A Daughter of Delilah — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

116 ST. LEONARD'S FINE HAND.’ investigated the character of Isabel Russell as far as I could in so short a time, and she is nothing less than an adventuress—a harlot! A creature with the beauty of a soddess—a walking Venus!’’ Jabez Alston groaned. ‘Go on,”’ he said. ‘*T visited Edgar at his club, at the request of Minnie, your daughter; I remonstrated with him only to be the recipient of a torrent of abuse. I wrote to Miss Alston at once, and told her of my non-success, adding that I would call upon her again to-day. Idid so, and met Edgar in a state of drunken fury. Forgetful of his sister’s presence, he used the vilest epithets toward me and even struck 99 me. Hawley turned his bruised cheek toward the financier, and the face of Jabez Alston hardened in a manner that was not good to see. ‘The ingrate!’’ he muttered. ‘‘I could curse him! I will end this folly once and for all. This woman can be bought off, you think?”’ Hawley shrugged his shoulders. ‘If my informant is correct, she is capable of driving a hard bargain,’’ he said. ‘‘It may be that she has conceived a passion for Edgar, but I doubt it.”’ ‘““T am glad that you have been honest with me, my boy,’’ the financier said, kindly. ‘‘I recognized your hand- writing, and wondered why you should address my daughter; but I never doubted your honor. You know my desires. Lord St. Leonards has already asked her hand in marriage, and has my consent to woo and wed my dear child. ’’ Eomichooks: co