Ruby's Reward — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXI. RUBY'S TLEROISM. Tun brother and sister sat in silence for several minutes after Mr Gordon mado his startling statement. She made no sien of regret or gricf at the announcement that her handsome fortune had all been swept away. She would not wound his alveady lacerated heart by one word of blame or reproach, She rested her shining golden head con- fidingly against his shoulder, while one saft hand was laid upon his cheek in mute sympathy. ‘* Robert,” she said, slowly and steadily, after a while, ‘1 don’t believe we need bo troubled so very much about anything but the debts, and perhaps they will uot prove to be so heavy as you fear.” ‘Ruby, child, is that all you have to say to me? You cannot realise what it means to lose every dollar. Can you bear to give up your lovely hoine with all its comforts ; the horses and cariiaves, your liberal income, all your pretty dresses, and the hundred other things that you have had bub to wish for in order to possess %” he asked, astonished. “YT presnme I shall miss them, and at fist, perhaps, il will be a little hard; bunt it will not be nearly so bad as if I had lost my health,” the young girl answered,cheer- fullv . comiddectss.com