Theodore Winthrop

“ Nothing of the repellent magnetism of a corpse as my hand approached the forehead.
But as little the responsive thrill of life wakening at life’s touch, and renewing with a start the old delicious agony of conscious being. ”

“ I advanced another step, and my groping sight detected a large arm-chair posted before the easel.
Hanging over the arm of the chair, where the moonlight could not reach, I saw another faint, pale spot. It was where a hand would rest. Was it a hand?
Beckoned forward by this doubt, I moved on and saw, flung back in the arm-chair, a shadowy figure. A man? Yes; dim form and deathly face, — a man!
The air of the room was close and sickly. 1 choked for breath. Life needs a double portion at such moments. ”