The mystery of Central Park : $b A novel — John Shaqi
The mystery of Central Park : $b A novelBly, Nellie
General
The mystery of Central Park : $b A novel
Bly, Nellie
American fiction -- 19th century; Central Park (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction; Mystery fiction
As he looked he became aware of something moving between him and the
spot of light. He was a brave young man, yet his heart beat a little
quicker as he strained his eyes to see what the moving object was.
Again it passed in view, and this time it looked to be something
climbing; another moment and it was on the edge of the reservoir.
Now, plainly outlined between him and the strip of light sky, he saw
the figure of a woman, a slender girl with flowing hair.
Quick as a flash came the horrible thought that she had come there to
die--that she intended to commit suicide.
With a choking cry of horror he ran swiftly towards her.
CHAPTER IV.
STORY OF THE GIRL WHO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Richard Treadwell sat moodily on a bench, half supporting the limp form
of the girl he had just saved from death.
He had caught her just as she threw up her hands with a pitiful, weak
cry, ready to spring into the reservoir.
“My dear young woman, don’t take on so,” he said, vexedly, as the girl
leaned against his shoulder, and sobbed in a heart-broken, distracted
manner. “You are safe now.”
As if that could be consolation to a woman who was seeking death which
sought her not.
“Really, I am sorry, you know, but there’s a good girl, don’t cry,”
making a ludicrous attempt to console her. “I did it before I thought;
if I had known how much you would have been grieved, I--I assure you,
upon my honor, I wouldn’t have done it. I--I haven’t much to live for,
either, still when I saw what you intended to do--it shocked me that
you should be so desperate. Now that it’s all over I wouldn’t cry any
more. I’d laugh, as if it were a joke, you know. I’d say the fates had
saved me for some treat they had reserved for me. There, that’s better,
don’t cry, you are not hurt--not even wet.”
The girl broke into a nervous, hysterical laugh, in which the sobs
struggled for mastery. Dick, much relieved, added a laugh that sounded
rather hollow and mirthless.
“I c-can’t help it,” said she, haltingly and endeavoring to stop her
sobs. “It seems so unreal to be still living when I wanted to be dead.
I--I thought it all over, and it seemed so comforting to think of it
being ended. Then I couldn’t see, nor think, nor hear, nor suffer. Oh,
why did you stop me?”
“I didn’t know, you see; I didn’t understand it all. I thought you
would regret it--that you were making a mistake,” he tried to say
cheerfully.
“What right has anybody--what right had you to prevent me from ending
my life? I don’t want to live! I am tired of life and of misery. I
want to know what right any one has to interfere--to make me live a
life that doesn’t concern them and only brings me misery?” she cried,
indignantly.
“Come now, don’t be so cast down.” At this burst of anger Richard was
himself again. “Tell me all about it; maybe I can help you. Have things
gone wrong?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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