Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/373

Rh when she had come to the sepulchre and found the body gone, and how, in the semi-darkness, she had not recognised the Lord, till she had heard His voice say: "Mary."

At the memory of this she fell upon her knees and cried out: "Who am I, who am I, that the Master should thus speak to me and say, 'Woman, why weepest thou?' Oh, Martha, where is now the sting of death, or the grave's bitterness? All life, henceforth, is one great truth, that riseth like a wall of strength against man's scheming wickedness."

And a great silence fell on all around, in the presence of the certainty of resurrection, the proof of a beyond.

Then, after a few moments, one voice after another clamoured for further details.

"What spake He unto thee?" asked one. "How looked He?"

"How can I tell thee?" answered Mary; "for words do fail me when I think of the love and beauty of that face that is always beautiful. I, in my foolishness, made as though I would clasp His feet in tenderness and love. But while I did so, He seemed to vanish from my touch, and in gentlest tones He said: 'Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.' And obediently and silently I came hither, according to His word, to tell the great news to the brethren and to the whole world, that the Christ is risen indeed."