Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

THE PARTY. 81 fom my memory again. My memory’s dreadful poor—I wonder why? I ain't so very old.” Again the thought was gone. Virginia longed to tell her mother af), but she feared the effects of such news upon her in her present debilitated state. Her mother placed her hand apon-her head, patting it fondly. “You are so like my Thomas,” she murmured—“ so like my Thomas. He'd hold all his grief in from me.” What did her mother mean? Virginia looked ques- . tioningly in her face, but again, apparently, she had for- gotten, and her eyes were closing in sleep." So Virginia stole away to her own room, there to think, to sorrow, and to plan—I should not say the latter, for she had but little encouragement to plan upon. CHAPTER XIl. THE PARTY. AN UNEXPECTED VISIT. - Ar last Florida’s ambition was satisfied. She had sent out cards of invitation to the choice and select few, and none ~ of them had returned regrets. Her first party was therefore , to be a success. Florida’s taste was of a nature so refined, so subtle in its alchemy, that she needed neither decorator nor French cook. The parlors were spacious, the drawing-rooms elegant, and, with 2 new grouping of pictures and statuary, with ‘free sccess to the COnsErTASOTy: Tee The effect was every apartment into a sort wer. e effect was almost magical when the gas was lighted. Florida herself was not the least attractive among novel sights. She knew ahe was beautiful, and, better than that, just what her beauty needed. Her dress for that occasion made her regal--crimson end black, with a very few and well arranged ornaments. Her loveliness, in such an attire, was almost startling, and left &n-impression on the beholder that did not soon wear off. * The effect produced on some persons was more like a shock vf fine, penetrating electricity ; though with many it left ap Ss : comlicbooks.com