A Daughter of Delilah — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

“GILBERT ROSEBERRY, YOU ARE MY PRISONER!” 29 ‘If you love me, Minnie, do not let my aunt and the servants see me for ten minutes, anyway! I will tell you everything. I have been hoaxed.”’ As he fled up stairs, she looked after him half-doubt- fully, anda look of terror came into her eyes when she saw the pattern of his nether garments. What folly had he been guilty of now? What did he mean by being hoaxed? At that moment a stern-faced, elderly lady appeared at the door of a drawing-room, her looks expressive of the most severe displeasure. ‘‘So the truant is back?’’ she said. ‘‘What excuse has he to offer for his abominable conduct? I never passed so anxious a time in my life. I have been bitterly disap- pointed and grossly insulted, and shall make a point of informing your father all about it. I am almost of opinion that Edgar is not responsible for his actions. The slight is either intentional, or his mind is demented.’’ ‘‘Edgar will explain presently, aunt,’’ Minnie replied, gently. ‘‘AndIam sure that you will not worry papa by mentioning one word of this affair.’’ Minnie Alston was a handsome, dark-eyed girl of twenty- two summers—one of Gotham’s fairest maids! Her figure was as perfect as that of a sylph, her movements as grace- ful as though made to rhythmical music. The face was almost Southern in its dark beauty, but in her lustrous eyes was a soft light, seldom seen in the orbs of the pas- sionate daughters of the South. Minnie Alston was a loving, true-hearted girl, and one of her greatest anxieties for months past had been to shield her brother’s pecadilloes from their stern father. Mrs. Radcliffe listened to.an apology from the footman Gomicboo cS (E(0) m