and a slight color flushing her pale face, recalling to it the bloom and
radiance of which cruel disease had robbed her! And in my soul also, at
that supreme moment, like a scene starting at the lightning's flash out
of thick darkness, shone the image of the house, with all its wide,
tranquil rooms rich in art and ancient memories, every stone within them
glowing, with everlasting beauty--a house enduring as the green plains
and rushing rivers and solemn woods and world-old hills amid which it
was set like a sacred gem! O sweet abode of love and peace and purity of
heart! O bliss surpassing that of the angels! O rich heritage, must I
lose you for ever! Save me from death, Yoletta, my love, my bride--save
me--save me--save me!

Then something touched or fell on my neck, and at the same moment a
deeper shadow passed over the page before me, with all its rich coloring
floating formless, like vapors, mingling and separating, or dancing
before my vision, like bright-winged insects hovering in the sunlight;
and I knew that she was bending over me, her hand on my neck, her loose
hair falling on my forehead.

In that enforced stillness and silence I waited expectant for some
moments.

Then a great cry, as of one who suddenly sees a black phantom, rang out
loud in the room, jarring my brain with the madness of its terror, and
striking as with a hundred passionate hands on all the hidden harps in
wall and roof; and the troubled sounds came back to me, now loud and now
low, burdened with an infinite anguish and despair, as of voices of
innumerable multitudes wandering in the sunless desolations of space,
every voice reverberating anguish and despair; and the successive
reverberations lifted me like waves and dropped me again, and the waves