The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-07
DUDLEY
BARRINGTON'S
LESSON.
A Husband Who Spent All
His Money on Himself.


Milly harrington was only IS whel
she came to live at Holy Lodge. Yer!
young to be married, said the gossip'
Of the neighborhood. still younger t
assume all the cares and responsible
ties Of a household. And there wer,
not lacking doleful prophets who de
clared with eyes rolled up and mouths
drawn down that Mrs. Darlington
never would get on" with the old gen
tleman.
''Ie Is 50 fastidious," said one.
$50 difficult to suit" said another.
His ideal Is so impossibly high" de-
clared a third.
But to their surprise-perhaps a little
to their disappointment-Milly 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 a smile. to his son:
Don't let your little wife undertake
too much. Dudley"
And Dudley Darlington 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
II a 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 a moment.
"Do you think Milly Is addicted to
either Of those pernicious p~ractices"
he asked.
"They come natural to all women,
don't they| said Dudley. struggling
his shoulders.
mot at ALI" said his father.
And In his secret soul he wondered
IL Dudley was really worthy Of such a
jewel rs 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 girlY" said he.
Milly brought the milk promptly.
USnn n,%r - rI,A .oil Z
pointing to the table, "what a baking
! have done today! Three apple pies,
three loaves Of bread, a pan Of biscuit,
a cake and a dozen plum tarts"
"Bravo" said Mr.. Darlington. But,
Milly. why are you baking? Where is
Hannah"
Hannah wanted her wages raised"
said Milly rather soberly. land Dudley
said 1t was all nonsense keeping a girl
when | was so fond of homework. So |
she has gone"
"But are you fond Of housework"
he asked. in itself, as an abstract
thing, l mean"
Eyes, papa" Milly answered with
some hesitation. But Pm a little tired
this morning. l rose and swept the
house through before breakfast so as
to have time for the 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 creep
ing over her cheek, 1--WE been thinking
for some time that-thatn-
well" said MI. harrington encour-
agingly.
THAT | should like to ask you for a
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 shilE-
ings Is too much for ribbon, and he
says hats ought to be had cheaper
than three shillings each, and he de-
clares it's all nonsense to buy kid
gloves when cotton will do as well.
And ! 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,
r1ngton, leaning his elbows on the sill.
that you don't have a regular allow
ance every week."
mo, papa" said Milly, lifting her
prettily arched brows. dudley says
women don't know how to use money
ana that a wife should always receive ,
every halfpenny she spends from her
husband, And ! can tell you, papa. =
because you are so kind to mel am so
ashamed to have him think me extray.
agant, and really need so many little
things that men haven't any idea of.
US a little hard sometimes"
Mr., Harrington took his purse out of
MS pocket and laid 1t on the window
sill,
Here, little girl" he said, lyon have
AN