Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

70 FLORIDA, OR, THE TRON WILL. to sail; but I declare to you, if I had not for so long a time announced my intention of going, I should be tempted to put it off, provided things are as they seem to promise.” : “Perhaps the other sister is married or engaged.” “She distinctly said J/iss Virginia Owen,” was the reply; “they may both of them be engaged for all we can tell.” “T shall contrive to drop in on Thursday,” said Le Roy. “Very well; I will introduce you. After that, you will rethaps have an opportunity to become better acquainted.” “TI tell you what, Dudley, if you find this young lady is your ideal, Pll say a good word for you—that is, if I prosper in my wooing ; if I don’t, the dickens take the whole of them. But, man, what are you thinking about? You, the catch of the season, wasting your superb talents in idleness. Rouse up; the ladies are dying to tread the light fantastic toe with you, and really they must feel slighted.” At that moment a tall, fleshy woman, with cheeks so vividly crimson that they suggested a comparison with those purple-red dahlias one sees in fine gardens, moved by with a stately tread, On her arm hung the belle of the season, her niece, the daughter of some General or other, whom she had dragged from a fashionable watering-place to make a sensation here, and, maybe, with faint hopes that she might ensnare that rich and handsome bachelor, Horace Dud- ley. The management was so admirable, that Horace and the fat woman were instantly engaged in conversation; an introduction took place, and Mr. Dudley asked for “the honor”—offering his hand significantly, smiling down the room where sets were already forming. The General’s niece was really a very attractive girl—talked well, though with a certain air of affectation. She professed to be familiar with the name. “There is a family in my native town,” she said, “English born, who spell their name with a ‘leigh; ” and she looked at him questioningly. “Mine can not boast of so rite. termination,” he said, smiling a little “1 am old New Hampshire ae 9.9949 of: Setment: rom. She: Wesley, cen arene g w.” The belle looked a little shocked, but seemed to reconcile herself, with a high-bred inquisitorial glance at ber partner, conmmiclooks.conn