Beadle's Dime Novels No. 20: Florida; or, The Iron Will — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

86 FLORIDA; OR, THE IRCN WILL “I don’t like it, Parker—it confuses and annoys me Among all the faces, I don’t see one that my heart goes ont toward, and the whole is something so little in accordance with my taste that I often long—oh! you can’t tell with what pain at my heart—to get back to our dear old cottage—yes, even to be a child again and go to school in Sunny Nook. O, Parker! I was not made for such living as this.” “T heard it only a few days back. They are going in to supper,” he said, pausing a moment. “Let us remain here in some of the rooms—or will they miss you ?” | “Let us remain, Parker,” said Virginia, eagerly ; “it seems so good to see you after such a long, long time! They'll not miss me.” “T was going to say,” began Parker, standing back as the throngs filed by, “ that I only heard this news s few days ago —and it electified me. ‘Virginia rich? I thought—” “TI have nothing to do with it,” spoke Virginia, hastily. “TI am as dependent as ever, living upon my mother’s bounty. That is the same as deferring my blessings to Florida, for she rules here as well as elsewhere.” “Be that as it may,” said Parker, “ the information made me unaccountably sad. You seemed, from that moment, lost to me, darling.” At that he made the gesture that Virginia had learned te know, and that betokened severe physical pain. Mit ne a heart sunk, “ What shall I get for Parker ?” “ Nothing—it is over ; it is strange—the least mental excitement is followed by that terrible throb, as if the pulse of my heart was wounded.” “« T did not notice at first—but I think you are in trouble, Parker.” “Trouble! I was born for it,” he muttered. “TI think, darling, that I am expiating, somewhere about the fourth or fifth generation, for the sins of my fathers. I haven't any business yet. What shall I do” “Don’t despair, Parker.” “T have despaired already!” The voice was so heart broken that Virginia shuddered. “You may think me weak-minded to s degree whem you * Comicloooksacomn