Ruby's Reward — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

‘'Thanka,” he returned with a flush of ,delicht, and then stepped one side to wait until the musie should begin. | Ruby had forgotten, or had not noticed, , that mumber nineteen was a waltz, Sho did not often waltz, except with lady friends or with her brother. There was something offensive to herin the thought of being encircled in the arma of strangers, and so. she almost always vefused, and, as we know, she hac already denied Edmund Car- penter earlier in the evening. Suddenly the slow, sweet strains of a lovely walta fell upon her ear. She started as the sound reminded her of her promise to Walter, and coloured as she thought what that promise would involve. She looked at her tablets to see if there wag not some mistake. No, it was number nineteen, and one of Strauss‘s intoxicating melodies, and just then Walter approached her. “Tam afraid you are too tired,” he said as he remarked the grave, perplexed look in her eyes. She laughed. “Noy, Iam not too tired,” she answered ; “bat, to be frank, I did not notice that | this was to be a waltz, and I have refused one to a gentleman this ovening.” | YJ will release you if you desire,” Walter returned, with ready courtesy, yet looking disappointed. She glanced up at him. She had dis- covered that he was a delightful partner, and the eayer look that she saw in his eyes and the Lewildering music tempted her strongly. Ronnicbooketeon gine an” ,. . ee