The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-08-18
OF
By MADCE ELLSWORTH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.

Lax 4alNC l " Nv W. ~s
General Grants tomb. A long strip
of park overlooks the Hudson river
and the heights, or Palisades, on the
opposite side.
One summer night a young man In
evening dress sat on q bench In this
Riverside park. He had been during
the evening-well, perhaps it is better
not to say where he had been. New
York is an artificial city and possess
cs many attractions for those inclined
to gayety and at night is an illuminat-
ed pleasure ground. In its streets, some
Of them bright almost as day with
electric lights, one may see a mixture
Of every degree. from the highest to
the lowest.
This young man, q student in COlum-
bia college, had been spending the
evening to suit himself and before
going to his room near by wished to
get the air in the park. 1t was desert
ed except by himself, and he found
the change from the bewilderlng
crowds in the streets refreshing. He
sat some time without u single per-
son passing.
Extremely drowsy, he was falling
into a doMn when he suddenly became
conscious that there was some one SIT
ting on the other end Of the bench.
Rubbing his eyes, he looked and saw
n young girl, her head resting on the
back of the bench, her face, which
was very pale. turned upward toward
the stars. She was flashily dressed.
and the student had but little doubt
as to the class to which she belonged.
He was about to rise and leave the
park when the girl said in a faint
voice:
'Takc me to my room"
care you ill?' he asked.
"Unto DEATH"
"Where is your rOOm:'
mot far. Come. ! will show you"
She put II her hand for him to help
her to rise. and he noticed th"t it was
cold. In assisting her he did not need
to exert any strength. for she was
light as a feather. Indeed, 1t did not
seem TO him that there was n weight
Mt all in her. She put her arm through
his and leaned on him, but still there
was no weight.
Have you NO homer" he asked.
She shuddered. Don't speak to me
Of home. When a girl comes from b
country to Few York home is a thing
Of the past"
mot all girls"
They walked on in silence. The arm
..oks.. 40, ll, ,uoc MT or1r oo16 lilo
her hand, but there was a dampness
about it that seemed to chill him to
the very marrow. Moreover, he fan
cied he heard a faint gurgling, like
running water. The route to her room
lay through lonely streets. and the
student would have been glad to be
free from her. But he feared that II
he disengaged himself she would fall.
So he walked on, constantly yielding
woman of ice were walking beside
him.
There Jig a park on the other side Of
the heights from the Riverside drive.
and into this the two descended. Pass
ing a bench. the girl sank down into,
it, saying:
II can't go any farther"
Seeing that she was falling from the
bench. he held her up, and, believing
she had lost consciousness. he laid her
out upon it. He chafed her hands and
famed her with his hat, striving to
revive her. Finding that she still re-
manned unconscious, lie put his face
down to hers to learn II he could de-
tect warm breath. He could not.
Placing his hand on her heart. he
could not feel its beating.
The student felt troubled. He was
too chivalrous to desert the girl. When
she came to consciousness finding
herself alone might turn the scale
against her. And vet he was not
sure that she was dead. Suppose he
were found IN such a situation with q
dead girl. His whole life would be
blighted. He knew not what to do.
He tried once more to revive his COM
paniOn and. failing. resolved to go for
assistance. 1t would be far better for
him to 60. find some n to help AMI
tell a straight story than to Ike found
at dead of night with a dead woman.
The park il narrow. and the student,
crossing It, entered n Of the streets
near by. Catching sight Of a police
man. he called to him and told him
there was a woman in the park who
needed assistance. But u few minutes
were required to go TO her, and OH the
way the student gave the cop a bare
outline Of what had happened. As
20 -
student was surprised to find the
bench empty.
Thinking he had mistaken another
for the one on which lie had left the
girl. he went to the ext IN either
side. Both were vacant. Then lie
looked up ut the cop and said in . star
tied voice:
s'She's gone"