Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

4 PRESENTIMENT. 48 The question wae asked after a thoughtful silence. There were tears in the eyes of the listener—she would not wipe them away for fear of causing him regret that he had told her some part of his Jife-history. She pitied—she longed to comfort him. “ Am I superstitious ? I don’t know but I am, sometimes.” “Do you know at this moment I have the strangest impression ? It seems to me as if you were going to be taken away from me.” “Q! no, no—never! don’t think that—you chill me !” she cried, throwing herself nearer and within his encircling arms, “ ] wonder what it is that comes over me at times—such a cloud, pressing me down! But I will not give way to it—it is cruel in me to make this, our first meeting, so sad. -How has it happened? I never felt more joyous than when we met. Some dark spirit is present.” | “Parker! now I do believe you are superstitious! no darker spirit than your own fears will trouble us—no darker spirit than Florida ever vexes me. She’s so strange, so unreal, ' that I seem to fear, dislike and love her at the same time. She has some noble attributes ; but then she can make one so thoroughly uncomfortable with a look. As for your hapres- sions and presentiments, they may be, after all, only the bug bears of an excited fancy. Come, tell me—what did you have for dinner ?” Pe | “ Toast, tea, and two ripe peaches,” he answered, laughingly. “ And for supper?” | | “Sweet smiles, a soft voice, and two clear, brown eyes looking into mine, with an occasional kiss,” he answered, “O, Parker! then you have not been to supper at all !” “ On the contrary, I insist that I am full-fed ; my appetite would not bear a rose-leaf.” he asserted. © “The truth is, I _ could not look at food, I so longed for a sight of your sweet face. I sup now, celestially.” _ “T think you would fare better an something more sub- . ” replied Virginia,.in the same laughing tone. “You bad beter go to tea—and I, home. Florida will need me.” “§till tied to Florida. Well, I will not cut the apron ‘Strings til] T can claim you, as I will on Wednesday. Then Comichookscomy : din