Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1913-01-15
The Evening Story
Disiinherited
{ BY HELoIsE BRAYToN

When Tom Pickering was first EAR
ried 1t didn't seem to him that he
would ever care to spend an efeninS
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 cronies were having q
little poker party and telephoned him
to Join them. He did 30.
That was Pickering's first relapse, but
not his last. Indeed, he had great
many Of them-so many that be found
1t difficult to ind excuses for them.
Mrs. Pickering was dear little wo-
man and a 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
bachelorhood there would arise series
Of alterations which would render his
home unpleasant to him and he would
stay away altogether.
4 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 q 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 90 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 I'M
able to break away from his aSs0cia-
lions. He said the only way to do
that was to leave the place where they
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 came a ring at the tele-
phone Mrs. Pickering answered the
call and learned that her husbands
aunt was very Ill 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 view to taking steps to
find the missing man. But 1t led to
nothing. and Mrs. Pickering concluded
m, on 70 TIM afc1r ~ horcn1f
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
requests she wished to make. Seeing
her niece, she called her to her bed
and told her to 60 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-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 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 a. to
his habits which the poor woman tried
In vain to parry. The old lady was
very sharp and drew ont the fact, In
spite Of Mrs. Pickerings efforts to con.
ceal 1t, that Tom was away most OF
the time nights. spending 1t with his
men cronies.
"And what do you dor asked the
sick woman.
"Oh, am a great home body. don't
mind staying alone.
"H'mw The old lady thought q few
moments, then asked that the attorney
be sent to her. When he came she d.
rected him to draw q 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 tho 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 dozen willis.
At midnight Mrs. Pickering went
home, intending to return early In the
morning. Tom came In about 2 o'clock
and was about to 90 to his aunt when
a 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 win
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 a.
a. ~ ~