The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-27
"A LEAP IN THE DARK.

1t was clear, bright night, in the depths
of the mountain wilderness.
There was long, deep, narrow valley,
running north and south, for many miles,
fianked east and west by towering noun
tains.
The range on the east was called Cata-
mount Cliffs, that on the west, Panther
Peak.
Deep down in the bottom of the valley ran
q low and narrow river called the Umbra.
On this night not sound disturbed the
awful solitude of the wilderness; not liv-
ing creature appeared in sight.
Human life seemed far away.
Yet had there been light enough, a hui
man form might have been seen on the
eastern range.
1t was the figure of young girl, wrapped
in dark shawl that covered her from head
to foot, gliding slowly. slowly down the
winding mountain path, now passing out
of sight behind clump of trees, now COM
ing into view again as the path turned in
and out in its descent.
Sometimes she paused and leaned against
tree, as if for momentary support, and
then the faint light of the moon fell upon
an upturned, lovely young face, pallid with
despair.
And now another figure appeared upon
the scene. another and taller young girl,
enveloped in long waterproof cloak, whose
hood was drawn over her head.
She glided silently down the same path,
in the same manner, keeping her eyes upon
her predecessor, as if she were Swallowing"
her-as indeed she was.
The first girl wound her sinuous way
down the mountain side to the very foot of
the ridge and edge of the river, between
which and herself lay the tracks of a very
recently laid railroad, whose trains, twice a
day, awoke the awful echoes of the tower
ing rocks.
Here she sat down on a fallen boulder, let
her shawl drop from her form and lay in a
heap around her, clasped her hands upon
her knees, and turned her woeful young
face up to the starlit heavens, as if help for
her hidden grief was there.
Then she looked vaguely at the little cres-
cent of the moon that was sinking slowly
behind the cedar crowned summit of the,
western ridge. She watched it out of sight
and then let her glance slowly drop to the
river at her feet. Gazing ON the low river,
she began to mutter to herself as only the
crazed or half craZed ever do.
eff dared-if dared" she whispered,
her eyes dilating as she gazed down upon
the river, whose shining, smooth dark sur
face reflected every star above. ''If only
dared to take the plunge. They say the
Umbra here has no bottom at least none
that has ever been sounded, Night after
night have come here-how many times
how many times; but have never had the
courage to take that plunge! What does
the poet say?
Who would not choose
The leap attaining the repose?
Oh, but cannot-I cannot! Oh, for one
brief fit of madness to give me courage to
end it ALTO end it all with me-who am
afraid to die, and more afraid to live The
demon has driven me to this rivers brink,
night after night, but he has never driven
me into it. AH-H-Hp' she suddenly cried,
starting to her feet. What is that?'
1t was the noise of the rushing express
train from the north, gaining force and
caught up by the echoes of the rocky cliffs Oh
each side the river, and hurled back and
forth with an overwhelming uproar that
filled the valley, and seemed to threaten with
humiliation every living creature in it.
The girl, standingup, gazed breathless,
upon the rushing monster, whose fiery eyes
and believing breath were almost upon her.
She pressed her left hand hard upon her
heart, and bent forward, her lips apart, her
eyes dlated to their utmost capacity, and
blazing fercely, as with the suddenly kim
died fires of madness.
Another instant, and with phrenzed yell
she threw her arms on high, and, swifter
than an arrow from the bow, she shot down
wards from the bank and threw herself head
long upon the track, under the very heat of
the rushing engine.
But swifter than the arrow was the arm of
love, as the watcher sprang forward and
flung her off, falling back from the impetus
clear of the track, just as the express train
Numbered onward, shaking the solid founda-
tons OF the mountains as it passed.
nc Gil
Both girls. motonless. exhausted. half
paralyzed, lay gether where they had fallen.
The elder, with every vein and artery throb-
bling as II they would burst with intense ex-
element, still clutched the younger in her
arms, and held her as in death-grip Both
were panic-stricken, overwhelmed aud
speeches..
The deliverer was the first to recover her
self,
Were you mad ?" she whispered, in
husky and almost inarticulate voice.
"1es-mad," moaned the other, after a
pause.
''Oh aohy did you do it ?''
Il have told you'll was mad
There was silence for few moments,
and the elder spoke again, gravely and ten
derby.
'Bevvie! what drove you to desperation?''
81 cannot tell you! Oh, l can never tell
you! ! wish you had not stopped me ! 1t
would have been all over by this time"
moaned the girl called Bevvie
"All over p
Yes yes, yes, yes, p walled the girl, rock
ing herself back and forward-''for should
have been out of all MY misery Ora Ora
schy did you follow me ? tchy did you inter-
fere with me %
II have watched you for weeks; l have
followed you for days, l am responsible to