Page 29 - Adventures in shadow-land

Eva looked at it, very much tempted to throw It
away, the head laughed again, and then the lips

parted and said:

V Flames, like these, of shadow birth,
M a y not barm a child o f earth."

Then the voice was silent. But a thousand
rainbow-colored bubbles glowed at once all over

the waters of the fountain ' and on each bubble
there stood and danced a tiny elf, clad in bright

colors j shapes so light and airy that their frail
supports never failed them; and the tiny flames

grew brighter, and then, as Eva still hesitated,
fearing yet to cross them, the lips of the little

head spoke once more :

" 'Neath thy step they will expire—
Fear Dot, E v a ; cross the five.'"

Hearing this, Eva stepped forward. As she
did so, the little stick dropped or slipped from

her hand, and, rolling into the fountain, disap­
peared in its waters} and at every step she took

&he saw that the little flames died away, as the
voice had said, under her feet; till, when she