The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-01-31
Disiinherited
BIZ OisE BRAYTON

anywhere except with his dear wife I'D
their coy little home, and for the irst
IAertnight he went nowhere i'll the even
ing unless he took her with him.
During the second month some OF MS
Imrema trimonial cronies were having Il
little poker party and telephoned him
Ito join them. He did so.
That was chickering's first relapse, but
mot his last Indeed. he had a great
many of them-so many that ne rouhu
u difficult to find excuses for them
mrs Pickering was dear little wo-
MAN and very sensible one. she ar
gued that II she found fault with her
husband for leaving her alone nights
while he enjoyed the pleasures OF
hacbelorhood there would arise series
af alterations which would render MS
home unpleasant to him and be wouid
stay away altogether.
Nor was this the worst OF 1t. a man
hobnobbing with men must spenu
money. He can't avoid it It's game
Of billiards, cigar. an evening at the
eheater. This all makes considera
Vie 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 50 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 un
able to break away from his assocla
tjons. He said the only way to do
shat was to leave the place where they
hved and go to some other. But wheh
his wife asked him how he was going
10 get position in some other place
ne had no answer. He looked sober
and that ended the conversation.
So Mrs. Pickering fell into the habit
at enduring without complaint.
One night when Pickering had gone
cut there came ring at the tele-
phone. MRS Pickering answered the
oall and learned that her husbands
aunt was very III and Tom was to
come around Immediately. The aunt
a maiden lady OF sixty and In chronic
had health. was very fond or 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 q view to taking steps to
And the missing man. But 1t led to
nothing, and Mrs. Pickering concluded
10 go to the sick woman herself.
She found the invalid suffering great
pain A physician was present, ana
the house was in hubbub. The ola
lady was sure she was going to die
and had sent for her lawyer to add
aodicil 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
show frequented only by men
one knew where-his wife was unable
~ reach him. She gave it up and an
nounced the fact to his aunt.
The old lady meanwhile had got
temporary relief and was in fine con
ditiou 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
I'm vain to parry. The old lady was
very sharp and drew out the fact, in
spite of Mrs. Pickering's efforts to con-
ceal it, that Tom was away most OF
the time nights, spending it with his
men cronies.
land what do you dol" asked the
sick woman.
"Oh, am q great home body. don't
nind staying alone.
"H'mr The old lady thought a few
moments, then asked that the attorney
be sent to he's. When he came she di-
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 was
much relieved, thinking that the old
lady was about to disinherit her huS
band and leave her property elsewhere
nileu made no comment. sitting silent
until the will was drawn, signed and
witnessed. Then she put her arms
about the testator and assured her thai
she would live to make dozen wills.
At midnight Mrs. Pickering wen1
home, intending to return early In the
morning. Tom came in about O'Clock
and was about to go to his aunt wher
a telephone message came stating that
the invalid had passed away. Mrs
Pickering gave her husband an &C
count of what had passed excepting
that he had been disinherited in heI
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 as
inheriting what he had expected be
was aStonished- Then, recovering his
eQuanimity. he said:
"Well, it's all In the family. You
can transfer 1t to me. you know"
But Mrs. Pickering had endured
quite enough from having the family
income controlled by her husband. and
the transfer was never made. Indeed.
she controlled the income of her inner