New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
CHAPTER VIII.
THE RULES OF THE GAME


NO. there you wrong. 1t isn't game
IT is an outlet for the feelings. Tennis is a
game; horseracing is a gamble; but football and
buIIhghting are neither the one nor the other
In the Middle Ages when the knight was in one
mood he flew a falcon, and in another ne
smacked his neighbor over the head with bat
tie axe. Nowadays. to express the same moods
We play golf or go TO football game. the
case may be. Watch the people, II you think
they are here to see the teams Play. After the
game is over side is jubilant and con-
descending, the other unhappy and ashamed
Yet both sides have done as we'll they can
The fact is, OF course. that winning and not
playing well is their airl-which proves what I
have Just said. So long as the knight could
smash his neighbor's skull. he cared very little
whether he smashed It gracefully or ungrace-
fully; in fact, one may say he didn't care at all
That's the way with US. Now and then you'll
hear a man maintain that the temper and tone
OF the game are everything and the accident
Of winning is nothing at all. Who agrees with
him? The side that has been Hcked. every time
The winning side packs away any such theories
in the carnphor Of conceit. for possible use next
year"
But" she protested. II don't think I quite
understand"
They two. in common with all Carfax. we're
ford had known Miss Power for at least two
months. IN every day Of which he thought Of
her and would have given all he had to know
that she was thinking OF him Poor BradfordI
He had been used all his life to drop the ac-
ouaintance Of girls who did not show him
promptly that they enjoyed his company Il
you wished Bradford TO like you, you must lei
him know that you liked him Alas, he had
found. by the irony Of fate, girl whose &C
ouaintance he could not bring himself 10 drop
although she did not show she enjoyed his COM
panv at all Did she? Sometimes 1t seemed
ir,no.sfble to him. she was so unmoved when he
came: and yet she let him come, and listened
closely to all he had TO say. and seemed little
sorry when he went He could have echoed her
last remark: he did not quite understand
Asif IN derision OF that remark. a long sus-
+ainAd hiss ran about the crowd. and ended IN
a deep, cultural, angry. contemptuous am n
slight pause followed. and then came the thun-
derous beat of the Carfax College yell It rolled
about them like a wave. and then broke INTO
a foam Of individual cries Bragg Brags'
Braggr they shouted
Look there! That will explain it" spoke Brad
ford his lip curling trife in amusement
What is II? What are they Kissing forT
That man Bragg. whom they were Just cheer
Ing Is one Of the best players We have; he's a
per. The man on the other team tackled him
foul q moment ago. and Bragg hit him. That is
against the rules. and the umpire put Bragg
out Of the game. as football law requires him to
do. You see the result-hisses for the craven
umpire cheers for the heroic Bragg
''EIoquently put" said voice behind him
What q pity that the umpire saw hirn-lsIi
it?' They turned; Father Charges bowed, his
dark ewes resting rnonentariy on Bradford
ironically. Bradford thought. How are you'
Amy? Is Mr.. Bradford Iamenttng the. resretta-
Bile absence Of the true sporting spiritE
CIarges's remark was the most harmless possi-
bic. vet Bradford was instantaneously sure thal
the minister saw TO the bottom OF his heart II
not. whence rose the tone in Clargess voice 50
gIibIv expressive Of amusement? Aha, Nj
bradford. 7 see that you really don't care hang
about snortsn1anIy ethics" said that tone But
the thing nowadays is 10 be a sportsman. and
Won wish 10 keep up with the leaders" The
| axactness Of CIarges's insight amazed and
| frightened Bradford who for short time failed
/ to reflect that after all he die not really kno"
whether Charges fancied anything OF the sort
I rr+ this reflection came to him presently. and
/ he sneared a little at himself He knew that
/ ordinarily ne would have cared very httle
/ whether or not Charges penetrated MS arcaIa-
! Bra dford was always fancying that people mao
I IA IL q
mant. then he avoided those people in the future
But Amy Power there. and Amy Power
/ knew this dark faced. saturnine young clergy
man intimately, that was plain; and so Brad
ford was uneasy lest his real colors or real lack
of any coIors be revealed TO her He seized
/ upon his customary resource rapid talk, and
/ with a skilful ignoring of Charges expounded 20
/ Miss Power the merits OF the game Colncident
/ with the dismissal OF Bragg the half came 10 an
/ end Neither Carfax nor Upton had scored
/ Armed neutrality took the place Of combat for
I season. Bradford felt much as he imagined the
/ Carfax eleven did. He, too, was engaged IN a
contest He had wholesome fear OF his oppo-
nent. Only one thing he was sure Of: Charges
/ and AMY were not engaged Whether they were
/ likely TO be was another matter; not II he could
nrevent II Bradford determined hercely-
ANY was wearing gray again-gray furs and
/ n lf+tIa grav hat The sweep of sunshine. falling
/ from the west dazzled her eyes so that she put
/ up a gray muff 10 shade them Below them,
| above them. across from them. surged the
| cowd. with that uneasy slightly rocking motion
so inevitable where many Americans are gath
| cred together II is the epitOme Of the nation 5
/ nervousness.
| See YOU again" remarked Father Charges
/ Must have a little constitutional" He made
his way unconcernedIy down among the people
/ who drew themselves out of his path, and looked
/ up at him annoyed He wore no overcoat
/ though the wind brisk Soon they saw him
| stop TO light his pipe: then he strolled away.
! Curious chap" said Bradford He tried hard
| 10 keep his voice even. He felt impeled 70 say
| something OF Charges. II is certain that in the
| springtIme the song OF the longing male robin
! concerns the other intrusive suitors- I Thought
/ he was a mission clergyman, at first
| mo" answered Amy he has our church II
1 and fch