As the light grew a little in power, though never increasing enough for
distinctness, I saw dimly before me a table on which rested a great open
book, whereon were laid two rings--one of sliver, the other of gold--and
two crowns wrought of flowers, bound at the joining of their stems with
tissue--one of gold, the other of silver. I do not know much of the
ritual of the old Greek Church, which is the religion of the Blue
Mountains, but the things which I saw before me could be none other than
enlightening symbols. Instinctively I knew that I had been brought
hither, though in this grim way, to be married. The very idea of it
thrilled me to the heart's core. I thought the best thing I could do
would be to stay quite still, and not show surprise at anything that
might happen; but be sure I was all eyes and ears. I peered anxiously around me in every direction, but I could see no sign
of her whom I had come to meet. Incidentally, however, I noticed that in the lighting, such as it was,
there was no flame, no "living" light. Whatever light there was came
muffled, as though through some green translucent stone. The whole
effect was terribly weird and disconcerting. Presently I started, as, seemingly out of the darkness beside me, a man's
hand stretched out and took mine. Turning, I found close to me a tall
man with shining black eyes and long black hair and beard. He was clad
in some kind of gorgeous robe of cloth of gold, rich with variety of
adornment. His head was covered with a high, over-hanging hat draped
closely with a black scarf, the ends of which formed a long, hanging veil
on either side. These veils, falling over the magnificent robes of cloth
of gold, had an extraordinarily solemn effect. I yielded myself to the guiding hand, and shortly found myself, so far as
I could see, at one side of the sanctuary. In the floor close to my feet was a yawning chasm, into which, from so
high over my head that in the uncertain light I could not distinguish its
origin, hung a chain. At the sight a strange wave of memory swept over
me. I could not but remember the chain which hung over the glass-covered
tomb in the Crypt, and I had an instinctive feeling that the grim chasm
in the floor of the sanctuary was but the other side of the opening in
the roof of the crypt from which the chain over the sarcophagus depended. There was a creaking sound--the groaning of a windlass and the clanking
of a chain. There was heavy breathing close to me somewhere. I was so
intent on what was going on that I did not see that one by one, seeming
to grow out of the surrounding darkness, several black figures in monkish
garb appeared with the silence of ghosts. Their faces were shrouded in
black cowls, wherein were holes through which I could see dark gleaming
eyes. My guide held me tightly by the hand. This gave me a feeling of
security in the touch which helped to retain within my breast some
semblance of calm. The strain of the creaking windlass and the clanking chain continued for
so long that the suspense became almost unendurable. At last there came
into sight an iron ring, from which as a centre depended four lesser
chains spreading wide. In a few seconds more I could see that these were
fixed to the corners of the great stone tomb with the covering of glass,
which was being dragged upward. As it arose it filled closely the whole
aperture. When its bottom had reached the level of the floor it stopped,
and remained rigid. There was no room for oscillation. It was at once
surrounded by a number of black figures, who raised the glass covering
and bore it away into the darkness. Then there stepped forward a very
tall man, black-bearded, and with head-gear like my guide, but made in
triple tiers, he also was gorgeously arrayed in flowing robes of cloth of
gold richly embroidered. He raised his hand, and forthwith eight other
black-clad figures stepped forward, and bending over the stone coffin,
raised from it the rigid form of my Lady, still clad in her Shroud, and
laid it gently on the floor of the sanctuary. I felt it a grace that at that instant the dim lights seemed to grow
less, and finally to disappear--all save the tiny points that marked the
outline of the great Cross high overhead. These only gave light enough
to accentuate the gloom. The hand that held mine now released it, and
with a sigh I realized that I was alone. After a few moments more of the
groaning of the winch and clanking of the chain there was a sharp sound
of stone meeting stone; then there was silence. I listened acutely, but
could not hear near me the slightest sound. Even the cautious,
restrained breathing around me, of which up to then I had been conscious,
had ceased. Not knowing, in the helplessness of my ignorance, what I
should do, I remained as I was, still and silent, for a time that seemed
endless. At last, overcome by some emotion which I could not at the
moment understand, I slowly sank to my knees and bowed my head. Covering
my face with my hands, I tried to recall the prayers of my youth. It was
not, I am certain, that fear in any form had come upon me, or that I
hesitated or faltered in my intention. That much I know now; I knew it
even then. It was, I believe, that the prolonged impressive gloom and
mystery had at last touched me to the quick. The bending of the knees
was but symbolical of the bowing of the spirit to a higher Power. When I
had realized that much, I felt more content than I had done since I had
entered the church, and with the renewed consciousness of courage, took
my hands from my face, and lifted again my bowed head. Impulsively I sprang to my feet and stood erect--waiting. All seemed to
have changed since I had dropped on my knees. The points of light about
time church, which had been eclipsed, had come again, and were growing in
power to a partial revealing of the dim expanse. Before me was the table
with the open book, on which were laid the gold and silver rings and the
two crowns of flowers. There were also two tall candles, with tiniest
flames of blue--the only living light to be seen. Out of the darkness stepped the same tall figure in the gorgeous robes
and the triple hat. He led by the hand my Lady, still clad in her
Shroud; but over it, descending from the crown of her head, was a veil of
very old and magnificent lace of astonishing fineness. Even in that dim
light I could note the exquisite beauty of the fabric. The veil was
fastened with a bunch of tiny sprays of orange-blossom mingled with
cypress and laurel--a strange combination. In her hand she carried a
great bouquet of the same. Its sweet intoxicating odour floated up to my
nostrils. It and the sentiment which its very presence evoked made me
quiver. Yielding to the guiding of the hand which held hers, she stood at my left
side before the table. Her guide then took his place behind her.