Page 169 - Adventures in shadow-land
P. 169

C H A P T E R      X V I L


                                           THE  L A S T   QF  SIIADOW-LANDI,



                                                  again  there  rang  through  the  forest
                                              strain  of rich and gleeful music.  Once

                                              ,ore  the  moon  rose,  a bright,  unbroken
                                  circle,  to  her  station  in  the  sky*  A  soft,  rosy
                                  light  lingered everywhere;  flowers of rarer beauty

                                  than  ever,  bloomed  in  profusion ;  the  murmur of
                                  the  spring  was  sweeter  than  ever>  and  as  Eva

                                  awoke,  and  looked  at  Aster,  she  saw  that  neither
                                  spot  nor  stain  defaced  his  rich  dress,  but  that  it

                                  was  as  unsullied  as her  own.  And as  she  looked
                                  upon  her  young companion now as  tall  as  herself,

                                  and with something  in  his  bearing  Eva had  never
                                  been  conscious  of  before,—something noble and
                                  princelike,—she  heard  a  voice  from  the  spring

                                  murmuring,  in soft,  melodious  tones;
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