The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-11-27
A Mutual
Admiration Society
B. ESTHER vANpGyEER

saurixed 4 woman ambitious to shine
AZ literary star and to entertain ut.
erary stars, though Mrs. Middleton
Tranby was not the caricature Mrs.
Leo Hunter was and lived In the TWEEN.
tieth instead Of the nineteenth cen
tury.
Among the literary salons given by
Mira Tranby (the whole name . too
long for repetition, was one where a
) professor Of German literature In a
prominent university was to address
the company. The professor. who was
as unpretentious as bis name. which
was Brown, did not know when he &C.
cepted the invitation that +" was to
speak to a mutual admiration society.
His address was to be IN the after
noon, and half an hour before be was
to appear on the rostrum he stepped
into a trolley car which would carry
him direct to the residepce Of Mrs.
Tranby. he seated himself. took a
newspaper from his pocket and be-
gan to read.
Presently two ladies entered the car.
sat down opposite the professor ana
began to chat There were various
noises connected with the Journey.
such a. the conductors bell ringing
and vehicles rafting over the stones
without, and the ladies' found 1t dill
cult to modulate their voices.
"Have you read Mrs. Middleton
Tranby's latest poem in the - Maya
zine?' asked one lady. who wore some
thing like mu6 for hat on her bead.
Eyes. Isn't It lovely?"
Beautiful! But It doesn't compare
With your My Rover
Don't you think 50? Its awfu'ly
good Of you to say 60"
II love dogs. and the close Of your
poem. when your dog looks up at you
so expressively before he dies. is just
too lovely for ANYTHING"
'.Thank you ever 30 much. y Have
you been writing anything"
"Nothing In verse. l have g. story
I'm going to read at the next meeting
Of our literary society. I've spent a
lot Of time over it which ! fear may
have been wasted. When I write q
poem dash 1t right of without think
ing. and it's better than when take
pains" ~. ,.-"
THAT'S genius. l wish We We're 50
ing to listen to your story this after
noon at Mrs. ddleton-1ranby's In
stead Of having to listen to that pro-
lessor. ] think our meetings when we
resd our own papers are 90 much more
interesting" e%srs.o tsn ;s&5 X
.,so do /. i don't care Tor German
literature. There Is 90 much philoso-
ply mixed up In it, 1S+,.s -, "
"Mrs. y, Engleheart's paper -1oh
Goethe read at our, last meeting. was
very good" 45 sl ~, aa.4ia :
.I"Good! 1t was delightful!, But then
we are all 90 familiar with the, opera
Of Faust that Goethe has Z special!
charm for Us. .','s So
whats the name Of ths' professor
who Ii to lecture this aftefnoonT -
Brown, I beiieve."& 5t'@esa AT
Brown! He isn't the, Professor
Brown whose loose ideas on marriage
have excited so much COMMENT i BE-
lieve the trustees Of bis university ask.
ed him to resign-C hthbert Brown,
professor Of something ot other. !
don't remember"
" think that's the man who u to
speak this afternoon. but I'm not
sure"
III 1t is I shall not remain for the
lecture"
you'd better be careful. You know
Mrs. Middleton ranby has her fourth
husband. all the other three still living.
II didn't think Of that. Ever %
much obliged to you for mentioning It
OF course It wouldn't do to offend q
hostess. Besides, rather like to hea.
what horrid theories people will pro
mulgate."
II can stand a bit Of spice myself. II
this man Brown doesn't advocate posi-
tive free love rather think shall
hear him out. But, since he is to speak
on German literature. perhaps be won't
mention his peculiar IDEAS"
Possibly not, but SO long as he holds
them and we have to listen to him 4
would be disappointing to have bin
stick to his dull subject"
BY this time the car had reached Q
cross street leading to Mrs. Middleton
Tranby's residence, and the ladie.
alighted. They were followed BY Pro
lessor Brown Charles, not Cuthbert
Brown and husband and father o.
six children-who Jagged behind them
20 that when they entered the Tranby
residence they did SO without havint
noticed that he had followed them
Lets go right into the lecture ROOM
said one. land get seats where we cal
hear. I'm q little deaf"
They took seats in the front row. and
when the room had been filled behint
them the lecturer. with Mrs. Middleton
Tranby, passed down an aisle, and the.
mounted the platform together. q
"Great heavens!' exclaimed the lad!
with the mun hat.
1T is the man who sat opposite q
in the car"
I'VE must CO."
"How can we? It's impossible. w
l = a.