Ruby's Reward — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

“T never could bury myself in that out-of-the-way place. LIshould die of loneliness and emnui,” mur- mured Mrs Gordon, hysterically, and still entrenched behind her mourning handkerchief. “Indeed you would not,’’ Ruby hastened to say. “There are plenty of visitors in that region to make it lively, and besides, Mr. Ruggles has a tine span of horses and an easy carriage, and we could drive as much as we liked, while the expense would be far less than at almost any resort.” “And could you be persuaded to place yourself un- der such ‘obligations’ for a ‘merely nominal price?’ ” queried Mrs. Gordon, sarcastically, and with an angry intonation, which betrayed that her grief had not been so very, overwhelming, Ruby flushed at having her own words hurled back at her in this fashion, but she replied, quietly : “Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles are dear friends. They have proved themselves fue friends, and I ean trust them, I do not feel that I should be incurring an ob- ligation to go to them.” hy el, J can never go to Redville,”’ Mrs. Gordon as- serted, decidedly. “Where will you go then, Estelle ?” “Nowhere. I shall remain where I am," the wo- | man pd chit in a sullen tone. “Everything has been arranged for the summer, and it would uot be honorable to change now.” “Do you consider that you made an honorable ar- rangement when you planned to come bere, or that Mr. Carpenter had honorable intentions w ‘hen he opened his house to us?’ Ruby questioned, Mrs. Gordon flushed crimson at this shaft, but she made no reply, and Ruby continued : “T do not wish to appear unkind and inconsiderate, Estelle, but I feel that you have been dealing very unfairly by me. You say that you have only my in- terest at heart, but you surely do not beliey 8 that it would be tor my interest to ruin my futur Boatshed ness ?' ——Saae Se po a |