Page 173 - Adventures in shadow-land

And Eva, bending over the water, plucked, the

beautiful lily, with its long stem, and laid it in
Aster’s hand. And, as his fingers clasped the

gift* a swell of music thrilled through the air, and
Eva saw, hovering over them, the two Fair, white

forms which had. come before, and which site at
once knew had, under the shapes of the toad and

the Toad-Woman, led and advised her, and she
pointed them out to Aster. And, as Aster raised
his eyes to them, they beckoned to him, and

smiled upon E v a ; and she knew that all was

over, and the moment had come for them to
part.
Still, not a word passed between them. Eva's

eyes were fixed upon Aster,—his were raised to
the bright hovering forms. Then, holding the

lily in his hand, he turned to Eva and pressed
his lips to her brow.

“ That was the kiss with which you woke me,
Eva, given back to you,—-this is because I love

you.1 ‘
He kissed her lips, and as he did o a bright

crimson light flashed suddenly around them, daz~
2ling Eva’s blue eyes, so that she involuntarily