The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-04-15
CHAPTER v.
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
fatuatlon 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.
II 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.swvrd was made over into the
fine flexible blade of Toledo. He could
be bent but not broken.
1t pleased him to submit to Yvon-
mes commands. Not that they were
arduous or peremptory; on the con
trary, they we're 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 a Latin. Diplo-
macy was hers as birthright. Com
plants, appeals. sulks would have
gained nothing from James Brood. Nor
would II have occurred to her to en-
ploy these methods. From the day she
entered the house she was its mis-
tress.
There we're no false notions OF senti-
ment to restrain or restrict her In the
, rearrangement 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
|
house with uninterrupted security foi
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 tC
: make large sittlng-room OF the cham
Der they we're deserting. It did not
: occur to them for at least three day.
that they had been imposed upon
cheated, maltreated. insulted. and ther
II was too late. The decorators were
in the big room on the second floor.
They had been betrayed by the wifi
OF their bosom friend. Is II small caus,
for wonder, then. that the poor gentle
men as manfully turned back to tn,
tipple and got gloriously. garrulousll
r drunk in the middle of the Afternoon
l. and also In the middle OF the library
+ where tea was to have been served I,
a few friends asked in to meet tn,
l. bride?
The next morning fresh edict wa
u issued. II came from James Brood an,
u 1t was so staggering that the poor gen
u tlemen were loath to believe their ears
AS result Of this new command. the.
8 began to speak of Mrs. Brood In th
privacy of their own room as "tha
woman" or course It was entirel,
e due to her mischievous. malevolent In
n fiuence that spineless husband pu
u forth the order that they were to hav
r nothing more to drink while they re
o mained In his house. This comman,
L was modified to a slight extent late
u on. Brood felt sorry for the victims
n He loved them and he knew that thei
l. pride was injured a great deal NOR
than their appetite. In its modifie
T. form, the edict allowed them smal
N drink in the morning and another a
T. bedtime, but Jones, the butler. hel
Ie the key to the situation and--the side
board. And after that they looked uI
e. on Mrs. Brood as the common enem
OF all three.
r The case of Mrs. John Desmond wa
Do disposed OF in a summary but tactft
sr manner.
Ut IF Mrs. Desmond is willing to r,
g. main. James, as hOusekeeper instea
ID OF friend. all well and good" said Mr.
d. Brood, discussing the matter in th
r. seclusion of her boudoir. Il doub
BE however. whether she can descend /
n that. You have spoiled her. my dear
u Ho flushed. Il trust you do nc
Of mean to tmply that"