The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-04-30
CHAPTER v
Husband anc Wife.

Husband anC Wife.
The ensuing fortnight brought tn
expected changes in the household
James Brood, to the surprise of no
only himself but others, lapsed into ;
curious state of adolescence. His In
fatuation was complete. The ono
dominant influence of the man seemet
to stink away from him as the passing
days brought up the new problems o
life. Where he had lived to commant
he now was content to serve. Hi
friends, his son, his servants viewed
the transformation with wonder, no
to say apprehension.
1t would not be true to say that the
remarkable personality of the mai
had suffered. He was still the man Of
steel, but retempered. The rigid
broad-sword was made over into the
fine flexible blade of Toledo. He could
be bent but not broken.
1t pleased him to submit to WON
mes commands. Not that they were
arduous or peremptory; on the con
trary, they were suggestions in which
his own comfort and pleasure appeared
to be the inspiration. She was too
wise to demand, too clever to resort to
cajoIery. She was a Latin. Diplo-
macy was hers as birthright. Com
plants, appeals, sulks would have
gained nothing from James Brood. Nor
would it have occurred to her to en-
ploy these methods. From the day she
entered the house she was its mis-
tress.
There were no false notions of senti-
ment to restrain or restrict her in the
Encouragement of her household. She
went about the matter calmly, SEN
sibly, firmly; even the most prejudiced
could not but feel the justice of her
decisions. The serene way in which
she both achieved and accepted con-
quest proved one thing above all 9TH
ers: She was born to rule.
To begin with, she miraculously
transferred the sleeping quarters of
Messrs. Dawes and Riggs from the
second floor front to the third floor
back without arousing the slightest
sign of antagonism on the part of the
crusty old gentlemen, who had occu-
pied one of the choice rooms in the
house with uninterrupted security for
a matter of nine or ten years. Mrs.
Brood explained the situation to them
SO graciously, so convincingly, that
they even assisted the servants in
moving their heterogeneous belong
Ings to the small, remote room on the
third floor, and applauded her plan to
make large sitting-room of the cham
Der they we're deserving. 1t did not
occur to them for at least three days
that they had been imposed upon,
maltreated, insulted, and then
t was too late. The decorators were
n the big room on the second floor.
They had been betrayed by the wife
If their bosom friend. Is it small cause
or wonder, then, that the poor gentle
men as manfully turned back to the
ipple and got gloriously, garrulously
trunk in the middle of the afternoon
md also in the middle of the library,
where tea was to have been served to
few friends asked in to meet the
ride?
The next morning fresh edict was
ssued 1t came from James Brood and |
| was sc staggering that the poor gen.
lemen were loath to believe their ears. |
IS a result of this new command, they |
egan to speak of Mrs. Brood in the |
rivacy OF their own room as that |
,oman." OF course 1t was entirely
ne to her mischievous, malevolent in
uence that a spineless husband put |
1rth the order that they were to have
othing more to drink while they re-
lained in his house. This command
as modified to a slight extent later
a. Brood felt sorry for the victims.
[e loved them and he knew that their
ride was injured great deal more
ian their appetite. In its modified
,rm, the edfct allowed them a small
rink in the morning and another at
sdtime, but Jones, the butler, held
lie key to the situation and-the side
bard. And after that they looked up
! Mrs. Brood as the common enemy
all three.
The case of Mrs. John Desmond was
sposed of in a summary but tactful
amer.
IF Mrs. Desmond is willing to re-
ain, James, as housekeeper instead
friend, all we'll and good" said Mrs.
rood, discussing the matter in the
clusion Of her boudoir. Il doubt, ,
,wever, whether she can descend to
at You have spoiled her, my dear"
He flushed. u trust you do not /
ean 70 imply that" /,