Ruby's Reward — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

“Why, to Mr Richardson, of course,” Ruby retorted, but with a blush which be- trayed that it would le a pleasure in which she would share. A weck before the grand reception Mr and Mrs Ruggles arrived, and wete kindly and graciously received by the Gordons, the fastidions lady of the house not ex- cepted. Mrs Gordon, after giving the matter some thought, had concluded that it would be policy to extend every possible courtesy to them, She knew that they were relatives of Ed- mund Carpenter — who, in her own mind, she had decreed should marry Ruby, if any manwuvring on her part could accomplish such annion. They had nochildven of their own, and, since they had taken such a fancy to her beautiful young sister, their great wealth might possibly be thus added to their family. Accordingly, she surprised Ruby by being very gracious to them. Mr Gordon, having no such merceaary calculations, was most cordial and genial simply out of the nobility of his great heart, while Ruby betrayed genuine delight in her welcome. Mrs Ruggles was very becomingly arrayed in a modest but rich travelling costume of fine, dark-grey cloth, while her husband looked really neat in a new and becoming business suit, The house-warming had been set for the 21st, and Mrs Ruggles confided to Ruby at the outset that she must have a dress suit- able for the occasion, and asked her advice and help in obtaining it. “ You are not to count the cost cither, Mias Ruby,” Owen Ruggles interposed. ‘I want mother to do you credit, so you just get the best—what you would want your own to wear to such a party.” Ruby’seyes twinkledat these instructions, for she remembered stelle’s fears regarding eccentricity of costume, and she resolved to give her sister a surprise such as sho had not had for many a @ay. _ comicbooks.com