Ruby's Reward — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

His blood began to boil at this persistent oppo- sition. But he strove to conceal it, though he ex- claimed, eagerly : “Ruby, I have set my heart upon this, and J eannot give you up. I have overlooked your reduced cir- cumstances. I have waved your loss of fortune. TI offer you all that I am and have, and am willing to take you empty-handed, He had made a graye mistake, and he saw it in- stantly, as that golden crowned head before him was litted with a haughty gesture, “You are certainly very kind,” the young girl re- sponded, with quiet sarcasin, though her eyes shone with a brilliant light and her lip curled with the eon- tempt she could but feel for him at thus reminding her of her poverty. He winced at her tone, and colored crimson, “TI did not mean to wound you,” he apologized; “but—but you know what the world says when a rich man marries a poor girl.” “What does it say?’ Ruby asked, in a tone that should have warned him to be careful how le an- swered, “That such a marriage is a mesalliance.” Ruby Gordon arose and stood before him, cold and haughty. *You will be spared that fate, then, Mr. Carpenter, forI shall never marry you,” she said, scorntully, “Tf [had loved you, I would not become your wife, after having shears! Sein oh to such sentiments. You have shown'me that wealth and position are more to you than anything else in the world—that you feel you would be conferring a lasting obligation upon me by condescending to make me your wite after I hadlost my own fortune. But,’.and she drew herself up with an air of conscious dignity, “I know that Iam more worthy—that I am better fitted—to be the wife of a good man to day, than I was three months ago. I am not egotistical in saying it either, for adversity has shown me how shallow and selfish my former mode of living was—it has taught me how to be useful, and shown me how [email protected]