Ruby's Reward — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

a But she did not, and he led her a little away from the spot where she had come so near losing her precious life, and seated her gently on the ground. hen he went back to get his hat and the lichens, which lay scattered on the rock where he had dashed them in his mad fear, He oven stopped to gather a few more, thinking that Ruby would grow calm more quickly if left to herself for a little while. When he went back to her, he found her sitting with bowed head in a reverent attitude, and he knew instinctively that ghe was giving thanks for the great mercy that had saved her from a dreadful death, She looked up and smiled, however, as he came forward, holding out one little still trembling hand to him. “Next to God Iowe you most grateful thanks,” she said, with deep emotion. We knelt down beside her and touched his lips to her hand. Gratitude is not aword to be used be- tween us, Ruby,” he said, softly, and she | seemed to recognise the fact, for her lovely | eyes drooped quickly, and a burning blush swept over her face in spite of her pallor. Walter was almost sorry he had allowed himself to say so much, but he had uttered the words almost before he was aware of what he was saying. She had not appeared to resent them, however; indeed, that quick blush had kindled within his heart a hope that she might be learning to regard him with a tendercr feeling than that of mere friendship. comichooks.com _ 7 4 wa