Page 172 - Adventures in shadow-land

Fountain, with its clouds of glistening, golden
spray j its rainbow sparkles of colored light; its
musical fall, and its dancing elves, as she had

long since seen it.
Nor was this all, For, even as the children

gazed, there appeared in the calm water at the foot
of the fountain a bud, folded in soft, green leaves;
and, by slow degrees, as Eva looked, the bud rose

from the encircling foliage, and its stem grew
higher and higher, and then, slowly and grace­
fully, its pure white petals opened, like a fair and

stainless ivory cup enfolding a golden torch, and
it breathed forth tlie fragrance of many violets:
and, as Eva looked, she knew that the search was

over, and the pure white lily before them was
Aster’s flower, won at last,

Then Eva’s blue eyes shone with joy, and her
fair cheeks flushed, and she turned to Aster;
“ Aster, be glad; for your flower is won, and
all that remains is for you to pluck it,”

** No/* he said, slowly; f* that is not for me to
do. I can only receive it as your gift, Eva; I am

not worthy to gather it,—that can only be done
by your hand.’'