A Daughter of Delilah — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

74 THE TONGUE OF THE TEMPTRESS. men whom she ignores make light of her name in a spirit of revenge. Oh, the mean, pitiful things! If you listen to their wicked tongues, Mr. Alston—if you for one moment doubt me—I have no wish to see you again, though it will break my heart!’’ “Tsabel, my darling!’’ Alston cried. ‘‘I have not listened. Though the man who spoke unkindly of you has been my life-long friend, I threatened to shoot him dead at my feet, and, by Heaven, I would have done it! The man was Hawley, the scenic artist at the frivolity. He adopted the role of sentimental friendship—curse his impudence!”’ ‘‘Ah!”’ replied Isabel. ‘‘Iam sure that if he knew me better, he would be my friend, against his employer, Mr. Stimson! But what does he know of me beyond the fact that I am a defenseless woman—that you are his friend? I am a singer—a dancer—you are a gentleman! Oh, my Heaven! it is cruel! cruel! This man Stimson knew me in Chicago. I made my debut there, and he paid me unwel- come attentions. I spurned him, and now you see what his motives are.”’ ‘The coward!’’ gritted fiercely through Alston’s teeth. ‘He shall answer to me! I will thrash him! Will you give me the right?”’ ‘‘No, no, Edgar; for my sake, no! He is not worth it— he is not worth the danger into which it would lead you.” ‘‘Danger?’’ he ejaculated, scornfully. “T am not ac- counted a coward, Isabel. I must protect your honor! To insult you is worse than a personal insult offered to my- self.’’ ‘“Trepeat that he is not worthit. Pay no attention to his slanderous tongue. WhenTI called at the Frivolity, I EComichbooks