Angels and Women (1924)

180 ANGELS AND WOMENWe reached the door of the bridal chamber.O sight of woe! There, prone uponthe marble floor, lay the beautiful form ofmy mother, writhing in the agonies of death.The steel had done its work, the lifebloodpoured fast from the cruel wound in herbosom. Yet was she still conscious, and as I,sobbing, embraced her, she whispered faintly--"Saved, O my daughter!" Then her violeteyes were closed in death.Frantic with grief and terror, I dashedaway the restraining arms of Aldeth, andrushed out into the pale moonlight. All wasquiet in court and palace, but afar could beheard a confused sound like the surges ofocean. As I passed the wall from which afew moments previous I had seen the formof Hesperus, I groaned aloud---"O night ofdeath and woe! O my mother! O Hesperus!O my God!"A deep sigh answered, and from the denseshadow of the wall came back the words:"O my God!"