Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-09


%S9EElN that sent Vandenberg to spend the sum
HNEtfe1 mer in the Rockies. To be sure, no
VNNSNH physician with reputation to MAINTAIN
GANSM had been so inconsistent as to prescribe the
<E1S4 nerve-trying attitudes IN very obvious
case of nervous collapse on the contrary t1e DIS
ron neurologist had specifically recommended the
pine woods Of Maine the quetest hshng hamiet
on the East Shore But it was one OF NandenDelg ;
fatings to 90 about seeking advice, and when 1t was
had and paid for to disregard 1t as painstakngy as
possible
so when the physician had advised rest and relax
alton in some rural or plscatorial sanariui ~
lower attitudes, Vandenberg straightway booked
his passage for the Colorado sky-and; and once on
the ground mounted by successive steps to laano
Springs to Georgetown, and finally to little sum
1ner camp hotel in Middle Park, pausing here be-
cause this CHANGED to be the attudinous apex OF all
the mountain hostelries known to him. .-t,
AS for the nervous collapse, 1t was real enough
Six months previous to the westward flight Vandeh-
berg had launched his third sh1p-ot-he-hne on the
uncertain sea of literature; novel INTO which ne
had put whatever reserves OF taitnfuness ana c9uI
ACE a rather long apprenticeship TO the craft nau
left him. Eight weeks of crucial suspense nad 1olI
lowed and at the end of these being fully persuaded
that the shp-ofhe-line hopelessly stuck on the
launching ways, he had flung himself into fresh
effort toiling they toll who recklessy oVerdra"
Natures account the farthest limit ,
AT first Vandenberg vastly incredulous; would
believe nothing of it. in fact till the royalty cheeks
began to come in. Then he went smash, as an
overworked drudge of the nk-pot will. After which
there was nothing for it but rest Madness or rest
and madness, as he afterward to phrase It,
As for the dleness prescribed, he made sure of
that by leaving the manuscript of his next book
locked up in his desk But the madness was not TO
be SO easily parted and it thrust him suddenly one
morning when he had strayed a little farther than
usual from the Summer hotel in the Park
It was such morning as only epf H9r,eT
warm and genial and crystal clear that the great
gray peaks of the westward range seemed to lessen
their distance from its twenty miles OF reality to an
hours saunter of eye-measuring; Such days BRING
healing on their wings; and as Vandenberg length
ened his morning walk letting the grandeur saurate
him afresh at each fresh viewpoint, ne forgot that
no longer ago than yesterday he had found the
writing of a friendly letter sheer impossible
ity-forgot it and hoped that he was getting the
better of the nervous unstrlngng.
This comforting hope was uppermost when turn
in the trail brought him to foot-log crossing the
snow-fed little river which comes down from Argen-
tine Pass. But at the foot-log the hope vanished
and he was moved to swear little. He was
Kings College man, and in his callow days he had
earned a mid-term vacation tor dong turn Ia
Blondn on the sharp ridge pole of the chapel roof
in tights and trunks. But this bit OF quick
water spanned by log daunted him.
II was when the ordeal was fairly overpassed and
he was reaching tremendously for some and-grlp
on the far side, that the madness began A clear
ringing laugh greeted his cautious arrival and Van
denberg swore softly and drew himself up with what
dignity there in him. The witness to his lgno-
minious compromise with the vertigo was young
woman and though 1t was scarcely moment lot
literary prefgurings he thought she might pose as
the goddess of mirth. She had refined up her horse
in the fringe of aspens and laughing SO heartily
that she seemed in imminent danger of losing her
seat in the mans saddle.
ooh, I beg you will forgive mel" she gasped,
when breath was to be had But if you could
How perfectly ridiculous it was" he acqui-
esced, helping her out. Yes, suppose 1t was-to
you But it anything but that to me, assure
you; it simply maddenng. /" He had a
sudden of the vertigo and had to stop to sit
down and hold his head in his hands.
When his sight returned she was laughing again,
and it made him hotly angry-angry that she should
think it the memory Of the passage perious that
overcame him
you are a most sympathetic young person." he
growled. Have you ever known what it is to be
"You don't look ill.," she retorted, initiating his
frankness.
"But I am" he insisted morosely. 81 am
wreck miserable, inconsequent, idiotic wreck"
She slipped quickly from her horse and came to
him with the bride rein Topped on her arm, her
mood changing in the turning of leaf from mock
cry to instant contrition.
"Oh, I'm awfully sorry-sorry that laughed at
hotel?"
He looked up to make sure that she was not
gaped for him and he fell in For notwithstanding
the simple gown and the cowboy hat she was fair
and sweet and good to look upon not in any of
his thrtyodd years had he seen her like, in living
woman or in literary imaginngs.
In the face OF such convictions conference is not
TO be had for the asking, but he managed to ac-
knowledge in hating fashion her offer of the pony
THANK YOU Il couldn't think Of taking your
Then, in an impulsive attempt to defend himself:
81 hope you won't always think of me you did
few moments ago"
after moment of two of silence he got up and
stood beside her Then he saw that she was small
but with womanly figure and certain supple
grace of carriage that spoke of trained strength and
dauntless courage; the strength that is compacted
like that OF siken cord with fnefbered resolution
to match. Yet she doubtless the daughter of
some neighboring ranchman, with no thought above
the daily round of homey duties
Are you as strong as you lookP he asked, let
ting his thought slip into words without stopping
to measure the impudence of it And if he had
needed additional evidence the she was a free-born
daughter of the attitudes knowing little and caring
less about the conventonalities he would have had
it in her laughing
Il do things that the men can't do if
that is what you | broke this cayuse after
Pete had given him up; and I can rope down and
cut out with the rest when we're short-handed"
Vandenberg nodded 81 would put nothing be-
yond YOU" he said, with the calm assurance of one
whose it is to discern the possibilities in work