A Daughter of Delilah — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

80 THE TONGUE OF THE TEMPTRESS. comes suspicious, he may set a watch upon you, and then I shall have caused your ruin!”’ ‘“Why will you not marry me now?’”’ he demanded, feverishly. ‘*‘We could then face him, and when he saw ? that it was useless, he——’ ‘“Would show us both the door!’’ was the mocking re- joinder. ‘‘No, Edgar; if we were so mad, it would end in my having to dance and sing in public to support us both in rags and squalor.”’ She went to the piano, and after running her deft fingers along the keys, sang these words in ravishing strains: ‘To-day, dearest, is ours; Why should love carelessly lose it? This life shines or lowers, Just as we, weak mortals, use it. "Tis time enough, when its flowers deca‘ ‘To think of the thorns of sorrow ; And joy, if left on the stem to-day, May wither before to-morrow. ‘Then, why, dearest, so long Let the sweet moments fly over? Though now blooming and young, Thou hast me devoutly thy lover. Yet time from both in his silent lapse, Some treasure may steal or borrow; Thy charms may be less in bloom, perhaps, Or I less in love to-morrow !” Alston scarcely knew how he reached home that night. He had the sweet remembrance of a clinging kiss. He had turned suddenly in the door-way, and caught his goddess in a fierce embrace, and been surprised by Aunt Judith appearing before them. But it did not matter. Aunt Judith knew that they were engaged lovers—that they would soon be bound together by the laws of God and man. If—— (E(0) Gomicbooks