The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-12
Copyright 1905 BY BENZ. B. Hampton.

r OLLISTER'S spiritual adventure be-
gan some time between two O'Clock
and morning of hot June night. Hol-
lister had retired at two. after vain
attempt to rewrite story which had just come
back to him from yet another magazine. Working
half the night for newspaper and rising after in
sunhcent sleep to toll at stories. poems. essays.
plays week in and week out is not healthful
mode of life for a sensitive hgh-strung young man
who was brought up to open air and exercise, es-
pecialy when the stories. poems, plays syste-
matcally rejected and a falterng faith in oneself
has dashed constantly. In Hollister the symp-
toms growing recently. till he. prodi-
gal OF his youth beginning to be aIarmedsleep-
Iesness, q constant twtching of the muscles worst
OF all. pessim1sm that would not be shaken on.
He lay in bed on this particular night filled with
unutterable gloom about his own powers. his own
future, and tried to keep the tired fingers of his
right hand from twitching The bedroom n
sunerably hot Outside wagons ratified past fiat
wheeled the avenue a block away sent jar
ring echoes down the side street. distant ferryboat
whistles footed without surcease. He could
seal his to these noises They vexed. then
maddened him. After wagon had ratified past
and the echoes died. he waited. every nerve in his
body quivering till the next He al
most In hystertcal tears when auto horn honked
under his window. HOLSTER gave cry like
smart. and found himself out Of bed his feet.
He dressed and went out How long he tramped
he did not know. Presently he was crossing Mad
1son square and there was q strong hint of dawn
the east. In the middle OF Fifth Avenue the Flat
iron Building arrested his attention Never had 1t
seemed like a great proud snip. towing lower
Broadway northward in this strange half light
when its western side was in heavy shadow and its
eastern flushed with morning. HOLSTER stood
spellbound by its beauty. Tired and nerve-racked
as he was. perhaps as he watched the thing seemed
to stir and move: the great towering prov lift
into the air as a mighty wave and to be posing
Fora n1u fIv of i'm in tie NTH
At the same instant an auto horn honked a sud
den, sharp, unexpected warning behind him. With
. cry OF terror HOLSTER sprang across the asphalt.
across Broadway. falling against pillar OF the
Holman House.
He leaned there moment painting and trying
to steady his shaking nerves before he observed
that he not alone Shrinking into the shadow
behind the column a woman. There
reason why he should speak. why he should not
move away But. from some impulse. he said.
I'm not crazy please" Then he was angry for
having spoken.
The woman moved out a little into the light. and
they regarded each other. She was young and
well dressed. in the prevailing fashion of the Rial
to. But there was paint on her cheeks. CHASTITY
pink now in the dawn light. and her eyes looked
heavy. tired, and full of trouble.
Il thought at first somebody chasing you."
she said. But didn't see anybody"
1t was only the Flatiron Building" said Hollis
ter with a laugh. THAT puzzles you? Just a
OF nerves. 1t looked so like a ship that got an
illusion it was coming at me- But wouldn't have
Jumped IL auto hadn't footed behind
curse the things!"
1T does look like ship. I've noticed that"
said the girl. gancng toward the building
Somehow her presence q kind Of comfort.
and Hollister still made move to go. regarding
her curiously. The girl met his look with half
frightened timidity that contrasted oddly with her
paint and the place.
I'm not what you think ami" she blurted out
suddenly.
II was already quite sure that you not what
think think you are" he answered kindly.
els there anything can do to help you?'
Help me?" she laughed grimly. mo, was
merely making up my mind. Nobody can help you
do that"
"Ah. but they cant" said he. perhaps even I
could"
why should you want to-" she asked.
HOLSTER paused Il don't know, exactly he
said slowly It's hard to put it into words. But
somehow I've . feeling that both OF have been
ground beneath the gigantic millstones Of this
town and have fallen into the sack side by side.
Life does throw strangers together that way
and makes them friends for the time. Last night
l was down miles deep in the blues and my nerves
FRAGILE Something's wrong with you. Here
Isn't that enough"
The girl looked at him a long moment, and made
her decision. Come over and sit on park
bench. she said.
They watched the rhythmic spasms of the foun-
tain for a time in silence. Did you ever want to
drown yourseIf?'' the girl asked suddenly.
Once" said HOLSTER.
"Why?"
because l had made up my mind to go back
an 1deai-no matter what it was"
An, but you didn't! One doesn't-one goes
back on the ideal instead. Did your"
Yes he nodded. And after that I learned
that the only way is to live things down. I've al
most forgotten now"
He waited out the girl did not speak again for
long time. Finally she said. What if you had
had to go back on one ideal to reach another7'
rh,tt wc"i6 +hey