Ruby's Reward — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVIII. WALTER’S REVELATION. The next morning, however, Ruby received a reply to her note, telling her that her lover had been sent out of town by Mr. Conant to superintend a contract which the latter could not attend to himself just then; that he should be away for a month, but would come to her immediately after his return ; meantime, he would write to her frequently, and urged her to do the same. This was something of a disappointment to Ruby, but she resolved to bear the long separation cheer- fully, and enjoy herself as much as she could amid her beautiful surroundings, She found the change greatly beneficial to her health, and began to improve in flesh and strength alimost immediately. | The month soon slipped by, school closed, and Ruby’s work was finished for the year. A day or two after the examinations were over, Walter re- turned to the city, and that same evening, just at dusk, presented himself at the door of his old home, dun inquired for his betrothed, He had been greatly astonished and somewhat troubled upon learning that Ruby was gone to spend the summer in Edmund Carpenter's house, It was evident from her letters that she did not know to whom the place belonged, and he had not enlightened her, thinking it best to say nothing until he could have a private talk with her, The servant could not find Ruby, consequently took the young man’s ecard to Mrs. Gordon, who went down immediately to him, with the determination to prevent a bana a a ae ae if possible, She greeted him with cold formality, in that Ruby was out. BRR RA