Page 23 - Adventures in shadow-land

and wander away; far, far into the deep forest,

away from the dancing flames and the beckoning
shapes.

And once or twice she did leave the path, and
turn her back upon the brook. But every time
that she stepped off the beaten track, faint though

it was, her feet grew heavy, and clung to the
earth, so that she could scarcely move; and the

waves of the brook leaped higher and higher;
and the dancing flames grew brighter\ and the

silvery voice, louder and clearer than ever, would
call, “ Follow, follow me!,r till the child was al­

ways glad to return to the path, and then once
again the way would grow easy to her feet, and

the water would resume its former tranquillity.
On, on she went, still following the course of

the brook. But at last a new sound mingled,
though but faintly, with its musical ripple,— the

distant voice of falling waters. And when first
this new tone reached Eva's ears, a few signs of

life began to show themselves,— a sad-colored
moth flitted lazily across the path into the forest,

— a slow-crawling worm or hairy caterpillar hid
itself under a stone as Eva passed,— the bright