Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

& QUESTION, AND ITS EFFECTS. 65 “ What were you going to tell me?” . “Suppose your mother had never married your father,” asked Florida, slowly, “ with what feelings would you have regarded yourself, to-day ?” Virginia could rst answer; her very blood seemed curdling in her veins, and the wierd, mysterious manner of her haif- sister—the face that looked like a judgment in the dim light— sent a thrill so sharp through al] her frame that she could with difficulty suppress a cry of terror. She remembered, with the rapidity of lightning, a poor girl who had once lived in the village with her mother, and whose doom was this unhappy one. Gentle as she had always been, yet the strong Puri- tan element infused in her nature, by the strictest religious culture, teaching her, with an uncharitableness found nowhere in the lessons of the Master, to hold no fellowship with those who went astray from virtue, led her to look with horror upon this poor, innocent child of shame. She remembered, now, the pale, unhappy face—the shrinking ways of the unfor- tunate—her downeast look, her miserable attire. She thought of the intense pity, mingled with loathing, which she herself had been taught to feel. “O! Florida—what an awful question !” she cried, bursting into tears. “ Why do you think of such things ?” “J wished to tell you about Parker.” Virginia grew chill had not thought of him in connection with such a terrible doom. Nor, strange to say, did she now, although the directness of her sister’s speech might have impressed one less interested. “T have looked upon your intimacy with him as mere girl and boy affection, that would in time burn itself out,” said Florida, now seating herself, “and I did not wish to lower him in your estimation by telling you the facts I have learned; but I believe the time has come when it is inevitable. Itis known now, Virginia, that Parker bears his mother’s name, having no father in the eye of law. His mother dancing Gin low thei, sehr in the Suto 0 Ean whatever. I pity the poor fellow, but——Virginia ” ~ Again she cried, some terror in her voice—“ Virginia Tee young girl neither answered, or moved. Her very eyes scemed set in stone. aa watigens She sprung 20 a comichbooks.com