Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

B4 FLORIDA; OR, THE [RON WILL. snall we tell them all before they go? Some way will be provided.” “T can not, Virginia, I can not,” he said, huskily. “To live dependent in any way on her bounty, or yours, or any other, would soon kill me. Iam proud, Virginia, I can not help it—but I would rather die, than let them know what a helpless man you¢have married. No, my love—for a time it will be better for us to live as we haye liyed—only love me still, Virginia, love me still with all your heart and soul— don’t mistrust me—don’t listen to what others may say, and I shall be happy. When I think of you, and say to myself, “There is one who cares for me, who is even now, perhaps, thinking of me’—oh! it.restores me so much. That is all I want, darling.. Don’t think of the symptoms I spoke of—I was in low spirits then—now I am happy again. But, they will begin to wonder about us. Come, come; who is strongest now? Let me see you smile.” =. ‘She tried to smile, poor child! but it was a sad smile enough—so sad that it made his heart ache. By ten, the little cottage was still again. The-inyalid had been wheeled only into another room, that she might be ready for the morrow’s journey, and Florida, never quiet when she was awake, moved here and there, putting the final touches to her arrangements. “T thought your friend seemed more under the weather than usual,” she said, casting uneasy glances toward Virginia. “You mean Parker,” murmured her sister, trying to be calm, and anxious though dreading to hear the news, “I believe he is not quite as well as_usual.” “JT was afraid, once,” said Florida, assuming a careless manner, “that your intimacy was really bordering upon the sentimental. I was afraid he’d want to marry you, Virginia.” “And what if he had?” queried Virginia, not daring to lift up her eyes. ) “Tam afraid you would sorely have repented of it Not only is he incompetent to gain a livelihood in consequence of ill health, but—” She turned—Virginia’s eyes were fastened upon her, wild with the terror in them. _“For pity’s sake, child—you look at me as if I were a ghost, or a spirit of evil.” comicloXoolks.cohn) - 4