A Daughter of Delilah — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

NO. 33 HAWTHORNE AVENUE, RIDGEWAY, N. J. 187 off a song at the piano, in tones that thrilled the old financier through andthrough. For ten or fifteen minutes she sang and played, then suddenly sprang up and rang a bell, in obedience to which the maid brought in a variety of wines. ‘If you dare to smoke, Mr. Alston,’’ said Isabel, when the girl had retired, “‘pray doso. Ilove the fumes of good tobacco, and—shall I confess it?—I am occasionally fond of a cigarette myself! Are you shocked?’ she added, softly. ‘‘Shocked!’’ he murmured. ‘‘My Heaven, everything that you do is perfect, Miss Russell!” He sipped his wine, and his eyes rarely left her face. The very glamour of her witching presence steeped his senses in a mad delirium. The hours passed, and he forgot his waiting coachman. He supped with the enchantress, and listened to the music of her tones, and reveled in the beauty of her smiles until he felt that for one sweet word from her the world were all well lost! At last he was startled by the chiming of one hour from midnight, and he prepared to fly from her presence. ‘‘Shall we ever meet again,’’ she said, sadly. ‘We must,’’ he replied, fiercely. ‘‘Oh, Isabel—I am an old man, but within me you have awakened the fires of youth! Iam rich, and my fortune shall be lavished upon you. People will call me weak and childish, but I care for nothing if you will smile upon me.”’ He fell upon his knees; and kissed her hands abjectly, while maudlin tears streamed from his eyes. ‘tT leave here at once,’’ she whispered. ‘‘I leave here to <S (E(@) Gomicboo