A Daughter of Delilah — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

192 A FATHER’S THREAT. riage—immediate marriage. The other half of my fortune I will settle upon you, Edgar, and Minnie—upon the con- dition that you welcome my wife.”’ “Great Heaven!” gasped Edgar. ‘““Yes, I know that itis sudden, but men much older than I marry again.”’ ‘*T don’t see how I dare object, sir,’’ Edgar said, after a minute’s silence, *‘even if I desired to do so. Iam sure that your offer is most magnanimous. What is the lady’s name? Who is she?” | | ‘For the present that remains a secret,’’ his father re- plied. ‘‘At ths lady’s request.”’ He gave utterance to an insane chuckle, and Edgar eyed him in wonderment. “Welcome my wife, Edgar, in a way that is due to your new mother, and that very day you and Minnie become possessed of half my fortune. Slight her, and by Heaven, sir, I wash my hands of both of you!’’ “The marriage—when will it take place?’’ the young man asked. ‘‘Privately, and within a few days. Be prepared for anything. I have nothing more to say at present. Er— you need not expect me home to-night. I have business to attend to in Philadelphia. ”’ He tapped the glass window to summon -Billings, whose office adjoined that of his own, and when the cashier ap- peared he demanded the check-book. ‘‘Make a check for five thousand dollars,’’ he ordered, ‘‘nayable to self, and get it cashed at once.”’ Billings obeyed, and half an hour later Jabez Alston was driven away in a private carriage. (E()[AANICE| NOVO) KS (Eo)