Page:Leo Tolstoi - Life Is Worth Living and Other Stories - tr. Adolphus Norraikow (1892).djvu/23

 16 could not be. It looked more like a human form, but he was sorely puzzled to account for its being all in white, and then he wondered what a man would be doing there. As he approached nearer he could see more distinctly, and lo! he beheld the figure of a man. It was in a sitting posture, motionless, and leaning toward the chapel; but whether it was dead or alive he was unable to perceive. The shoemaker was almost paralyzed with fear as he thought: "Perhaps this man has been murdered by some one, robbed of his clothes, and left here to perish. If I should go near him I may get myself into trouble."

So Simeon passed him by, and when he reached the rear of the chapel he could no longer see him. Going further, however, he looked around and saw that the apparition had moved a short distance from the chapel and appeared to be gazing about. This made the shoemaker still more frightened, and he hesitated as to whether it were better to go to him or to continue on