The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-15
DUDLEY
BARRINGTON'S
LESSON.
A Husband Who Spent All
His M oney on Himself.

she came to live at Holy Lodge. Very
young to be married, said the gossips |
of the neighborhood, still younger to
assume all the cares and responsible |
ties of a household. And there were |
not lacking doleful prophets who de- |
clared with eyes rolled up and mouths |
drawn down that Mrs. harrington
never would "get on" with the old gen.
tleman.
HE is so fastidous," said one.
$50 difficult to suit" said another.
'His ideal is so impossibly high" de-
clared a third.
But to their surprise-perhaps n little
to their disappointment-M and her
father-in-law We're the best of friends
from the very first moment In which
they looked upon each others face.
Milly was anxious to learn, so eager
to comprehend the ins and outs Of the
great, roomy old house, so ambitious
to excel every housekeeper in the
neighborhood that the old gentleman
said, with smile, to his son:
Don't let your little wife undertake
too much, Dudley"
And Dudley harrington answered,
with a yawn:
'There's no danger of that, sir. The
ladies of Holy Lodge have always been
| first rate housekeepers, you know. And
| if woman is at work she isn't spend
ing money foolishly or gossiping."
Mr.. Barrington's keen blue eyes re-
| garded his son sharply for moment.
"Do you think Milly is addicted to
| either of those pernicious practices"
| he asked.
''They come natural to all women,
don't theyY' said Dudley, struggling
his shoulders.
mot at ALL" said his father.
| And in his secret soul he wondered
if Dudley was really worthy of such a
! jewel as Millicent.
So the weeks went on, and Milly
stood bravely to her helm, until one
bright October day the old gentleman,
CHANGING to pass the low kitchen win
| dow where the vines made a screen of
| moving shadow, looked smilingly into
where his daughter-in-law was at
work.
"Have you got a glass of cool milk
for me, little girl?" said he.
Milly brought the milk promptly.
"See, papa" she said, triumphantly
pointing to the table, what baking
have done today! Three apple pies,
three loaves of bread pan Of biscuit,
a cake and a dozen plum tartsp'
"Bravor' said Mr.. harrington. But,
Milly, why are you baking? Where is
Hannah?'
Hannah wanted her wages raised
said Milly rather soberly, land Dudley
said it was all nonsense keeping a girl
when was so fond of housework. So
she has gone"
"But are you fond Of housework?' p
he asked. "In itself, as an abstract
thing, l meanY
Eyes, papa" Milly answered with
some hesitation. But I'm little tired
this morning. | rose and swept the
house through before breakfast so as
: to have time for the baking"
father-in-law. But we mustn't lei
you work too hard.''
Papa" said Milly, with downcas1
} lashes and a deep pink shadow creep
ing over her cheek, 1--WE been thinking
for some time that-that'-
"Well?' said Mr.. harrington encour
agingly.
'That l should like to ask you for &
little money" faltered Milly.
Money! he echoed in surprise
Doesn't Dudley give you all 20,
want?"
: Once more Milly hesitated.
"He wants to know what everythin,
is for" said she. HE thinks two shill
} ings is too much for ribbon, and h.
says hats ought to be had cheape
{ than three shillings each, and he de
8 clares it's all nonsense to buy XII,
4 gloves when cotton will do as well
4 And 1 do need another hat since tn
i rain spoiled my best one, but 1 dom
$ like to ask him for it."
5 "Do you mean to say" said Mr.. Bal
d rington, leaning his elbows on the sill
"that you don't have regular allow
j ance every week?"
mo, papa" said Milly, lifting he
prettily arched brows. Dudley say
: women don't know how to use none
and that wife should always receiv
every halfpenny she spends from he
y husband. And I can tell you, papa
because you are so kind to mel am s
ashamed to have him think me eXtraN
agant, and really need so many littl
Ii things that men haven't any idea Of
: It's little hard sometimes"
Mr.. harrington took his purse out 9
his pocket and laid it on the wjndON
sill
"Here, little girl" he said, you hav
earned the contents of that a doze
times over"
= Milly reached up to kiss him throug
e the vine leaves.
i" "Oh. papa, you are such a darling,
e she said.
r He only patted her cheek in reply.
Is Dudley don't know what a treasuI
d he has got" he pondered as he kept o
% his walk up to the front verand'
'e where a great chestnut tree was shov
le ering it's blooms over the steps and til
l. balmy sunshine slept on the painte
g floor. "He is making Circassian Slay
Is out of that dear little woman"
And he took his book and stretche
L himself comfortably out in the han
10 mock for his evenings reveries.
ee 1t was the ReXt day that his Sc