A Daughter of Delilah — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“] MUST BUY THE PAINTED JEZ&BEL!"” °3 regarding him with troubled eyes, for in her bosom re- posed a note from Edward Hawley. It read in this way: ‘“My Dar.ine:—It is an abominable shame that my first letter to you should contain anything but pleasant news. Isaw Edgar at his club, and tried to remonstrate with him gently. It only maddened him. This Isabel Russell has him completely under her thumb. I never dreamed it possible fora man to become so infatuated with a bad woman. Our only course is to hunt up her antecedents, trusting that she is guilty of something which may put a bar between her and your headstrong brother. To this end Mr. Stimson is communicating with the police of Chicago. He says that she was mixed up with some scandal there, and had to fly from the city. To appeal to your father would be useless, for Edgar would at once be- come desperate. I will call this afternoon at three o’clock. ‘*Yours devotedly, | ‘*EDWARD HAWLEY.’’ ‘*Eleven o’clock!’’ repeated Minnie. ‘Oh, you lazy boy! Papa left an hour since for business.”’ ‘‘My head is on fire,’’ Edgar groaned. “I think that I shall stay indoors to-day and recruit myself for steady work.’’ His sister glanced at him hopefully. © ‘‘WhatamtItoinfer by that?’’ she asked. “‘Are you really going to give up all your doubtful acquaintances?”’ ‘‘Doubtful acquaintances?’’ he frowned. ‘‘I hope that I am not booked for another sermon! If so, I will efface my- self instanter! Iam just about sick of being preached to! I am not ashamed of the people I call my friends, and if my relations are—well, they can be if they choose! And look here. Miss Alston! if you refer in a roundabout way to Miss Isabel Russell, understand that I don’t appreciate any remarks to the disparagement of the woman who is to be my wife—and your Sister-in-law, whether you like it or not.’’ | | Gomicboo cS (E(0)