Page 58 - Adventures in shadow-land

Aster s Misfortunes. S3

difficulties In her path; the faces no longer
appeared to torment and harass her; the way-

seemed easier to her feet; more and brighter
flowers bloomed along the path; and the misty,
shadowy shapes which were to be seen at inter

vals passing among the close-set trunks of the

trees were fair and lovely to look upon.
But this quiet was not to last. Again, after a
time, the music rang triumphantly through the

forest; and again, as the young moon sprang to
her station overhead, Aster awoke, to all appear­

ance unconscious of the time he had slept, and of
the distance which Eva had carricd him. As he

grew, with the moon, it seemed to her that he
was changed ; that he was no longer the gentle,

loving boy who had wandered with her when the
first moon shone : something elfish, imp-like, and

changeable had come over him.
Then, too, as day by day the path led them on

into the forest, which seemed endless, the trees
altered their shape. Sometimes they were circled

with huge, twining snakes, which Eva thought
seemed coiled there, ready to seize her as she

piissed, though when near them they proved to b£