Ruby's Reward — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

“T presume it would be a little hard at tirst; but I will not stay with Estelle if she persists in bringing Ine in contact with Mr. Carpenter as often as she has done,” Ruby said, with a decision that made that gentleman's ears tingle. “Ruby, Low much do you suppose it would cost for you and me to live comfortably in a little home of our own ?” Walter asked, in an eager tone. “T do not know much aboutsuch things,” the young girl answerd, hiding her face upon his shoulder, with a sudden thrill, ‘though, during the little while that we lived in street after Robert’s failure, [ man- aged the household expenses, and he was surprised to tind how small they were. Of course he attended to the rent, coal bills, and such things and I kept ac- count of the groceries, provisions, and so forth.” “Let us reckon it a little, dear,” Walter proceeded, “Rent for us would not probably amount to more than three hundred dollars a year—that is, unless we are ambitious for style. Call coal fifty, Now, how much for groceries and provisions 2” “*T believe that my accounts used to foot up about forty or forty-five dollars a month—that included the servants’ wages; but, of course, there were four of us to feed,” “And you think it would not cost two of us nearly so much,’* said Walter, smiling. “Oh, my darling, you understand that I long to make you my wite and shield you from all unpleasantness, such as you have been experiencing ot late; and yet I hesitate because of my limited means. I should never forgive myself if misfortune should overtake us and youshould be a sufferer thereby. Could we live comfortably on a thousand a year, dear?” ‘Yes, indeed, I should think so,’’ Ruby answered. “T am to have a thousand dollars next year, and an interest—small, of course—in the business besides, aud if, oh, Ruby, dare I ask you to trust yourself, to me? It will be very different, I know, from the kind of life to which you have been accusto heel Uo | : y : ow fp 3 were quite sure it would not be unwise, 1 béteve we |