The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-04-24
CHAPTER v.
Husband and Wife.

Hu6pdnu dUo "HCs
The ensuing fortnight brought the
expected changes in the household.
James Brood, to the surprise OF not
only himself but others, lapsed into a
curious state Of adolescence. His In
fatuation was complete. The once
dominant influence Of the man seemed
to stink away from him as the passing
days brought up the new problems OF
life. Where he had lived to command
he now was content to serve. His
friends, his son, his servants viewed
the Transformation with wonder, not
to say apprehension.
It would not be true to say that the
remarkable personality Of the man
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.
It 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
cajolery. She was q Latin. Diplo
macy was hers as a birthright. Com
plants, appeals, sulks would have
gained nothing from James Brood. MOI
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 prejudicet
could not but feel the justice of hel
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 miraculousl,
transferred the sleeping quarters o
Messrs. Dawes and Riggs from thu
second floor front to the third foo
back without arousing the slightes
sign of antagonism on the part Of thu
crusty old gentlemen. who had occu
pied one of the choice rooms In thu
house with uninterrupted security To-
q matter of nine or ten years. Mrs
Brood explained the situation to then
, 30 graciously, 80 convincingly, tina
they even assisted the servants II
moving their heterogeneous belong
ings to the small. remote room on tn
third floor, and applauded her plan u
make q large sittins-room Of the cham
Der they were deserving. 1t did no
occur to them for at least three day
that they had been imposed upor
cheated, maltreated, insulted, and the
1t was too late. The decorators wer
in the big room on the second floor.
They had been betrayed by the wifi
of their bosom friend. Is 1t small caus
for wonder, then. that the poor gentle
men as manfully turned back to tn
tipple and got gloriously, garrulousl
drunk in the middle of the afternoo
and also In the middle of the library
where tea was to have been served t
q few friends asked In to meet tn
bride?
The next morning q fresh edict wa
issued. It came from James Brood an
1t was so staggering that the poor ger
tlemen we're loath to believe their earl
As result of this new command. the
began to speak of Mrs. Brood in tn
privacy of their own room as "tha
woman" OF course 1t was entirel
due to her mischievous, malevolent II
fluence that q spineless husband pu
forth the order that they were to hav
nothing more to drink while they r,
manned in his house. This comman
was modified to q slight extent late
on. Brood felt sorry for the victims
He loved them and he knew that thei
pride was injured a great deal NOR
than their appetite. In its modifie
form. the edict allowed them q sma
drink In the morning and another 8
bedtime, but Jones, the butler, hel
the key to the situation and-the sid
board. And after that they looked VI
on Mrs. Brood as the common enem
of all three.
The case Of Mrs. John Desmond wa
disposed Of in q summary but tactf,
manner.
| IF Mrs. Desmond IL willing to r
main, James, as housekeeper instea
Of friend, all well and good" said Mr.
Brood, discussing the matter in tn
seclusion OF her boudoir. Il doub
however. whether she can descend {
that. You have spoiled her, my dear
| He flushed. II trust you do n,
mean To iunlv that"