Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-03-31

| EM NTi Lydia Darlington to be-
come Mrs. Robert Mickey.
"Of course it was hurried" confded
Mrs. Darlington to her warrior, late on
the night of the wedding day, or early
on the morning of the day the regi-
ment embarked. just as you choose,
"but | think we did right. don't your"
'Uh-huh!' grunted the colonel, who
was trying to get to sleep.
Eyes, oh, yes, Nary groaned the
colonel. Its past 1, and l must be up
at 81
"Fm sure it was right" unused his
wife. 1T would have been cruel to
separate them. OF course, they'll make
few mistakes and have their little
troubles, like every one else. But
we're leaving them Lee, and he will
take care of them. Lee is al old yellow
angel, isn't hep
"Uh-huhv' grunted the colonel.
isn't he good?'' cried Mrs. Darling
/ ton, enthusiastically, encouraged by
this sign of consciousness in her hus-
band.
There's a mosquito under this bar. and
I've got to be up at 5. Goodnight
The morning found the Darlingtons
in all the confusion of people who have
| just torn up home by the roots, in the
faint hope Of setting it down again
10000 miles away. The hours flew by
like gliding shadows, and the carriage
came to the door.
Mrs. Darlington wept unreservedly
on the shoulder of little Mrs. Lydia
Darlington Mickey, who suddenly
seemed to become infinitely old and ex-
perienced and strong.
Don't you worry, mamma. Every
thing will be all right" she said, pat
ting her mothers hair. "All right,
mamma. Good-byr'
"Are you sure?' quavered poor Mrs.
Darlington. $50 much could happen.
But I'm leaving you Lee. You'll take
care of her, won't you, Lee?" she
begged.
Eyes, missy" responded the old,
wrinkled cook, with no emotion at all.
Il takee clare little missy. Don't you
makee ely, old missy. Lee takee clare"
"Well, goodbye said Mrs. Darling
ton ''Oh, 1 can't leave you all alone
out herer'
"Time to go" snapped the colonel,
in the tone he would have used to the
regiment had that body ever dared to
retreat in disorder.
Poor Mrs. Darlington meekly
stumbled down to the carriage, sup
ported by the faithful Lee.
Rob-" said the colonel, wringing that
young soldiers hand in a grip that
made him vince, IF you don't make
her happy, I'll have you tried and
hanged-hanged, sirr'
He crushed Mistress Lydia Darling
ton Mickey to the breast of his immac-
ulate tunic, and it was Lydia who wept
this time. The colonel pushed her
gently into the arms of her husband,
and marched down the stairs and got
into the carriage as if he were mount
ing his charger.
"Siguer he cried to the coachman,
in the tone he would have used in urg-
ing the regiment to charge the Rock
of Gibraltar. And the coachman drove
away, while Mrs. Darlington dabbed
her handkerchief at her eyes and pa
thetically missed her aim as the car
riage rolled, and little Mistress Lydia
chung to her husband and sobbed. till a
cool, unruffled voice recalled her to her
self
Don't you ely, little missy" said old
Lee, Il takee clare. You likee cul-
lied shlimps for tiffin, hap
/ One might we'll have believed that the
McKeys would be happy, for the cap
tain worshiped Lydia, and Lydia was
very sure that there was not a cap
tain-no, not major-general command
ing-in all the world half so Kind and
strong and splendid as her captain.
And they lived in mimic fairyland
for the captain was the fortunate pos
SCISSOR of an income which made his
pay mere bagatelle. Consequently
they rented big, airy house ON tbs
shore of the bay, where the fresf
breezes picked up a hint of spice from
the wide gardens before they entered
the house. And most precious thing
of all, they possessed that jewel, Lee
and so were popular with every one
In the hunger-stricken city of Manila 6
good cook is a parsonage to be pettet
and pampered and bowed down to, fol
without him living is a burden too
grievous for a housewife to bear
came across the China Sea. For long
years he had practiced his art, in thu
club at Hongkong, in the galIeys Of
far-trayeling liners in the ward room
pantries of rowing men-of-war. till il
any cline, from any materials, he coult
evolve dinner that made people wan
to come again.
SO Lee ruled in his kitchen, and sooi
little Mistress Lydia Darlington Nc
Key began to grow famous, in a small
way. Gaunt bachelors waylaid tn
captain at half past II, and chung to hi
trail like detectives till / o'clock, hop
ing he would be forced to ask them t,
lunch. The society column was contin
ually repeating: Mrs. Captain McKe,
gave another Of her recherche dinners
on Wednesday evening. Those presen
were the Governor and Mrs. Governor
Major eneral Blank and Mrs. Blank
Admiral Sir John Blake, Commando;
III. B. NJ. Asiatic Fleet. the famous ex
Il plorer, Count Znnuski." Really, will
Lees assistance, Lydia could be sur
or getting any one she chose to ask.