The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-30
CHAPTER v.
Husband and Vito.

| Husband and Vito.
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 once
dominant influence Of the man seemed
to stink away from him as the passing
days brought up the new problems O.
life. Where he had lived to command
he now was content to serve. Hill
friends, his son, his servants viewed
the Transformation with wonder, MOI
to say apprehension.
It would not be true to say that the
remarkable personality Of the mar
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
cajolery. She was a Latin. Diplo
macy was hers as a 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 in4th~
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
matter OF nine or ten years. Mrs.
Brood explained the situation to them
SO graciously, 80 convincingly, that
they even assisted the servants tn
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 deserving. Il did not
occur to them for at least three days
that they had been imposed upon,
cheated, maltreated, insulted, and then
1t 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, sarrulously
drunk In the middle Of the afternoon
and also In the middle Of the library,
where tea was to have been served to
few friends asked In to meet the
bride?
The next morning a fresh edict was
Issued. 1t came from James Brood and
Il was 80 staggering that the poor gen.
.lemen were loath to believe their ears.
AS result OF this new command, they
began to speak of Mrs. Brood in the |
privacy Of their own room as that |
woman" OF course 1t was entirely
iue to her mischievous, malevolent in.
1uence that a spineless husband nut |
'orth the order that they were to have |
Nothing more to drink while they re.
NAMED in his house. This command
vas modified to slight extent later
IN. Brood felt sorry for the victims,
he loved them and he knew that their
bride was injured a great deal more
han their appetite. In its modified
orm, the edict allowed them a small
rink in the morning and another at
bedtime, but Jones, the butler held
he key to the situation and-the side.
'oard. And after that they looked up.
N Mrs. Brood as the common enemy
# all three.
The case OF Mrs. John Desmond was
disposed Of in a summary but tactful
manner
"If Mrs. Desmond is willing to re-
nain, James, as housekeeper instead
I friend, all we'll and good" said Mrs.
'rood, discussing the matter in the
eclusion of her boudoir. II doubt
owever, whether she can descend to
hat. You have spoiled her, my dear"
He flushed. II trust you do not
lean to impfy that