The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-08
CHAPTER V.
Husband and Wife.

Husband and Wife.
 The ensuing fortnight brought the expected changes in the household. James Brood, to the surprise of not only himself but others, lapsed into curious state of adolescence. His in- fatuation was complete. The once dominant influence of the man seemed to slink 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 fine flexible blade of Toledo. He could be bent but not broken.
 It pleased him to submit to Yyon- ne's commands. Not that they were arduous or peremptory; on the con- trary. they were suggestions in which
 
 to be the inspiration. She was too wise to demand, too clever to resort to cajolery. She was Latin. Diplo- macy was hers as a birthright. Com plaints, appeals, sulks would have gained nothing from James Brood. Nor would it have occurred to her to em p1oy 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 oth- CTS: 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 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 were deserting. It did not occur to them for at least three days that they had been imposed upon, cheated, maltreated. insulted. and then it was too late. The decorators were in the big room on the second floor.
 They had been betrayed by the wife of their bosom friend Is it small cause for wonder, then, that the poor gentle men as manfully turned back to the tipple and got gloriously, garrulously drunk in the middle of the afternoon and also in the middle of the library, where tea was to have been served to a few friends asked in to meet the bride?
 The next morning a fresh edict was issued. It came from James Brood and it was so staggering that the poor gen tlemen were loath to believe their ears As a result of this new command. they began to speak of Mrs. Brood in the privacy of their own room as that woman" Of course it was entirely due to her mischievous, malevolent in- fiuence that spineless husband put forth the order that they were to have nothing more to drink while they re- mained in his house. This command was modified to slight extent later on Brood felt sorry for the victims. He loved them and he knew that their pride was injured great deal more than their appetite. In its modified form, the ediet allowed them a small drink in the morning and another at the key to the situation and-the side board. And after that they looked up on Mrs. Brood as the common enemy of all three.
 The case of Mrs John Desmond was disposed of in a summary but tactful manner.
 If Mrs. Desmond is willing to re- main. James, as housekeeper instead of friend, all we'll and good" said Mrs. Brood discussing the matter in the seclusion of her boudoir. 'I doubt, however whether she can descend to that. You have spoiled her, my dear"
 He flushed. T trust you do not mean to imply that"