T; he Romance of a Water-Lily. 107

fairy dies the death,” whispered she, striving hard
to hide her eee and speak with her former
scorn.

But Michael saw that which made him take heart.
“Fear not, I will never look in any eyes but thine,”
cried he, gaily. And unmindful of her haughty air,
‘unmindful of the searching gaze from above, he
snatched one hasty kiss, and sped down the mountain.

She tore herself away defiantly, but when the old
man upon the terrace met her with anger as she
mounted the steps, she looked in in the eyes just
as courageously.

“So, was it for this I spared the ne’er-do-well who
has lost me my heifer?” began he, angrily. “That
thou mightest tryst with him on the forest border at
sundown, as no honest girl may do?”

Salome bit. her lip, but she answered quietly
enough, “It was no tryst, and Michael is no ne’er-do-
well. I asked thee to spare him till he had time to
explain—he came to explain. Now, if thou deem he
hath failed in his duty to thee, do thou discharge