Arizona republican., 1909-05-16

NU nerve-trying attitudes in very obvious case oi nervous collapse on the contrary, the Eos ton ncurologi2t had specifically recommended the pine woods oi Maine, the quietest fishing hamlet on the East Shore. But 1t was one Of Vandenberg failngs go about seeking advice, and when It was had and paid for to disregard It as palnstaklnSiy as possible.
 So, when the physician had advised rest and relax ation in some rural Or piscaorial sanitarium in the lower attitudes, Vaudenberg straightway booked his passage for the Colorado sky land; and once on the ground mounted by successive steps to Idaho Springs, to Georgetown, and fnal!y to htte Sum mer camp hotel in Middle Park pausIng here De. cause this chanced be the atudinous apex of all the mountain hostelries known to him.
 As for the nervous collapse, t was real enough Six months previous to the westward flight Nanden- berg had launched his third ship the-line on the uncertain sea of literature; novel into which he had put whatever reserves of tathtulness and cour age rather long apprenticeship to the craft had left him Eight weeks of crucial suspense had fol lowed and the end of these, being fully persuaded that the ship of the line hopeessy stuck the launching ways, he had flung himself into fresh effort toiling as they toll who recklessly overdraw Natures account to the farthest limit
 At first Vandenberg vastly incredulous; would believe nothing of it, in fact till the royalty checks began to come in. Then he went smash, as an overworked drudge of the ink-pot will After which there nothing for 1t but rest or madness or rest and madness, he came afterward to phrase It.
 As for the ideness prescribed he made sure ot that by leaving the manuscript ot his next book locked up in his desk. But the madness was not to be so easily parried and it thrust him suddenly one morning when he had strayed little farther than
  Ii such morning as only the sky-re2ching attitudes can breed; with atmosphere Summer 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 hours saunter of eye-measuring. Such days bring healing their wings; and as Vandenberg length ened his morning walk letting the grandeur saturae him afresh at each fresh viewpoint, he forgot that no longer ago than yesterday he had found the writing of mere friendly letter sheer mPossibil- ity-forgot 1t and hoped that he was getting the better of the nervous unStTlng1ng.
 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 moved to little. He was Kings College man, and in his calow days he had earned a mid-ter vacation tor domg turn Ia Bondin on the sharp ridge-pole of the chapel roof in tights and trunks But now this bit of quick water spanned by log daunted him.
 It was when the ordeal was fairly overpassed and he was reaching tremendously for some hand-gr1p on the far side, that the madness began. clear, ringing laugh greeted hls cautious arrlval' ana van. denberg swore softly and drew himself up with what dignity there in him. The witness to his igno- minious compromise with the vertigo young woman and though 1t scarcely moment tor literary prehgurings he thought she might pose the goddess of mirth. She had refined up her horse in the fringe of aspens and laughing heartily that she seemed in imminent danger of losing her seat in the mans saddle.
 "Oh I beg you will forgive mel" she gasped, when breath was to be had But if you could only know how-how-'
 How perfectly ridiculous it was" he acqui- esced helping her out. "Yes, 1 suppose it was-to you. But it anything but that to me. assure you; 1t was simply maddenng. I-" He 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 perous that
 You are most sympathetic young person!" he fT1~sd iiIss 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 q am wreck; a miserable, inconsequent, idiotc wreck"
 She slipped quickly from her horse and to him with the bridle rein looped on her arm, her mood changing in the turning of leaf from mock
 %Oh, I'm awfully sorry-sorry that laughed at hotel?"
 laughing at him again, and the pit of foolishness gaped for him and he fell in. For notwithstanding the simple gown and the cowboy hat, she was taf and sweet and good to look upon; not in any Of his thrtyodd years had he seen her like, in living in literary imaginings.
 In the face of such convictions conference IS not to be had for the asking, but he managed to knowledge in halting fashion her offer of the pony.
 Thank you; IT couldn't think of taking your horse; l shall be better presently, he stammered. Then, in impulsive attempt to defend himself q hope you won't always think of me as you did few moments ago"
 She did say whether she would not; ard 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 icompacted like that of siken cord, with fne-hbered resolution to match. Yet she was doubtless the daughter of some neighboring ranchman, with thought above the daily round of homely duties.
 Are you as strong you look? 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 free-born daughter of the attitudes, knowing little and caring less about the conventonalities he would have had it in her laughing answer
 that is what you mean. broke this cayrse alter Pete had given him up; and l can rope down and cut out with the rest when we're short handed
 Vandenberg nodded q would put nothing be yond you" he said, with the calm assurance of one whose art it is to discern the possibilities in work