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I went to the tree under which we stood； when my dear one's eyes told his love before he could utter it in words。 The sun of that vanished day shone on me again； it was the same noontide hour； the same solitude was around me。 I had feared the first effect of the dreadful contrast between past and present。 No！ I was quiet and resigned。 My thoughts； rising higher than earth； dwelt on the better life beyond the grave。 Some tears came into my eyes。 But I was not unhappy。 My memory of all that happened may be trusted； even in trifles which relate only to myselfI was not unhappy。
The first object that I saw； when my eyes were clear again； was the dog。 He crouched a few paces away from me； trembling pitiably； but uttering no cry。 What had caused the fear that overpowered him？
I was soon to know。
I called to the dog； he remained immovableconscious of some mysterious coming thing that held him spellbound。 I tried to go to the poor creature； and fondle and comfort him。
At the first step forward that I took； something stopped me。
It was not to be seen； and not to be heard。 It stopped me。
The still figure of the dog disappeared from my view： the lonely scene round me disappearedexcepting the light from heaven； the tree that sheltered me； and the grass in front of me。 A sense of unutterable expectation kept my eyes riveted on the grass。 Suddenly； I saw its myriad blades rise erect and shivering。 The fear came to me of something passing over them with the invisible swiftness of the wind。 The shivering advanced。 It was all round me。 It crept into the leaves of the tree over my head； they shuddered； without a sound to tell of their agitation； their pleasant natural rustling was struck dumb。 The song of the birds had ceased。 The cries of the water…fowl on the pond were heard no more。 There was a dreadful silence。
But the lovely sunshine poured down on me； as brightly as ever。
In that dazzling light； in that fearful silence； I felt an Invisible Presence near me。 It touched me gently。
At the touch； my heart throbbed with an overwhelming joy。 Exquisite pleasure thrilled through every nerve in my body。 I knew him！ From the unseen worldhimself unseenhe had returned to me。 Oh； I knew him！
And yet； my helpless mortality longed for a sign that might give me assurance of the truth。 The yearning in me shaped itself into words。 I tried to utter the words。 I would have said； if I could have spoken： 〃Oh； my angel； give me a token that it is You！〃 But I was like a person struck dumbI could only think it。
The Invisible Presence read my thought。 I felt my lips touched； as my husband's lips used to touch them when he kissed me。 And that was my answer。 A thought came to me again。 I would have said； if I could have spoken： 〃Are you here to take me to the better world？〃
I waited。 Nothing that I could feel touched me。
I was conscious of thinking once more。 I would have said； if I could have spoken： 〃Are you here to protect me？〃
I felt myself held in a gentle embrace； as my husband's arms used to hold me when he pressed me to his breast。 And that was my answer。
The touch that was like the touch of his lips； lingered and was lost； the clasp that was like the clasp of his arms； pressed me and fell away。 The garden…scene resumed its natural aspect。 I saw a human creature near； a lovely little girl looking at me。
At that moment； when I was my own lonely self again； the sight of the child soothed and attracted me。 I advanced； intending to speak to her。 To my horror I suddenly ceased to see her。 She disappeared as if I had been stricken blind。
And yet I could see the landscape round me； I could see the heaven above me。 A time passedonly a few minutes； as I thoughtand the child became visible to me again； walking hand…in…hand with her father。 I approached them； I was close enough to see that they were looking at me with pity and surprise。 My impulse was to ask if they saw anything strange in my face or my manner。 Before I could speak； the horrible wonder happened again。 They vanished from my view。
Was the Invisible Presence still near？ Was it passing between me and my fellow…mortals； forbidding communication； in that place and at that time？
It must have been so。 When I turned away in my ignorance； with a heavy heart； the dreadful blankness which had twice shut out from me the beings of my own race； was not between me and my dog。 The poor little creature filled me with pity； I called him to me。 He moved at the sound of my voice； and followed me languidly； not quite awakened yet from the trance of terror that had possessed him。
Before I had retired by more than a few steps； I thought I was conscious of the Presence again。 I held out my longing arms to it。 I waited in the hope of a touch to tell me that I might return。 Perhaps I was answered by indirect means？ I only know that a resolution to return to the same place； at the same hour； came to me； and quieted my mind。
The morning of the next day was dull and cloudy； but the rain held off。 I set forth again to the Gardens。
My dog ran on before me into the streetand stopped： waiting to see in which direction I might lead the way。 When I turned toward the Gardens； he dropped behind me。 In a little while I looked back。 He was following me no longer； he stood irresolute。 I called to him。 He advanced a few stepshesitatedand ran back to the house。
I went on by myself。 Shall I confess my superstition？ I thought the dog's desertion of me a bad omen。
Arrived at the tree； I placed myself under it。 The minutes followed each other uneventfully。 The cloudy sky darkened。 The dull surface of the grass showed no shuddering consciousness of an unearthly creature passing over it。
I still waited； with an obstinacy which was fast becoming the obstinacy of despair。 How long an interval elapsed； while I kept watch on the ground before me； I am not able to say。 I only know that a change came。
Under the dull gray light I saw the grass movebut not as it had moved； on the day before。 It shriveled as if a flame had scorched it。 No flame appeared。 The brown underlying earth showed itself winding onward in a thin stripwhich might have been a footpath traced in fire。 It frightened me。 I longed for the protection of the Invisible Presence。 I prayed for a warning of it； if danger was near。
A touch answered me。 It was as if a hand unseen had taken my handhad raised it； little by littlehad left it； pointing to the thin brown path that wound toward me under the shriveled blades of grass。
I looked to the far end of the path。
The unseen hand closed on my hand with a warning pressure： the revelation of the coming danger was near meI waited for it。 I saw it。
The figure of a man appeared； advancing toward me along the thin brown path。 I looked in his face as he came nearer。 It showed me dimly the face of my husband's brotherJohn Zant。
The consciousness of myself as a living creature left me。 I knew nothing； I felt nothing。 I was dead。
When the torture of revival made me open my eyes； I found myself on the grass。 Gentle hands raised my head； at the moment when I recovered my senses。 Who had brought me to life again？ Who was taking care of me？
I looked upward； and sawbe