While I waited the great moon appeared suddenly above a bank of inky cloud, flooding the place with light, and oh! by that light, looking more ethereal than woman I saw--I saw Marie! She stood not five paces from me, by the side of the stream, whither she had come to draw water, for she held a vessel in her hand.

She was clothed in some kind of a black garment, such as widows wear, but made of rough stuff, and above it her face showed white in the white rays of the moon.

Gazing at her from the shadow, I could even see the tears running down her cheeks, for it was she who wept in this lonely place, wept for one who would return no more.
My voice choked in my throat; I could not utter a single word.

Rising from behind a rock I moved towards her.

She saw me and started, then said in a thrilling whisper: "Oh! husband, has God sent you to call me?
I am ready, husband, I am ready!" and she stretched out her arms wildly, letting fall the vessel, that clanked upon the ground.
"Marie!" I gasped at length; and at that word the blood rushed to her face and brow, and I saw her draw in her breath as though to scream.
"Hush!" I whispered.