A Servant of Satan: Romantic Career of Prado the Assassin — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

~ A SERVANT OF SATAN, 65 humming birds dwelt in the branches of the sycamores and ~ palms and flew off at the slightest sound. The place was very lonely, and as he approached it there was no sound save the babble of a brook whispering among tall rushes and lotus plants to be heard in the quiet evening air. Florence, who had been sitting on the fragments of the basalt column, rose to her feet as she saw him coming, and advanced toward him with outstretched hands. She had been a very beautiful girla few months previously, but the brilliant pink color, which was one of her chief charms, had now given place toa sickly pallor. Her cheeks were hag- gard and drawnand her soft brown eyes had asad and hunted expression which was very painful to see in one so young and fair. | «‘ Hred,” exclaimed she, as he took her hands in his and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘‘1I cannot bear this any longer. You promised me long ago that you would talk to my father! Why don’t you do so now? ‘The time has come! I have asked you to come here to-day to tell you that soon I shall be unable to conceal my shame any longer. Already now I tremble every time my dear father looks at me, and I have no strength left to carry on this horrible deceit any longer.” As she said this she leaned her head on her lover’s shoulder and sobbed bitterly. The expression on Frederick’s face became very dark, now that her face was hidden against his breast and that she could no longer see him, He bit his lips savagely and his eyes flashed with anger. Here was a pretty state of things. What was he todo? She must be. pacified with new prom- ises and induced to wait till he could find means to flee once more before the storm which he seemed to call forth wherever he went. Hetried to compose his features and to soften the tones of his voice. Drawing the weeping girl closer to him he murmured, gently: | EOmMmIchboo <s) a6 \ ee =z) (ee) |