promises

Realtor is asked to value large estate by attorney. Arriving at the mansion, Realtor admires the gated entry, an alee of beech trees , and 1920's architecture in magnificent condition.

Realtor is greeted by a lovely woman who is very tall and blond.She explains that she is the widow of the late "inventor" and that the property cannot be maintained as it is today because the servants are leaving shortly. She seems puzzled by their departure but is quite cheerful as we look through the manor. She explains she plans to start a new life in California with the proceeds.

Prominently displayed on the wall of the library is a cover of Life magazine with Malibar Farm pictured behind a wedding photo of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. The inventor's unique piece of manure spreading equipment could be seen in the distant background of the cover photo.

She explained that she came to the United States as Miss Poland for the Miss Universe contest. While she did not win the title, she won a husband as her prize. The details of her courtship are what she wished to share.

"My husband asked me, did I like fresh flowers? I said that I liked them very much. He promised there would always be fresh flowers in our home.

He asked if I liked housework, I replied no. He promised that there would always be servants to wash the dishes, do the laundry, and clean for me.

He asked if I liked to cook, I said no. He promised that there would always be a cook in our home to take care of the meals.

On that basis, I agreed to marry him although I didn't love him and didn't want to live in Ohio. The marriage was not a happy one. He became quite obese near the end and was always around the house.He would not give me money to do the smallest things for myself.His relatives are mean to me.

I waited to inherit this house rather than divorce him."   What illness did he die of? "Gluttony" was her answer."He fell over dead with his face in a plate of spaghetti."

Realtor completes value study and phones attorney to discuss the listing. The attorney indicates that there MAY be a problem with the current ownership of the property and that there MAY be other heirs. He will let me know how to proceed.

Realtor is later informed that the inventor has already spent his inheritance (the family manor). He had paid for the extravagant lifestyle and the servants with shares signed over at the end of each year to other family members who offered cash . Documents had been produced.

The inventor had told her nothing of his losses and did not work outside the home throughout their marriage. He told her that he only had to be smart once and that he owned several patens for pieces of farming equipment that would someday make them wealthy.

It was learned that the working model of his "shit spreader" had rusted away and never been reproduced. If there were other successful inventions, the proceeds were not recovered.

The widow who had never cooked, cleaned, or worked in her life now found herself penniless and dependant on her aged mother. She moved back to Europe within a few weeks at the expense of the inventor's relatives who had always thought her a haughty foreigner.

 

original story by Sarah Simpson