The Washburn leader., 1913-01-31
Disiinherited
By HEEL LolsE BRAYToN r.

When Tom Pickering was first mar
sied It didn't seem to him that he
would ever care to spend an evening
anywhere except with his dear wife In
their cozy 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 cronies were having a
little poker party and telephoned him
to Join them. He did 50.
That was Pickering's first relapse, but
not his last. Indeed. he had q great
many Of them-so many that he found
1t difficult to find excuses for them.
Mrs. Pickering was dear little wo-
man and very sensible one. She ar
gued that If 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 he would
stuy away altogether
Nor was this the worst Of it. A man
hobnobbing with men must spend
money. He can't avoid it. It's game
Of billiards, a cigar, an evening at the
theater. This all makes a 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
1t wasn't right. but found himself un-
able to break away from his associa-
tions. 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 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 came ring at the tele-
phone. Mrs. Pickering answered the
call and learned that her husbands
aunt was very i'll and Tom was to
come around Immediately. The aunt,
a maiden lady of sixty and in chronic
bad health. was very fond of her
nephew. and it 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 it 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 hubbub. The old
lady was sure she was going to die
and had sent for her lawyer to add a
codicil to her will covering some small
bequests 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 it up and an
nounced the fact to his aunt
The old lady meanwhile had got a
temporary relief and was in fine con-
dition to be angry with the man she
wanted and couldn't get She began
fire of questions at his wife as to
his habits which the poor woman tried
in vain to parry. The old lady was
very sharp and drew out the fact, in
spite Of Mrs. 'f1ckering,s efforts to con-
ceal il, that Tom was away most 81
the dine nights. spendingsft II with Ills
men cr0nies. ..,...-s
"And what do you do?" asked the
sick woman. ., +.%. d..
."Oh, ! am, a great home body. don't
mind staying alone.
'.'H'm!' The old lady thought few
moments. then asked that the attorney
be sent to her. When be came she d.
rected him to draw a will for her to
sign leaving all her property to Mary
Ellen Pickering The young wife was
present and heard the order. She was
much relieved. thinking that the old
lady was about to disinherit her hus-
band and leave her property elsewhere.
Ellen made no comment, sitting silent
until the will was drawn. signed and
witnessed; Then she put her arms
about the testator and assured her that
she would live to make a dozen Wills.
At midnight Mrs. Pickering went
home. Intending to return early In the
morning. Tom came in about 2 o'clock
and was about to go to his aunt when
telephone message came stating that
the invalid had passed away. Mrs.
Pickering gave her husband an ac-
count Of what had passed excepting
that he had been disinherited in her
favor.
The day after the funeral the will
was opened In presence Of those in.
terested and Tom Pickering. who was
not named in the instrument. When
he heard his wife's name read out 40
inheriting what he had expected he
was astonished. Then. recovering his
equaninity. he said: 4.
.sWeli. It's all in the family. You
l - q.