The Washington herald., 1907-01-27

why" asked Kitty, closing her book
with dissatisfied sigh do novelists
write as though woman could love
only once?"
I dropped the paper cutter with which
had been toying and stared at Kitty in
honest surprise.
Have you ] inquired, discovered
anything 70 the contrary
oh, several" Kitty calmly took
chocolate from the box / had deposited on
the tabourette beside her. THAT is-sov-
craI times" she added biting the choco-
late refectively
How many times?" demanded, in
voluntarily
Kitty put down the remains of the choc-
olate and began counting on her fingers
When she had reached the seventh finger
she hesitated, and wrinkled her nose
thoughtfully.
How many times can-anybOdy?' She
asked, desperately.
1 started uncomfortably.
II don't know" I stammered.
You ought TO-" retorted Kitty, noncha-
antly, IF experience-
1t depends" I interrupted entirely
IN circumstances.
And on the number of-interesting peo-
Die YOU meet" added Kitty, looking at
ne sidewise with a twinkle in her eyes
and a chocolate almond between her lips.
And on the facility with which you
all I'm love, D" I agreed.
And on the ease with which you get
'ver it," giggled Kitty.
And on whether or not you have the
love habit " I finished with Il whitening
stance Al the bundle of chiffon ruffles on
the other side of the fire.
'The-what?" Kitty stopped with a can
died violet poised in midair-
The habit" I explained. "of playing at
love, which makes sentimental topers Of
so many men and women. Love" I went
ON. lis like wine It goes to the head.
The first taste doesn't hurt you, nor the
second, nor the third; but constantly i'm
billing at the sentimental font is as dan
gerous as trying all the wines with your
dinner
If you mean began Kitty. smiling
reminiscently. that its never twice the
same, but different with every course
81 mean" I interrupted. that it's like
Is to leave you with a chronic thirst"
And "a next morning ache sighed
Kitty. thOughtfulIy.
And 10 deaden your taste, SO that you
can't distinguish the real article from the
weak and watered variety. 4 man."
continued, impressively. with the love
habit is bad enough. He wastes his
time and his energies and his abilities.
and. nine times out of ten, ends by be-
coming confirmed bachelor or a rouc.
Or"
A poet interposed Kitty, making an
other dive for the chocolates.
But sometimes he is durable" I de
Clared. while a woman with the love
habit is incorrigible Like the victim Of
the liquor habit or the tobacco habit,
she begins innocently enough with her
first sip Of firtation-just in fun. She
doesn't intend 10 go any further. But
then comes the next morning headaches,
and to forget it she rushes into another
Irritation"
Just as papa takes a whisky and soda
on the morning after, interpolated
Kitty. understandingIy
Yes" I agreed. and this time she
drinks a little deeper and the headache
is a little worse. and back she goes TO
the love-font again and again and again
until the craving is on her and she is
never happy unless she is under the in
tOXicaung influence of a new and excit-
ing love affair Each time she vows
that this will be her last, and believes
that she has discovered the aIl-satisfying
panacea, just as the topper or the smoker
VOWS that each glass or each cigar Will
DE his last-but It never is For each
time the love grows stale, the affair
pals, and she signs for new worlds to
conquer. Even maUimOny does not cure
her: for matTimony itself has way of
growing stale. and what the woman with
the love habit Graves Is new wine, fresh
conquests, nbvelty, change-Kitty, if you
eat any more of those chocolates. you
viii die Of
I'm dying of modification now" de
clared Kitty. pushing the bOnbon hos
away from her and sitting up de1antIy
That's the first tine 1 was ever COM
pared 10 Lucretia Borgia or Bloody Mary,
or-or Napoleon BOuaparte.'
YOU / exclaimed i'm feigned aston
ishment
Every woman" said Kitty, avoiding
my gaze and looking steadily into the
fire. has the love habit. It's born i'm
her. From the time that she opens her
eyes i'm her little blue basket until she
closes them to lie i'm her long white cas-
let. every woman is I'm love with some
body or something. She begins life with
Il passion for her nurse or her doll or her