Page:The centurion's story (IA centurionsstory00macf).pdf/47

 "If there is life within," I said, "that life shall come forth."

The next instant, I was bathed in a flood of light that streamed from the opening portals.

I looked!

And not only looked, but saw; not only saw but contemplated, for one long, glorious, transcendent instant of time, and then I turned away and sank to the ground. My body was collapsed in utter weakness.

What length of time I remained thus, inert, with closed eyes and ears, I know not, but when I opened my eyes, the golden cloud was gone. The music, too, was still, but for all that, the grove of the garden seemed thrilled with a presence that had not been before. The morning star was still shining, but the dawn hurried over the top of the hill, and I was aroused by the sensation of an earthquake. Twice it seemed to me the ground under me shuddered and then lifted, as with some mighty convulsion of nature. When the vibrations had ceased, I opened my eyes and cast about me in wonder, as upon a new world. Down the mountainside I heard the talk of women and presently that woman whom I met the night before beneath the tree. I recognized her by the tones of her voice. She seemed surprised to find the stone rolled away. In a moment, she had stooped and peered in—then with a great melting sob hurried down the mountainside. That she saw me as she came near I am almost certain, but she was blind with weeping, and though she passed me by a foot, gave no sign. Other women came and stood a little way apart in a group. They looked upon the tomb, but seemed afraid to draw near and after conversing in low tones turned