Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

OO —__—— aT A NOTE FOR VIRGINIA. 6) what would Florida say? In proportion as I grow helpless I begin to fear her. Thank God, though she could keep us asunder, she never can blot out the fact that you are my wife. . Then, again, when I think that we are-both minors—I scaicely twenty-one, you not seventeen—my heart trembles. Virginia, be true to me. I will yet compass a living for both of us. I will work my hands off but Tll do it. Don’t fret, darling— don’t take my trouble upon you, for my sake. Let me see you smile, and I shall be brave. I would not plunge you into poverty for worlds. I shall see you again before you go to the city. I dare not go just yet, till I have matured my plans, but I shall be there. My book shall be written, if I live on bread and water to accomplish it. You know it is not hard for me to fast. O! darling, I was angry, at first, when I thought of our yesterday’s happiness, but J am glad for it now. As the hours pass, it seems a delicious rest inthe stormy « past, fresh and green in my memory. Keep it so in yours’. Good-by, darling, for a brief time. ° - “ Your hoping and despairing “ PARKER,” The color deserted Virginia’s cheeks ; ghe sunk down, fain and cold, upon the nearest seat. Florida’s words were ring- ing in her ears, and they, with this sad letter, almost deprived her, for the moment, of life. -Perhaps his enemies had defamed him—they must have assailed his character, to throw him thus from a responsible situation at one blow—and what beside had he to depend upon? The glowing, passionate face of Madge Spicer, as it appeared on that miserable day, looking in at the broken window, fiendishly,came up before her like a spirit of evil. Those hissing words, “ Your char- acter is ruined !” rung in ‘her ears. Brought up to regard a good name beyond all price, Virginia’s faith staggered as she thonght of these things. Another moment and suspicion had received a deadly blow. “ Whatever they say,” came 3 her white lips, ‘I will still believe him. O! how he puffers! and I can not be with him to tell him of my sym- pathy and to soothe him m his sorrow! Poor, poor Parker !” ‘The day that was to haye been so happy was to close in gloom. Instead of wine, Pe companion of her husband, she must still, by his orders, he as a stranger. Then, to gu into ’ comlcloooks.com)