Page:Afterglow; pastels of Greek Egypt, 69 B.C. (IA afterglowpastels00buck).pdf/96

92 air and the wide world full of a thousand happy mysteries and promises.

When she had placed the coronal upon the image of the god, she moved slowly about under the trees, listening to the distant syrinx. The song of the pipes had been gentle as a breeze but, as she listened, the slender melody changed, grew louder, more vibrant and shrill. Lysidice did not know who played, but her light steps quickened to the hurrying notes and soon she danced over the grass, waving her arms and turning her sweet face up toward the green leaves murmuring overhead.

An old man, passing the edge of the grove, saw the bright, dancing figure.

"There was a time when I, also, danced," he murmured to himself as he moved away. "I danced, yes, and others with me. But those days are past. Now it is the young ones' turn It is not for long that they