Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

CRUSHED. 67 “ Virginia” —Florida had grown deadly pale—“ even in thia thing have I not endeavored to do a sister’s duty ?”—her voice was mournful—her manner mingled sorrow and grief. “Yes, for I promised my father I would guide you, protect you from evil: and, through the consciousness of a responsibility so . may have made my manner less tender; yet I feel that L have little to reproach myself with. I did not deserve such language from you.” | “OQ! Florida, forgive me—oh! Florida, forget what I said. I am ungrateful—I have been ungrateful. If you had but told me, before—but now—so late—Florida—I—am—I love him,” she sobbed, brokenly. “ Well—and if you are prepared to live in perpetual igno- mify, to hear his name coupled with another that has been lightly spoken upon foulest lips—if you are prepared to give life to innocent childhood, that shall blush for its parentage— if, after counting the cost, you will willingly bear all the trials of such a fate, marry him. The dishonor will be felt only for a lifetime,” she added, with soft but cruel irony. “Q! what a night!” cried Virginia, despairingly. She ) was as yet a child, still under the influence of the stern prin- 4. and had never felt the breath of either, though all her trials were magnified tenfold. She thought of Parker's agitation — when he spoke of his mother—of the father whom he did not know, and the recollection shook her whole being as with a mortal agony. Yesterday !—she could not bear to think of it. come, she was irrevocably his wife; so, for a time, she was immersed in the cold waters of despair. Reason and hope were prostrate, but they would rise soon; even love for a brief moment slept, but its waking was sure. From henceforth the child had gone, the woman had taken her place. She crept, haggard and suffering, to her couch, wishing in vain. that che nugnt die. Courage had not yet come to her; the world seemed all dark, and fate, cruel. It was her first heavy sorrow _ comic ooks.comn