The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-30
Disiinherited
BY HELoIsE BRAYToN

would ever care TO spend an evening
anywhere except with his dear wife In
their coy little home, and for the first
fortnight he went nowhere in the even
Ing unless he took her with him.
During the second month some Of his
prematrimonial eronles were having q
little poker party and telephoned him
TO join them. He did so.
That was chickering's first relapse, but
not his last Indeed. he had a great
many OF them-so many that be found
1t difficult to find excuses for them.
Mrs. Pickering was a dear little WOO
man and II very sensible one. She ar
gued that IL she found fault with her
husband for leaving her alone nights
while he enjoyed the pleasures OF
bachelorhood there would arise series
Of alterations which would render his
home unpleasant to him and be would
stay away altogether.
! Nor was this the worst of 1t. A man
hobnobblng with men must spend
, money. He can't avoid II. It's game
Of billiards. q cigar. an evening Mt the
theater. This all makes considera-
BILE total. The consequence was that
when his wife felt like enjoying an
evening where she might listen to mu-
sic, of which she was very fond. the
husbands expenditures had so reduc-
ed the exchequer that there were no
funds for the purpose.
This wasn't right. Pickering knew
it wasn't right. but found himself UNI
able to break away from bis associa-
tons. He said the only way to do
that was to leave the place where they
lived and go to some other But when
his wife asked him how he was going
to get a position in some other place
he had no answer. He looked sober,
and that ended the conversation.
So Mrs. Pickering fell into the habit
of enduring without complaint.
One night when Pickering had gone
out there cane ring at the tele-
phone. Mrs. Pickering answered the
call and learned that her husbands
aunt was very III and Tom was to
come around Immediately. The aunt.
q maiden lady of sixty and in chronic,
bad health. was very fond of her
nephew, and 1t was expected that she
would make him her heir. Mrs. Pick
ering held lengthy conversation with
her informant. the old lady's house
keeper, with a view to taking steps TO
find the missing man. But 1t led to
nothing, and Mrs. Pickering concluded
to go to the sick woman herself.
She found the invalid suffering great
pain. A physician was present, and
the house was in a hubbub. The, old
lady was sure she was going to die
and had sent for her lawyer to add
codicil to her will covering some small
requests she wished to make. Seeing
her niece, she called her to her bed
and told her to go to the telephone
and not cease her calls till she had To-
Gated Tom He was the only relative
she had in the world and she must
have him with her when dying.
Since Tom Pickering was attending
a show frequented only by men-no
one knew where-his wife was unable
to reach him. She gave 1t up and an
nounced the fact TO his aunt.
The old lady meanwhile had got
temporary relief aud was In line con-
lition to be angry with the man she
wanted and couldn't get She began
4 fire of questions at mis- wife as TO
ais habits which the poor woman tried
IN vain to parry. The old lady was
rery sharp and drew out the fact. in
ipite of Mrs. chickering's efforts 70 con-
ZEAL it. that Tom was away most Of
he time nights. spending it with his
men cronies.
And what do you do?" asked the
lick woman.
"Oh, | am great home body. DOM
mind staying alone.
HIM" The old lady thought few
then asked that the attorney
e sent to her. When he came she di-
ected him to draw a will for her to
ign leaving all her property TO Mary
,llen Pickering. The young wife was
resent and heard the order. She was
luch relieved. thinking that the old
ldy was about 10 disinherit her hus-
and and leave her property elsewhere.
lien made no comment. sitting silent
ntil the will was drawn. signed and
Then she put her arms
bout the testator and assured her that
le would live TO make dozen Wills.
At midnight Mrs Pickering went
,me, intending 10 return early In the
orning Tom came in about o'clock
I'd was about 10 90 to his aunt when
telephone message came stating that
e invalid had passed away. Mrs.
ckering gave her husband an ac-
unit of what had passed excepting
ut be had been disinherited in her
vor.
rhe day after the funeral the will
rs opened in presence of those in
rested and Tom Pickering. who was
{ named In the instrument. When
heard bis wife's name read out as
neriting what be had expected be
IS nstonssSed Then. recovering his
ne said:
Well. it's all in the family You
y transfcs IL TO me. you know"
sut Mrs Pickering had endured
lie enough from having the family
ONE controlled by her husband. and
transfer was never made. Indeed.
controlled the income OF her inner
nee herself. However. Tom had re-
we'd lesson and turned over new
T. He is now n middle aged man