Ruby's Reward — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXX. AN EAVESDROPPER. Y FTER a long pause, during . which Mrs. Gordon had been considering the young girl's last decisive sentence, she pursued, in an injured tone: “Ttis very selfishof you, Ruby, to wish to deprive me of all the#e pleasant things. I cannot go to a fashionable resort this year, as you know, and we are settled so comfortably in this delightful spot, it will be a shame to bave to yeave.” Ruby made no reply; she had announced her de- cision, aud meant to abide by it, But Mrs. Gordon would not vive up yet. “And then, too, to think that you would wish to go away and leave me alone in my sorrow! I surely thought you were more conaiderate than that, when you are all I have left to love.” And the artful widow buried her face in her black-bordered hand- kerchief, with a sob. This touched Ruby, for she believed that her emo- tion was genuine;she could not believe her wholly depraved. “T do not wish to leave you, Estelle,” she said. “TI told you that I would go anywhere else with you. Let us goto Redville,”’ she added, with animation. a know that Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles ‘would be apg ta ed to have us, andit is beautiful ner eociUORE. dd mountains.” i