The Banner-Democrat., 1900-10-20
) Dudley BaTTllgtol's Lesson

Mluy harrington was only 10 Wnen
she came to live at Holly Lodge. Very
young to be married, said the gossips
of the neighborhood, still younger to
assume all of the cares and response
bilities of a household. And there
were not lacking doleful prophets who
declared, with eyes rolled up and
mouths drawn down, that Mrs. Bar
rington never would "get on" with
the old gentleman.
"He is so fastidious," said one.
$50 difficult to suit" said another.
"His ideal is so impossibly high"
declared third.
But to their surprise-perhaps little
to their disappointment-Milly and her
father-in-law were the best Of friends
from the very first moment in which
they looked upon each others faces.
Milly was anxious to learn, so eager
to comprehend the ins and outs of
the great, roomy old house, so am
bilious to excel every housekeeper In
the neighborhood, that the old gentle
man said, with q smile, to his son:
Don't let your little wife undertake
too much, Dudley"
And Dudley Darlington answered,
with yawn:
There's no danger Of that, sir. The
ladies of Holly Lodge have always
been first rate housekeepers, you know.
And IL a woman is at work, she isn't
spending money foolishly or gossip
ing"
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 practices"
he asked.
"They come natural to all women,
don't theyT said Dudley, Struggling
his shoulders.
mot at allr' said his father.
And IN his secret soul he wondered
IL Dudley was really worthy Of such a
Jewel as Millicent.
So the weeks went on, and Milly
stood brayely to her helm, until one
bright October day the old gentleman.
CHANGING to pass the low kitchen win
dow, where the vines made q screen
of moving shadow, looked smilingly In
to where his daughter-in-law was at
work.
"Have you got glass Of cool milk
for me, little girlT' he said.
Milly brought the milk promptly.
"See, papa" she said, triumphantly
pointing to the table, what a baking
I have done to-day. Three apple pies
three loayes Of bread, a pan Of bis
cults, a cake, and dozon plum tarts!
Bravo said Mr.. Darlington. "Bu
Milly, why are you baking? Where Il
HannahT'
Hannah wanted her wages raised.
said Milly, rather soberly. And Dud
ley said 1t was all nonsense keeping
girl when l was so fond of house
work. So she has gone"
"But are you fond of housework?
he said. "In itself, as an abstrac
thing, I mean?'
"Yes, papa" Milly answered, wit
some hesitation. "But I'm little til
ed this morning. rose early an
swept the house through before break
fast SO as to have time for the bal
ing"
"You are a good little GIRL" said tn
father-in-law, "but we mustn't let 20
work too hard"
Papa" said Milly, with downca'
lashes and deep pink shadow creeI
ing over her cheek, 1--WE been thinl
ing for some time that-that-"
"weny' said Mr.. Darlington, encou
agingly.
"That l should like to ask you fe
little money" faltered Milly.
Money! he echoed in surpris'
"Doesn't Dudley give you all 20
wantT'
Once more MIlly hesltated.
"He wants to know what everythin
Is for" said she. HE thinks two shi
iings is too much for ribbon, and h
says hats ought to be had cheapt
than three shillings each, and he d
clares it's all nonsense to buy X
gloves when cotton will do as we
And l do need another hat since IL
rain spoiled my best one, but l don
like to ask him for it."
"Do you mean to say" said Mr.. Ba
rington, leaning his elbows on the 81
"that you don't have a regular allo'
ance every week."
''No, papa" said Milly, lifting h
prettily arched brows. Dudley sa
women don't know how to use none
md that q wife should always recei
every halfpenny she spends from b
husband. And 1 can tell you, PAL
because you are so kind to mel {
go ashamed to have him think me {
travagant, and I really need SO ma
little things that men haven't any Id
of. It's little hard sometimes"
Mr.. harrington took his purse out
pocket and laid 1t on the windows
Here, little girl" he said, you he
earned the contents Of that do7
times over"
Milly reached up to kiss him throu
the vine leaves.
"oh, papa. you are such DARN
she said.
He only patted her cheek in reply
"Dudley don't know what treas