Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

BUOYANT HOPES DASHED. 101 say. whereupon Virginia, with heightened color, answered as hest she could. A ees All that day and all that evening was the expected note @rxiously looked for, but vainly—and the poor girl retired to rst with sad forebodings. } ‘It might have been about ten of the following day that Florida, who was busy with some feminine duty, suddenly paused, exclaiming, “I forgot it entirely—there is a letter in my escritoire that came for you yesterday. I'll get it this moment.” | In her pleasure at the good news, Virginia did not stop to wonder, as she might at another time, if this was not some adroit planning of Florida’s. She tried to restrain her eager- ness when the white envelope came in sight, but at Florida’s exclamation, “The superscription looks tipsy,” she smiled, and caught at it eagerly. “Tt is for joy,” she thought. Alas, poor eager heart! These words met her frightened gaze: “Dear Miss:—The schoolmaster is very sick indeed and senses nothing. I think he is dying—and the troubles and expenses which if he is not will be too much for us poor folks and so I hope you will see to it or get some of your friends to take care of him. : tty | | Yours, T. F. WALKER. His boardin’ house.” “OQ! Florida!” cried Virginia, with a glance of anguish—and before her startled sister could reach her, she was lying death- white against the side of the couch upon which she had been seated. “ Fainted,” muttered Florida. “Tm glad I never faint.” ce through the letter made her cheek paler, her lips pow “Now I can go to him,” she said, and after Virginia was somewhat restored, she reverted to the note. ~ «What shall you do about it, Virginia?” Ott don’t know—God help me! Why! 80, of course,” che cried, starting up, but falling back again from sheer weakness. “ Well, well, compose yourself, Virginia. I will have the ‘arn prought out—I will go with you. comicbooks.conn