Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-05-23
FICTION AND
FRICTION
And a Ruse That Settled the
Trouble.
ev MARGARET MUZZEY.


Moffat," written by an unknown au-
thor, 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 be ecstatic.
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 1t 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 Ethel's father did
not, but now my fortune is assured
she refuses to marry me altogether
MAY ask why?"
"She declares that l have drawn the
character of Aunt Mary Moffat from
her grandmother and held her up to
ridicule before everybody"
"She is crazyw 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 Mr.. Hastings-I was so pleased
to find you made me the heroine of your
book I 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, q number
of heroes, and you remember the man
I 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 I cannot
fail to do so, the deception of my late
lamentable aunt in the title character Of
your book. I suggest that 1t would be a
thankful act for you to put a monument
on her grave. Her folks can't afford it.
1t would be a good ad. for the book too"
Brandon laughed heartily.
"What fun it would be to get these
people together! Suppose we go to my
house at Knowlbridge and give par
ty 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
lowing letter to each Of the originals:
Mr.. John Hastings requests the honor of
your presence October the sixteenth at sew
en- o'clock to meet the ladies and gentle
men from whom characters in his Aunt
| Mary Moffat' were drawn.
II have seen your capricious charm
err and prevailed upon her to come to
our party" said Brandon few days
later. "She hesitated. but she will be
there. The unmistakable glitter of Gu
riosity was in her azure orbs."'
arrive on the suspicious 10th was an
alleged 'patriarchal parson," person
ally conducted by a nephew named
Samuel Bangs The heroine was rep
resented nv married woman (whose
husband came ALSO. Il young widow
and sentimental maiden. Two clerks.
a bank cashier and commercial trav-
oil 70 ho har nj
Aunt MaryS in various stages of seni-
ity came. attended by enterprsing rel
atives.
II wish we had never invited them
said John nervously. I'VE will have
row as sure as sparks fly upward"
Leave it to your uncle" said Bran
don. II wouldn't miss it for golden
corkscrew."
suppose they find one another ont
before supper
"They can't break loose and wax
confidential between now and
O'clock"
Brandon announced the guests as
they entered the drawing ROOM Sam
Bangs came last, his face radiant with
his spine. the other on his heart. he
made 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
he could lay his hand on it so readily
Ethel arrived and insisted on going
with the usekeeper to the buffers
pantry. where she stayed. looking
through the door.
Brandon. opposite John at table.
forced the conversation to be general.
steering it off the book until the des-
sert appeared; then John rose.
Ladies' and gentlemen" he said, ~
have been fortunate enough to bring
together number of people represent
ed in my book. We have the he }.
Thomas Presley: the heroine. Jennie
jenkins: the patriarchal parson. and
Aunt Mary Moffat herself. Will those
have named rise while drink their
good health?