Page 109 (1/1)

"Not even to one other?" I asked hesitatingly

A warm, kindly smile seemed to illuminate his face as I put this question

"Yes, to one other, the other half of yourself--you s," he said "But now, no more converse If you are quite ready, drink this"

He held out tovolatile liquid he had poured froe alh ht myself of all my boasted bravery; was it possible that I should fail now at this critical moment? I allowed lass from his hand and drained its contents to the last drop It was tasteless, but sparkling and warue Scarcely had I sed it, when a curiously light, dizzy sensation overca before antic proportions I saw his hands extend--his eyes, like lahtones of his voice uttering the folloords: "Azul! Azul! Lift up this light and daring spirit unto thyself; be its pioneer upon the path it h the wide and glorious Continents of Air; give it forht on any of the vast and beautiful spheres it aze, if only for a brief interval, upon the supreivest unto me, I free this soul; do thou, Azul, quickly receive it!"

A dense darkness no thickly aroundlifted up forcibly and rapidly, up, up, into soness I could not think, , steadily, swiftly, breathlesslywhen suddenly a long quivering flash of radiance, like the fraght Darkness? What had I to do with darkness? I knew not the word--I was only conscious of light--light exquisitely pure and brilliant--light through which I stepped as easily as a bird flies in air Perfectly awake toremarkable in them--I seemed to be at home in some familiar element Delicate hands held mine--a face far lovelier than the loveliest face of woman ever dreamed by poet or painter, sain A voice whispered in strange musical murmurs, such as I well seemed to know and comprehend: "Gaze behind thee ere the picture fades"