The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-28
Dudley Barington's Lesson.


all the cares and responsibilities OF
household. And there were not lacking
doleful prophets who declared, with eyes
rolled up and mouths down. that Mrs
harrington never would get on with
the old gentleman.
He IS so fastidious." said one
so difficult 10 suit said another
His ideal is so impossibly high! de-
clared a third
But totheir surprise-perhaps little 10
their isappointment-Millya and her faith
er-in-law were 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 ms and outs OF the great
roomy old house. so ambitious to excel
every housekeeper in the nighborhood,
! that the old gentleman said. with a SMILE
TO his son:
Don't let your little wife undertake
too much. Dudley"
And Dudley harrington answered, with
yawn:
There's no danger Of that. sir. The
ladies Of Holly Lodge have always been
first rate housekeepers, you know. And
II woman is at work she isn't spending
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 they?" said Dudley, struggling his
shoulders.
mot at all!'' said his father.
And in his secret soul he wondered II
Dudley was really worthy of such
| jewel as Millicent
SO the weeks went on. and Milly stood
bravely to the helm, until one bright Oc-
tober day the old gentleman, CHANGING
TO pass the low kitchen window where
the vines made a screen Of moving shad-
ow, looked smilingly into where his daugh-
ter-in-law was a. work.
Have you got a glass OF cool milk for
me, little grip said he.
Milly brought the milk promptly.
See, papa" she said, triumphantly
pointing to the table. what a baking I
| have done today, Three apple pies, three
loaves of bread, a pan Of biscuits, and
dozen plum tartsi"
fBravo!" said Mr.. harrington "But
Milly. why are you baking? Where is
Hannah?"
Hannah wanted her wages raised"
said Milly, rather soberly. And Dudley
said it was all nonsense keeping a girl
| when I was so fond of homework. So
she has gone"
But are you fond Of housswork?" ne
| asked I'm itself. as an abstract thing,
I mean?"
YES, papa" Milly answered, with some
hesitation. But I'm a little tired this
morning. I rose early and swept the
| house through before breakfast, so as to
have time for baking"
You are a good little girl" said the
father-in-law But we mustn't let you
work too hard
Papa" said Milly, with downcast
| lashes and a deep pink shadow creeping
some time that-that-"
''Well?" said Mr.. harrington, encour-
agingly.
'That I should like to ask for little
| money" faltered Milly.
Money" he echoed in surprise. Doesn't
Dudley give you all you want?"
Once more Milly hesitated.
He wants to know what everything is
| for" said she. He thinks two shillings
is too much for ribbon, and he says hats
| ought TO be cheaper than three shillings
each, and he declares it's all nonsense
| to buy kid gloves when cotton will do
as we'll. And l do need another hat
| since the rain spoiled my best one, but
don't like to ask him for it.
do you mean to say" said Mr.. Bar
r.ngton, leaning on his elbows on the,
that you don't have a regular allowance
| every week?'
mo. papa" said Milly, lifting her
prettily arched brows. Dudley says
women don't know how to use money,
and that a wife should always receive
every halfpenny she spends from her
! husband. And I can tell you. papa, be-
cause you are so kind TO mel am asham-
! ed TO have him think me extravagant,
and 1 really need so many little things
| that men haven't any idea Of. It's a
| little hard sometimes"
| TQor ~rir o+o nut n
| his pocket and laid ii on the window sill.
Here, little girl" he said. you have
J earned the contents Of that a dozen
| times over"
| Nilly reached up to kiss him through
the vine leaves.
ooh, papa, you are such darling" she
said
He only patted her cheek in reply.
Dudley don't know what treasure
| he has got" he pondered as he kept on
4, his walk up TO the front veranda, where
a great chestnut tree was showering its
blooms over the steps and the balmy sun
shine slept on the painted floor. "He is
making a Circassian slave out of that
dear little woman"
And he took his book and stretched
himself comfortably out In his hammock
for his evenings reveries.
It was the next day that his son came
| 10 him in the library. where little fire
| Of logs had been kindled. for chilly,
northeast rain had blown all the yellow
| maple leaves away. and the sunshine was
obscured in driving clouds.
We'll. my boy" said his father kindly,
you are of to the city 1 suppose
| Yes. sir" said Mr.. harrington. ira
tall. straight. handsome young man. with
a brown complexion and sparkling eyes.
| And before l go perhaps you had better
give me check if it's convenient"
"A check?" said his father. For
| what?"
I'm about out Of ready cash said
! Dudley. carelessly, land a little spending
money would come very handy for cur
rent expenses
"Ah. And what are you going to buy?'
Dudley looked at his father in amaze
ment
Il need a summer suit. sir" said he.
land"
''Yes-yes." nodded the old gentleman.
And how much DO you pay for sum-
me- suit now"
''Oh, six or seven pounds" answered
Dudley.
six or seven pounds" echoed Mr.. Bar
rington. Isn't that rather vague2"
"A fellow never knows exactly" ex-
planned Dudley.
All. but YOU ought TO know inter
rupted the Old gentleman And, now
am or the subject you buy your clothes
OF Poole. don't you? Aren't there cheap
CT plsces2'
Dudley ignored the question. and said:
1--WE a little bin al the cigar shop 70
settle and there are some new books
should Ike 20 read"
Just send In The bills TO ne" said tie
old gentleman; "TH pay them
The bootmaksr, sir
You must try and no. Be 100 etrava-