A Daughter of Delilah — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

44 «LOVE THAT HATH US IN THE NET!” terly. ‘“‘I will see no more of these who knew me in my prosperity. The past is dead!”’ His principal amusement had been painting, but he was not sufficiently expert as an artist to gain a livelihood by painting pictures for the dealers, or even clever enough to obtain commissions from the book publishers. He lacked the necessary experience, and with poverty at his elbows he could not wait. In this unhappy frame of mind he was passing the Hoff- man House one morning, his eyes bent to the pavement, when some one called, loudly: ‘Hullo! Is that you, Hawley?’’ He recognized the voice. It was that of one of his oldest friends—it was the brother of the girl to whom he had given the one love of his life—now, alas! utterly hopeless —it was Edgar Alston—unsteady on his feet, weary of eye, and tremulous with the misery that nights of dissipation leave behind, : Hawley turned, and the two young men shook hands. ‘‘Where the duse have you been lately ?”’ demanded Alston. ‘‘By Jove! old boy, Imust have a whisky cock- tail. Come along!”’ : ‘‘No—no! Not in there now!’’ ‘““Why? Ah! I understand,’’ Edgar returned, with ready sympathy, and they turned into the nearest saloon. ‘‘Of course I know all about the old boy,’’ Edgar went on. ‘*Who does not? But you are not actually cleaned out of the boodle, eh?”’ ‘“‘Kvery dollar!’’ groaned Hawley. ‘‘But then—don’t pity me. I’ve had quite enough of that. Not that I should mind you, old man; not that I do mind you. You havea (Eo) Gomichbooks