Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

74 / FLORIDA; OR, THE IRON WILL. his disgrace made her wretched, though her affection never. wavered. At last they were ready. “T shall leave the house as it is, for the present,” Florida said, as, after her mother was placed in the carriage, she applied the key to the lock. “ But if the things do not come to-day, how can we possibly manage ?” asked Virginia. “You will see,” was Florida’s reply, and Virginia neither cared nor asked for more, but, throwing down her vail, gave herself up to the gloomiest reflections. | To the toll-gate, was a two miles’ drive. The coachman had instructions to proceed at his ease, on account of Mrs. Owen, and he followed them literally. They reached the toll- bridge and the driver stopped. A vessel was going through the draw at some little distance. Virginia had been sitting listlessly, holding her mother’s hand. Suddenly her beautifu! bloom came back—her eyes gave bright, surprised glances. There stood Parker, not a yard distant, resting against the door of the toll-house, and at that moment speaking with the keeper. Virginia forgot all, everything but that he was there, and, leaning out of the earriage, to the discomfiture of Florida, she called him. Let them say what they would ; let him be what he would— _in her eyes, then, he was noble and beautiful. She threw back the accusations of Florida from her own soul. He, on his part, saw nothing but her—saw not Filorida’s reserved but neryous manner, and barely spoke to the invalid, whose eyes closed again with the old weariness they had borne so long. He must have passed an uneasy night, for his face, in glow and sparkle, was almost supernaturally beautiful, and it was ever so when disease had kept him wakeful or restless, “T stole a march on you,” he said; “ for, seeing a carriage driving through the village, I-thought it might be for you and I walked on. So you are really gone.” _ Virginia could not speak for emotion. . “ Virginia, I am afraid the air from that side is too much for mother,” said Florida, in a cold voice. “She is asleep now.” , “TI will go on the other side,” said Parker, smiling toward Virginia, “and you can put the window up. I hope you have . comlicloOoks.comn tL