A Daughter of Delilah — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE TEMPTRESS AT WORK. 57 figure. She was graceful and rhythmical from the soles of her dainty feet—from the pink tips of her taper fingers to the crown of her shapely head! The face was oval, and faultless in its contour. The nose was straight, the eyes large and black as midnight—deep, misty, hidden wells of fervent passion; the mouth was full and red as blood. The hair of bluest-black surmounted her head like a royal crown. ‘There was a carnation at her waxen throat, and her dress was of pale-amber silk, while her fingers sparkled with gems. This living Venus was Isabel Russell—the peri who had cast the spell of her witchery over Edgar Alston. And this was the splendid cage he had provided for her —insane with the madness of his love! He stepped softly into the room, carefully closing the door behind him, and Isabel sprang up with a low cry. “Edgar! Oh, you darling, to come so soon!’’ He pressed her to his heart, delirious with joy. Her clinging lips sent his blood like molten fire bounding through every artery. | ‘‘Queenie,’’ he whispered, ‘‘you received my letter?”’ “Yes, Edgar; but why will you cling to the old name? Do you know how I hate it—the pet name which has been fouled by the lips of so many love-sick fools!’’ ‘““You are my queen!’’ panted Alston, as he seated him- self beside her. ‘‘My queen forever! But in future I will call you Isabel—always Tsabel.”’ She flashed upon him the lightnings of her ever-changing eyes, and whispered: ‘‘T received your letter, and I was frightened. The mys- tery of that telegram—who has guessed that we are any- EomIicbooks