Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

x0 FLORIDA; OR, THE IRON WILL “ Beep in study, I suppose some people would call it,” replied Florida; “but as you haye broken the spell, it’s of no use for me to try and fix my thoughts again.” She put aside the book, lifted herself, threw down with yne hand the great waves of hair that she had bound in her own capricious style. It hung long and glittering like a vail] of many folds, a slumbrous luster in it that only waked and shone when she moved. “She is like a queen !” thought Virginia. . At that moment Florida turned round, the hair still hanging ~ uncoiled in both hands. “T am going to the city,” she said, abruptly. It was her way—but Virginia did not comprehend her iately. “ You—going to the city?” she asked. “ When? to-morrow *” “ No, not to-morrow, but whenever we can get ready.” “ We!” almost gasped her sister. “ What! to—to—” “Stay !” said Florida, finishing the sentence. _ “'To.stay ! You—I—and mother ?” cried Virginia, slowly. “ Yes; you, I, and mother. Ofcourse your mother will go— she igs no one to depend upon but me, for some things; of course you will go, for you have no other home, and no pros- pect of another—unless you married that boy,” she added, with a half sneer, “and his chance is worse than yours,” “To live in the city—in the great, dreary City,” cried Vir- ginia, her voice sharp with sudden horror. “Hush—you will wake your mother. O! I forget,” she added, half to herself, “ she has taken the medicine—she'll not wake till morning.” : “Tt is a stupid sleep,” exclaimed Virginia, looking yearn- ingly over to where her mother lay, her thoughts for a moment diverted from the strange news she had just heard; “I don’t believe it is right to give her narcotics.” iT = “Tt is right to do any thing to put her out of pain,’ said Florida; at which Virginia reeoiled, looking at ber Uv the childish, almost fearful way in which she was used. “Well, Florida spoke again, after a pause so still that the tick of the death-watch sounded wierdly,, rapid. and strong, “are you reconciled to the idea yet ?” de “OQ! for heaven’s sake, Florida, don’t say that you meant Commicloooks.conn -