The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-04-11
Disiinherited
By HELolsE BRAYToN

When Tom Pickering was first mar
led It didn't seem to him that he
,+ould ever care to spend an, evening
anywhere except with his dear wife in
heir coy little home, and for the first
brtnight he went nowhere in the eve
ug unless he took her with him.
During the second month some Of his
,rematrimonial cronies were having q
title poker party and t%elephoned him
o Join them. He did 70.
That was Pickering's first relapse, but
lot his last. Indeed, he had a great
many of them-so many that he found
t difficult to find excuses for them.
Mrs. Pickering was a dear little wo-
nan and a very sensible me She ar
ued that II she found fault with her
lusbanda for leaving her alone nights
while he enjoyed the pleasures Of
,achelorhood there would arise a series
# alterations which would render his
lome unpleasant to him and he would
ttay away altogether.
Nor was this the worst Of it. A man
lobnobbing with men must spend
money. He can't avoid It. It's a game
# billiards, q cigar, an evening at the
heater. This all makes a considers
lie total. The consequence was that
when his wife felt like enjoying an
.vening where she might listen to mu-
nc, Of which she was very fond. the
husbands expenditures had so reduc-
I'd the exchequer that there were no
.uuds for. the purpose.
This wasn't right. Pickering knew
t wasn't right, but found himself, I'M
lble to break away from his associa-
ions. He said the. only way to do
hat was to leave the place where they
lived and go to some other. But when
ais wife asked him how he was going
70 get q position in some other place
,e had no answer. He looked sober.
ind that ended the conversation.
So Mrs. Pickering fell into the habit
If enduring without complaint.
One night when Pickering had gone
,ut there came a ring at the tele-
phone. Mrs. Pickering answered the
:all and learned that her husbands
lunt was very i'll and Tom was to
come around Immediately. The aunt,
4 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 a lengthy conversation with
her informant, the old lady's house
keeper, with a view to taking steps to
ind the missing nan But it led to
nothing. and Mrs. Pick ering concluded
10 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 a
eodicil 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 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
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 q
temporary relief and was In fine con-
dition to be angry with the man she
wanted and couldn't get She began
a 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
sspitesof Mrs Pickering's efforts to con.
ceaie Il, thdtsTom wasSaway most Of.
the time nights. spending It with his
men cronies.
sand what do you dot" asked the
sick woman.
"Oh, I am a great home body. Idon't
mind staying alone.
"H'm!' The old lady thought a few
moments. then asked that the attorney
be sent to her. When be came she d.
rected him to draw a win 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 IT, testator and assured her that
abe would i've to make q dozen willis.
At midnight Mrs. Pickering went
home. intending to return early in the
morning. Tom zane in about 2 O'Clock
md was about to 60 to his aunt when
Z telephone message anne stating that
the invalid had passed away. Mrs.
Pickering gave her husband an &C
count Of what had passed excepting
that 10 had been disinhsrited In her
favor.
The day after the funeral the viii
VS. opened n presence Of thos& In
terested and Tom Pickering. who was
not named h. tho instruWsnt Whsn
hsshsAed III asNicsis nams Rad ont %
inhasihng Whist he had expsctsds hs
wasiAstonishsd Then. recovering H.
oq1anlmity, 10 rid:
tsVNal1: III &llEsin TN. family. You