Ruby's Reward — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

Uwe othr VP ave rerr ay ayes See ee 4S Ses ee ae Then he endeavoured to monopoline Ruby's time and attention, Sho tried to divide her favours between her two callers, but Edmund Carpentier adroitly managed to make all such effor.s appear so forced that she grew embarrassed whenever she attempted te speak to Walter, and he, ob- serving it, was upon the point of evrcusing himself and taking his leave, when Mr Gor- don drew him into conversation regarding his new residence, which was now nearly ready for occupancy, and after that things moved along more smoothly, although the evening proved to be anythirg but a pleas- ant one. He could not fail to perceive that Iéd- mund had serious designs upon the young girl whom he had learned to love, and he told himself that, perbape, he had no right to interfere between her and the brilliant prospects that would be heis if he could win her for bis wife; and yet the very thought was torture to him. Ruby was not herself at all that evening ; she was labouring under a painful restraint, engendered by the antagonism which she felt that Edmund Carpenter entertained for Walter, and she, too, was very miser- able when at length the young man arose to take his leave. Edmund made his adieus at the rame time, and the two men passed out together, while Walter instinctively felt that he had some sinister purpose in thus accompanying hint, He was not long left in doubt. | “ Are you not rathor presuming in visit- | ing a lady of Mrs Gordon’s position 7? young Carpenter abruptly asked, after they had passed into the street, ‘© Tf you call responding ro an invitation, given by Mr Gordon, and seconded by his sister, ‘presuming,’ doubtless [ am guilty of the charge,” Walter replied, with some coldness, ‘*Indeed! When were yon so fortunate as to secure such an invitation 2?” allow me to ask.” comicibooks.com