemen from whom characters in hi
. Aunt Mary Moffat" were drawn.
L Il have seen your capricious charm
- er and prevailed upon her to come I
J. our party" said Brandon, few day
l. later. she hesitated, but she will
there-the unmistakable glitter Of CT
. riosity was i'll her azure Orbs.'
K First among the authors guests
A. arrive on the auspiciOus 10th wa
an alleged 'patriarchal parson," pc
sonally conducted by nephew name
I'd Samuel Bangs. The heroine wGs repr'
or sented by n married woman (whos
tsf | nj n xxri6O-
2s and a sentimental maiden. Two clerk
NJ. a bank cashier and a commercial ira
eler appeared for the hero, and fol-
Aunt Marys In various stages of s
nifty came attended by enterprisir
IL relatives.
Os 81 wish we had never invited them
n said John nervously. 1--WE will have
row as sure as sparks fly upward
in Leave it to your uncle" said Bra
4. don. II wouldn't miss it for a gold
90, corkscrew."
ns Suppose they find one another o
before supper"
til, "They can't break loose and wax CO
ns' fidential between now and 7 O'clock
" Brandon announced the guests
ate they entered the drawing room. So
Us. Bangs came last, his face radiant wi
smiles and soap; placing one hand
his spine, the other on his heart,
L made a real dancing school bow a
said:
"This is the proudest moment of !
life"
III John thanked him and Brandon S;
lu he was lucky to keep his heart VIII
he could lay his hand on it so readily
Ethel arrived and insisted on go
with the housekeeper to the butte
,m- pantry. where she stayed, look
through the door.
Brandon, opposite John at ta'