Ruby's Reward — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

ihr Gurdon quoted, emilingly, still fondly revarding her — “She fiowns no goddess, she moves no queen. The otter charm that io her manner lies Ts termed to captivate, yet not surprise, Tt sustis suits the expression of her face; "tis Jess than dignity and more than vrace.” ‘Spare me!” Ruby cried, in mock dis- may. ‘1 confess IT expected something of this later on, though fronia dillerent -ource; bri Lo be overw helmed by such an avalanche at the outset, and by a grey-haired veteran too, fuirly takes my breath away.” “dr will not harm you. As Farmer Rug- gles says, ‘you can’t be spoiled.’ But, tonlly, you have taken my breath away. Who vot you up so eharmingly to-night?” “Thank you. F planned my costumo inyself.” J. that possible? Ah fit ia such a wise lille head; if knew just what would suit it best,” he retrined, touching caressingly the pre, white ily that rested on her hair, **T puess DF phall have to open the ball with you.” You can’t, for 1 am engaged,” Ruby said, demurely, thouvh a flush of scarlet stained Jser cheek at the confession, “ Already | To whotn ?” “Oh, I had to promise a young knight that 1 would dance the firal seb with him, The would grace our parby with his pre- cence; and then, Robert, you forget that Mrs Ruggles is our guest, and you must, at least, ehow her the courtesy of asking her,” “Do you suppose she knows how?” Mr Gordon usked, with a twinkle of fun in his eyes, ‘Tt will be very easy Lo ascertain. J am going to dance with Afr Ruggles hy- and-by, JT want you to ask tho orchestra to play an old-fashioned contra-danreogenae