with the fullness of the heart and the vigor of glad life even so
I love thee! What sayest thou of Heaven? ... Heaven is here--here on
this bridal field of Ardath, o'er-canopied with stars! Come, sweet
one, . . cease to play this mystic midnight fantasy--I have done with
dreams! ... Edris, be thyself! ... for them art Woman, not Angel--
thy kiss was warm as wine! Nay, why shrink from me? ." this, as
she retreated still further away, her eyes flashing with unearthly
brilliancy, . . "I will make thee a queen, fair Edris, as poets ever
make queens of the women they love,--my fame shall be a crown for
thee to wear,--a crown that the whole world, gazing on, shall
envy!"

And in the heat and ardor of the moment, forgetful of the unseen
barrier that divided her from him, he made a violent effort to
spring forward--when lo! a wave of rippling light appeared to
break from beneath her feet, . . it rolled toward him, and
completely flooded the space between them like a glittering pool,
--and in it the flowers of Ardath swayed to and fro as water-lilies
on a woodland lake sway to the measured dash of passing oars!
Starting back with a cry of terror, he gazed wildly on this
miracle,--a voice richer than all music rang silvery clear across
the liquid radiance.

"Fame!" said the voice ... "Wouldst thou crown Me, Theos, with so
perishable a diadem?"

Paralyzed and speechless, he lifted his straining, dazzled eyes--
was THAT Edris?--that lustrous figure, delicate as a sea-mist with
the sun shining through? He stared upon her as a dying man might
stare for the last time on the face of his nearest and dearest,