Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

98 FLORIDA; OR, THE WON WILI. entered a handsomely-carpeted hall. A servant ia waiting took in her name and almost immediately came 0at again te usher her in. The office of Mr. Le Roy was very beautifully furnished, with rose-wood, marble, and paneling a la fresco, with tapestry, carpets and gilded chandeliers. Le Roy himself was already coming toward the door. He met her with a cordial smile, ved her to a seat, and, obserying her gaze warily round, avsured her that no one was present but a deaf clerk, who scribbled away, his back toward them, “ T—don’t know whether I ought to have come,” said Vir- ginia, looking up and then down in an embarrassed way, “but I thought of you, and that you would do me a favor if you could.” “ Certainly, Miss Virginia; you counted upon me rightly there. Any thing in my power I will dotoserve you, What is it—one or five hundred dollars for some sweet charity ?” Virginia glanced up in amazement. Money offered her by the hundreds? Why, she had scarce ever had so many cents. “O! you are very kind, Mr. Le Roy; but it was not money I wanted. I came for a friend—though that friend knows ‘pothing about it—and if you can os what I wish, please ronsider it a great secret.” He stuiled at her in a halt-childish, half-dignified manner. “You may depend upon me, Miss Virginia,” he said. “ Well then—” her color grew high—after all, it was not as easy a matter as it had seemed. “Perhaps, Mr. Le Roy,” she said, beginning again—* perhaps you noticed the young ~ man—the stranger that came in last night.” Le Roy started to his feet—said, “Please excuse me for a moment, Miss Virginia,” and went to his desk, remaining fally a moment fumbling among and turning over papers for which he seemed to have no earthly use.. When he came back he seated himself very slowly, half turning away, how- ever, 80 that but a part of his face was in sight. was so intently occupied with her thoughts however, that she noticed only how pale he had grown. __ “ Well—about this young man?” he said, snd his voice seemed altered. Conmmiclooolks.conn