Angels and Women (1924)

54 ANGELS AND WOMENHis hand was strong and warm as he aidedmy weak attempts to climb the rock of sacrifice.Now his eyes are without light, hisface is stony; he answers not when I implorehim; his cold hands lie motionless, thoughthe trees weigh heavily upon his breast; heregards not my mother as she sits weepingby the side of the haughty Satanas.O strange, inexplicable Death! I walk asin a dream. Stay, sweet vision, thy wordsI do not comprehend. I catch the gleam--Alas! my life is changed; and yet the moon.rises as of old; the winds play idly with thecypress branches, all unconscious or carelessof the fearful mystery in the arbor; and thevoice of the river, as in the days gone by,breathes through the soft night air the samestrange words: "Coming, coming, coming1"DISASTERSeven days have passed since last I wrote,bringing other alarming events. I once