Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

104 FLORIDA; OR, THE IRON WILL. alive—a bit of bread as big as a thimble, and perhaps a sup of milk. No wonder he was sick.” “What can it mean ?’ murmured Florida, who had paid little or no heed to the woman’s hurried talk. _“ Virginia,. what can it mean ?”’ | “And how shall we ever find him?’ queried Virginia “ Where have they taken him ?” That Miss Spicer was a dreatful spiteful creetur,” said the woman, who sat conjuring up all the ill-news she could think of. “She used to send him notés, and I guess they wan’t none of the pleasantest, by the way they affected him. Then she would come round here and laugh and sing, and sometimes come right in while we were to tea. Then Mr, Parker—we always called him Mr. Parker, for short—would git up and go out. She was a terrible forward girl—and she did hate him.” “Tt’s no use sitting here,” said Florida. “J think it’s rather strange you didn’t inquire the gentleman’s name—or where they were taking him.” “Lal I didn’t think about the mame; al ots other, I did ask more’n once, but they wouldn’t tell, or didn’t.” “ Never mind, Virginia, we'll find out some way,” said Florida Her sister could have kissed her for those words. At last her heart was touched, at last she was interested. O! yes, Virginia would not despair, At one moment she thought of tell- ing Florida all—the next she shrunk from it with the impres- sion that the news might be distasteful, and abate her interest ih the matter, Still, the dead weight at her heart filled her with dread and gloom again. Who were the friends thus ‘kind? Could Mr. Le Roy be one? He had seemed so much interested, that for a few moments there was no doubt in her mind but that he was the prime mover in the affair. If he had not gone himself, he might have sent some one. Then the thought of his words flashed through her mind: “J always delegate my friends to do my charitable acts.” If it was indeed so, she should not be long in suspense, ard she longed to fly homeward that her anxiety might be set at rest commicoooks.conn § - 4