Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

t10 . FLORIDA; OR, THE YRON WILL slowly, sat upright, gazing toward Florida with a pathetic, imploring look, and finally she came slowly towaid her, with the question . “Did you call me, Florida? What do you want of me ?” “ Sit down there,” said Florida, motioning her to a seat. She obeyed, and sat looking at her, like a helpless thing, fascinated and fearful. Shudder after shudder passed over her frasic. Once she cried, imploringly: “ What ure you going to do with me, Florida? Im cold!’ Still, Flomaa did not answer, but, bending all the energies of her powerful will upon her passive subject, she soon acquired the control she wished. Virginia closed her eyegas one in a deep sleep, and thus sat, almost smiling, as if mind and body were at rest. “ Virginia,” said Florida, her voice terribly earnest, “ I want you to go and find Parker.” The slight fingers of the young girl began to intertwine ; her face took on-an almost superhuman look of interest, and she rocked her body as if to the motion of a walk. “ Go find him, Virginia,” said Florida, sternly. “Tt’s very dark,” said Virginia, shuddering ; “ how wet the streets are! But I must go—on—on—I must find him. Here , is gas-light—eyer so many gas-lights—I shall get on finely now, Iam not afraid—the watchmen are out. How it rains! how it rains !” She gathered herself up as if she were gathering garments round chilled limbs. | “Are you almost there ?” asked Florida, trembling with excitement. aF.- “ Tt’s very dark again, This lane is somuddy! Somebody is screaming further down. I am frightened.” “ Nobody will harm you, Virginia. Think of Parker, and go right on.” O! yes, Parker—poor Parker! I must find him—nobody knows where he is—I am going to him. QO! what a large place—a square! Must I go over alone ?” “Yes, Virginia, God will protect you,” said Florida ; “ have us fear.” . “O' ne, my fear is all gone,” said Virginia, while an comiclooolks.comn