The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-05-09

fTN1NT WAS well-dehned case ofe"ncrvcs'
SSHfG that sent Vandenberg to spend the Sum-
TSBEel mcr in the Rockies. To be sure, no
NJQtM physician with reputation to maintain
CM hadbeen so inconsistent as to prescribe the
nervetrying attitudes very obvious
case oil nervous collapse, the contrary, the Bos-
ton neurologist had specifically recommended the
pine woods of Maine or the quietest fishing hamlet
on the East Shore. But it was of Vandenberg's
failings to go about seeking advice, and when
had and paid for to disregard it as panstakingly as
possible
alton in some rural or piscatoral sanitarium in the
lower attitudes, Nandcnbcrg straightway booked
his passage for the Colorado sky-land; and once on
the ground mounted by successive steps to Idaho
Springs, TO Georgetown, and finally to little Sum-
mer camp hotel in Middle Park pausng here be-
this CHANGED to be the attudnous apex OF all
the mountain hostelries known him
AS for the nervous collapse. it was real enough
Six months previous to the westward flight Vanden
berg had launched his third ship-of-thc-inc the
uncertain of hterature novel INTO which he
had put whatever reserves of faithfuness and cour
lett him. Eight weeks of crucial suspense had fol-
lowed and at the end OF these, being fully persuaded
launching ways he had flung himself into fresh
effort. toing they toll who recklessly ovcrdraw
Natures account to the farthest limit
| AT first Vandcnberg vastly ncrcdulous; would
believe nothing Of it, in fact, till the royalty checks
began to come in. Then he went smash. as an
ovcrworked drudge of the ink pot will After which
there nothing for it but rest Madness
and madness as he came aftcrward to phrase it
! AS for the idleness prescribed he made of
]
locked up in his desk, But the madness not to
be SO easily parrcd and it thrust hum suddenly one
morning when he had strayed little farther than
usual from the Summer hotel in the Park.
1t was such morning only tho sky-rcachng
attitudes can breed with an atmosphere Summer
warm and genial, and so crystal clear that the great
gray peaks Of the westward range seemed to lessen
their distance from its twenty miles of reality to
hours saunter OF cye-mcasuring. Such days bring
healing their wings, and as Vandcnberg length
ened his morning walk letting the grandeur sauratc
him afresh at each fresh viewpoint, he forgot that
fhon t1r5o, hn had Ot,D1fb fb,.
writing of a friendly letter 4 sheer impossible
y-forgot it and hoped that he getting the
better of the nervous unstringing
This comforting hope uppermost when a turn
in the trail brought him to foot-og crossing the
snow-fcd little river which comes down from Argcn-
tine Pass. But at the foot-og the hope vanished
and he was moved TO swear a little. He was
Kings College man, and in his oallow days he had
earned md-erm vacation for dong turn Ia
Blondn the sharp ridge pole of the chapel roof
in tights and trunks. But now this bit of quick
water spanned by log dauntcd him.
1t was when the ordeal was fairly oyerpassed and
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 igno-
mnious compromise with the vertigo young
woman, and though it was scarcely moment for
literary prehgurings, he thought she might pose as
the goddess of mrth She had rcined up her horse
in the fringe of aspens and was laughing so heartily
that she seemed in imminent danger of losing her
seat in the mans saddle.
"Oh. beg you will forgive mcw she gaspcd.
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 mo anynhf but fh1t to me- IL had
sudden return 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
you arc most sympathetic young pcrsonw he
growled. Have you ever known what it is to be
ILL"
"You don't look ill.," she rctortcd initiating his
frankness
"But am" he insisted morosely. 81 am a
wreck miserable, nconsequent, diotic wreckl'
She slipped quickly from her horse and to
him with the bride rein loopcd on her arm, her
mood changing in the turning of a leaf from mock
cry to instant contrition.
"Ob. I'm awfully sorry-sorry that laughed at
you. Won't you take my pony to ride back to the
hotel2"
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
Ss hna vea had he seen her ike in living
woman or in literary, imaeinngs.
In the face of such convictions conference is not
to be had for tho asking. but he managed to ac-
knowledge in hating fashion her offer Of the pony,
Thank you; II couldn't think Of taking your
TheH afrse in :a am mpuye Ts Ge attempt to defend bmsc
II hope you won't always think of me as you did
few moments ago"
after moment of two of silence he got up and
stood beside her. Then he that she was small.
but with womany figure and certain supple
grace of carriage that spoke of trained strength and
dauness courage; the strength that is eomPactcd
like that of slken cord with hnehbered resolution
to match. Yet she doubtless tho daughter Of
some neighborng ranchman, with no thought above
the daily round of homcly duties.
ting his thought slip into words without stopping
to measure the impudence Of it And if he had
needed additional evidence the she free-born
daughter of the attitudes knowing little and caring
less about the conventionaltcs, he would have had
it in her laughing answer .
that is what you mean l broke this cayusc after
Pete had given him up; and can rope down and
cut out with the rest when we're short-handed"
Vandenberg nodded. II would put nothing be-
yond you" he said, with the calm assurance of ono
whose art it is to discern the possibilities In work