Noiselessly she passed through the ranges of
the graves; and I saw the mounds flame when
her feet touched them,—flame with a cold
white dead flame like the fire of the glow-worm.
Was it an illusion of broken moonlight and flying clouds, or did the dead rise and follow us like a bridal train?
And was it only the vibration of the thunder, or did the earth quake when I stood upon that grave?
"Look not behind you even for an instant," she muttered, "or you are lost."
*
* *
But there came to me a strange desire to read the name graven upon the moss-darkened stone; and even as it came the storm unveiled the face of the moon.
And the dark shadow at my side whispered, "Read it not!"
And the moon veiled herself again. "I cannot go! I cannot go!" I whispered passionately, "until I have read the name upon this stone."
Then a flash of lightning in the east revealed
