Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

82 ‘ FLORIDA; OR, TRE IRON WIL, : anpleasant sensation. Everybody of note had heard of Florida the bandsomest woman in the city and. of course, aj] the world was on the qui vive to see her in the capacity of hostess. Many expected to be amused With a Jona fide specimen of rusticity suddenly elevated, and imagined that their benevo- lence would be called to undergo very severe rubs and stretch- ings for excuses of her mal intendres. Others expected simply to be amused with country-talk, and the aping of stylish man- _ hers. Consequently confusion and ennut were confidently relied upon for the programme of the eyening’s entertainment. Never did well-bred guests betray astonishment more unex- pectedly than they. Florida, in the expressive phrase of a foppish youth, “took them all down.” Her innate elegance surprised them into reverence—the costly materials of her dress, and her exquisite finish in every design, betrayed them into unequivocal compliments. Virginia did not come down, in her soft, sunny beauty, till quite late, having found it impos- sibie to leave her mother. Her restlessness ani brilliancy made her very noticeable. She was arrayed, like the pure water-lily, in the snowiest white crape, and moved among the glittering crowd, gathering smiles and pretty sayings as she went, : It was very cruel of Florida to force her into that crowd, she said, but Florida’s will was law, and someway, of late, she had not felt. to resist her influence in the remotest manner. It seemed as if she must do as Florida said—must go where she appointed—must be the passive, unresisting follower. Her judgment, however clear before, seemed clouded the moment she felt the atmosphere created by Florida’s presence. She often attempted to resist, but.as often found herself powerless. If it had not been for the letters of Parker, who seemed on the way to success, she would have been wretched indeed. “She is unquestionably a superb woman,” said a. tall, mustached gentleman, a foreign author, and of course the lion ef the hour. _The man at his side was a person of some renown, known as a lecturer on different sciences. He spoke of Florida. “She is a most powerful magnet,” muttered the latter. “Good heavens! what a positive creature | she could magnet ize a crowd. I wish I could see her mental organization—i must be a study.” conmiclooks.conn