Ruby's Reward — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

“ T think you hardly understand me," he said, ina haughty tone. ‘I quail before no man's threats, as I will prove to you here and now. Suppose, for instance, that { do love Ruby Gordon ; if I were sure that she would return my affection, I should try —provided I was in_a position to warrant my doing so—I say U should try to win her honourably and openly before all the world. Any other man has the same privilege and right in this free country, and no one has any authority to lay restrictions upon another. Good-night, Edmund.” “He turned upon his heel, and walked resolutely away, but not before he had caught the ominous words that were thrown savagely after him : ‘“‘ Braggart, I have only one word to say to you—beware !” CHAPTER XVII. MR AND MRS RUGGLES COME TO PHILADEL- PHIA. Mr Rovert Gorpon’s house was at, last completed, furnished and ready for occu- pancy, and a veritable palace of lyxury and eleganoe tt was; toG:,, , Tho site upoh which it had been built was unexceptional, while the grounds had all been laid out with exquisite taste before the house was orected. There were long, smoothly gravelled walkr, overarched with wide-spreading, luxuriant trees, leading up to it. There was ® beautiful lawn, green and as smooth ak velvet, in front, and this was ornamented With choice shrubs, lovely beds, and here ‘and there a fountain and choice pieces of gleaming white statuary. Wide marble steps led up to the spactous mansion, and the grand entrance hall, | whose rich and elegant furnishings gave but a faint idea of the magnificence await- ing beyond. comiebooks.com |