New-York tribune., 1908-07-19
CHAPTER XII.
The Results of a Knockout

TT IS wrong no doubt to undignify a chapter
by such heading: but what If the caption
fits? Various women. since this funny old
world began have lost their hearts to men IN
ways too strange and manifold to classify or
count. Some have lost their hearts IN the
flick of lash, as it We're while Others required
a score OF years to give their all. Some have
divided out Dan CupidS merchandise to as
many as four husbands In quick succession:
others. less enterprising. have remained single
and eaten their hearts out Many have
had their hearts worn out, worked out, nagged
out: but few, it is pleasant to state, have had
them knocked out
At any rate, the losing of Miss Vadas
heart may be placed in the category OF this
rare exception: though, to her credit be it
said. she did not know it. Moreover, she re-
fused pointblank to admit the talntest posi-
bility of such loss. even to herself and
especially to Morson-Brown.
When that man delivered his unfortunate
remark relative to loving her in other CIrcum-
stances she had crushed him with a glance
and turned on her heel or. to be more exact.
she had tried to crush him with glance. and
turned on her heel. This difference is occa-
stoned by the fact that he possessed peculiar
disposition which positively refused to be
crushed under any condition. no matter what
weight of dignity and sCorn was brought to
bear. In this instance, he returned TO his
burdensome task of holystoning the SpltfireS
decks, and enlivened his labors by beginning
to whistle merrily. He actually whist
linpl Valda heard himi Therefore, with the
vindictive intention of interfering with his
absurd happiness, she gave orders that the
privilege of holystoning should be taken away
from him Immediately.
She neither nor spoke to him throughout
the entire day. and for two reasons First,
she did not intend to see speak to him ever
again as long as she iived' second, she was
deeply, most sincerely mortified. Naturally.
Morson-Brown III his propensity for fighting
people on her Yacht, had brought about this
distressing state of mind
NOW that the excitement OF battle was over,
= she had time to think, and her thoughts
were not pleasant ones; indeed. they were
quite the reverse falling little short OF perfect
disgust. 1t was all very well TOR ladies OF
ancient Rome. or other untaught barbarianS.
to sit calmly down, expressing approval with
their thumbs. while men made brutes OF them
selves; but this was different. These anti
quated ladies most probably enjoyed a hight
from an innocent and purely artistic point of
view. They lived according 20 their lights;
but their lights We're not electric. W hat, then,
OF a lady of the twentieth century, born and
bred amid culture and retlnement,--a lady
that not only watched a brutal night but had
practically started it by giving her sanction
to the pugilists? Yes, that a different
matter
In vain she strove to excuse her act on the
grounds ot justice, on the grounds OF Christian
sympathy for man that had subdued his
own proud spirit because of her. The fact
remained that she had forgotten her duty to
society at large by failing to uphold its prln-
ciples of morality and peace She had winked
H., h.st boo ,fyss ne