Ruby's Reward — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

“Oh, Walter, how can I ever bear it and live?" That clinging touch, the appealing look and ago- nized tone were too much for the young man’s selt- control. He was on his knees before ber in an instant, and had drawn her into his arms and laid her head upon his breast. “My darling, how Ilong to comfort you! Oh, if [ could but shield you from all sorrow !” he murmured, fondly. His tender tone, the sense of protection, of sym- pathy and love thus thrown around her, when she felt so utterly desolate, opened the flood-gates that had been so long closed, and she burst into a storm of tears. The young lover said not a word; he did not at- tempt to soothe her, but held her close to him and let her weep until all her wild grief was spent. Then he laid her gently back in her chair and stole softly from the room. He found Jane in the kitchen, and asked her for a cup of tea, She had just taken one to Mrs. Gordon, and soon had another ready for him. He took it and returned to the parlor. “Will you drink this, Ruby?” he asked. “T know you need it.’ And, as ifit were enough for him to simply make the request, she drank it. “Now could you eat just a little bit of something ?” he pleaded, knowing how little she had eaten dur- ing the past week. and longing to see the color come back to her wan cheek, She shook her head with asad smile.’ He did not urge it, for he saw that she could not; but bis heart was throbbing with a great, new joy in spite of his sorrow for her, tor the sweet, shy glance that she had lifted to him told him that she did not resent his impulsive and almost unconscious free- dom of a few moments ago. It lm ost COREE ERP