The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-05
Disiinherited
: By HEL OISE BRAYTON

ried it didn't seem to him that he
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 bis
prema trinonial cronies were having d
| little poker party and telephoned MN
! 10 join them. He did 80.
That was Pickering'S first relapse. but
not his last Indeed. he had great
many of them-so many that he fouho
it difficult to find excuses for them
Mrs Pickering was dear little wo'
MAN and very sensible one. She ar
Cued that if she found fault with her
husband for leaving her alone nights
| while lie enjoyed the pleasures or
bachelorhood there would arise Il series
of alterations which would render his
home unpleasant to him and he wouio
stay away altogether
Nor was this the worst of it. A man
hobnobbing with men must spehd
money. He can't avoid it Its gailie
of billiards. cigar. an evening III the
theater. This all makes collSideril
BILE total. The consequence was that
when his wife felt like enjoying an
evening where she might listen to mu-
sic. of which she WIS 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 I'M
able to break away from his asSoria
| lions. He said the only way {" 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 habis
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.
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 rick
ering held IL lengthy conversation with
her informant the old ladys house
keeper, with view to taking steps to
find the missing man. But it led to
nothing. and Mrs. Pickering concluded
to 20 to the sick woman herself.
She found the invalid suffering great
pain. physician was present. and
the house waS in hubbub The ole
lady was sure she was going TO die
and had sent for her lawyer to add a
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 20 to the telephone
and not cease her calls till she had 10
| 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
show freIuented only by men INC
one knew where-his wife was unable
to reach him. She gave it up and an
4 uOuIltFo bdNt w dunE.rEgA
The ord isslsy got q
/ temporary relief and was I'm fine con
diti0n TO be angry with the man SHE
wanted and couldn't get She begar
fire OF questions 1T his wife. IA II
his habits which the poor woman triet
in vain to parry. The old lady was
very sharp and drew out the fact. If
spite of Mrs. chickering's efforts to con
ceaI it. that Tom was away most OF
the time nights. spending 1t with his
men cronies
land what do you do?" asked the
sick woman.
"Oh. | am a great home body. don I
mind staying alone.
HIM" The old lady thought n few
/ moments. then asked that the attorney
be sent to her When he came she eli
rected him to draw will for her to
sign leaving all her property to Mary
Ellen Pickering The young wife was
present and heard the order. She way
much relieved. thinking that the old
lady was about to diSinherit her nus
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 teStat0r and assured her that
she would 1--we To make II dozen wills
At midnight Mrs Pickering Went
home. intending to return early in the
morning Tom came In about . O'Clock
and was about to go To his aunt when
q telephone message came stating that
the invalid had passed away. Mrs
Pickering gave her husband an az
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 wifeS name read out as
inheriting what he had expected ht'
was aStoniShed Then. recovering his
equanimity. he said
well. it's all in the family. You
can transfer II to me- you know"
But Mrs Pickering had endured
| quite enough from having the family
income controlled by her husband. amt
the transfer was never made. Indeed
| she controlled the income of her inner
itance herself However. Tom had re
ceived Il lesson and turned over new
| and does not care to spend money for
trifies But he would prefer that his
aunt's estate should be in his posses
sion.
Poor Adam had a lonely spell.