Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-20
AbLEAP FOR LETHE.
A Southern Girl Tries to Drown Herself
in Chicago.

Chicago Times, 17th.l
A little after FIVE o'clock yesterday
afternoon a black shadow fitted down
on Twelfth street bridge through the
storm and rain. A pair of hunted
looking eyes gazed out for a moment
into the somber, sickening depths OF
the river, and then the bridge-tender,
smoking his pipe beneath the shed
that sheltered him from the storm.
heard a cry like that of a lost soul,
andsaw a woman leap from the rail
ing into the dark gulf below. 1t was
only another unfortunate seeking IN
oblivion rest from the torments Of a
life over which misfortune had cast an
everlasting curse, but it was at the
same time a human being, and soa
second form went over the rail, and an
instant later a strong arm brought
back from the clutches Of death the
would-be suicide. As the Two stood
on the dock, dripping from their re-
cent bath, the woman turned on her
rescuer with an air Of royal indigna-
ton. aud cried Why did you pull
me out? Can'ty you see that | wanted
to die ? And if | did Was it any OF
your b%usiness?'
Then turning swiftly, like a fleet
footed Diana, she made again for the
brink. and was just leaping in when
the man caught her by the hair. "See
here. young woman. he growled.
you're an almighty pretty girl, but
/ can't stand here in the rain all night
for chances t, haul you out Of the
drink. | don't like to be rude, nor
nothing of that sort, but | guess.
everything considered, you'd better
come up to the ArmOry with me and
see Captain 0Donnell. He knows
how to manage a cantankerous female
like you a burned sight better nor
l do"
Theroupon the sensible but unchiv-
alric man grasped the soiled doves
arm and trotted her away toward Har-
rison street, nolens volens. They
weren't an attractive sight, those two,
in their wet and clinging garments.
but they made the tour in safety, and
the male member Of the duet
breathed a great sigh of relief as be
handed his charge over to the officer
ON duty. She was at once booked and
sent down stairs until such time as
she should decide to continue living.
A few moments after her iDcarcera.
ton the girl was seen by a Times re-
porter in her cell. She was indeed a
revelation IN the way Of peculiar and
startling beauty Her tangled masse,
of blue black hair, yet damp from tn,
recent search after nothiHgness, were
bound back from a low, Clytie-likt
forehead in one deft coil which wounC
about the dainty brow as though il
were a crown. Beneath flashed an(
glowed a pair Of great luminous eye.
which sent out from their puzzlin;
midnight depths w%ondrous CLEANS O
inquiry, doubt and questioning, owe.
all Of which there seemed to dominat,
the hopelessness of unutterable de
srair The petite figure was arrayeu
wholly in black, relieved only at III
fhroat by some little article of fem
nine adornment.
f'What is your hamcP' querie
Captain 0'Donnell.
Mary Hays"
Where do you liye?'
I've been living at the corner {
Madison street aud Western avenue.
Why did you try to kill yourself?
Because--but what's the use {
telling your Nobody in this big wild
world cares for me, and II choose
end my misery, why, in Gods nam,
should ! be %preventedY'
Haven't YOU any friends?'
Friends? No; not one. If | ha
do you suppose I'D have been doin
kitehen-work drudgeYY to keep sol
and body together2
But you seem an unusually lads
like, intelligent girl. What Is III
matter ~
Matter If you felt yourse'
grappled with hooks of steel, an
knew your destiny wa dragging 80
straight down to the lowest pit OF bel
could you stand it TO face hour
hour that awful torment Of d remorsI
less habit and fight as | have iough'
Natter The matter is | can't ste
using morphine. Look at me nov
Behind the bars Of a common jli
bedraggled, unkempt, an oetcast. NJ
Cod my Godi why didn't you YET N
die n and finging herself on the bai
wooden bench the poor thing sobbe
az If her heart would break.
How long have yOa HssG mo-
rhIne3' the reporter asked.
Ever since | was a child OF twely
Nv mother ACE IL. and |. a moor. ali