Ruby's Reward — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

| CHAPTER XXXI. AN ACCIDENT. A window opened from Mrs. Coxon’s room upon the veranda, and Ruby, unfastening a blind and outting her-head inside, saw the woman seated at er table, darning stockings. *Mrs. Coxon, have you a spare bed to night?” she asked, as the housekeeper looked up at the intrusion, “Yes, halfa dozen. Who wants one?” she replied, suspending her darning operations, and glancing up over the rim of her spectaeles. “A pbenighted and weather-bound traveler, who is also a favorite of yours, I believe.” “JT have but one favorite, and that is Mr, Walter; if he waits a bed he’s welcome to the best in the house, Mrs. Coxon returned. ‘‘Ah, I see,’’ she added, as Walter bent his tall form and looked in upon her, “You've been caught in the shower. Come in, you reckless young folks, out of the rain, or yowll catch your death of cold.” She arose, and unfastened the door for them, and her face was all aglow with pleasure and hospitality, as she shook hands with Walter, | me aim afraid it will make you trouble, if I stay,” he said. “Not a bit of it: itdoes my old eyes good to see you, and I’'d be glad to be troubled in the same way -—oftener.” : “You were always kind to me, Mrs. Coxon,’ re- turned the young man, ‘‘and I hope some time I shall be able to make it up to you.” “T’ll tell you how,” retorted the housekeeper, with a twinkle in her eye, as she glanced from one to the other, with a wise look, ‘when you two get married, let me come and keep house for you.” Walter laughed heartily, while Ruby blushed to the hue of her name. “T should like nothing better, I’m sure,” said the young man, ‘but you know we are both as poor as churc Gn es Gane re — ane psy as that.’ “Poor as church mice, indeed,” snitfe 2 W. 9 indignantly, ‘‘you’ve no business to Pec cooncaceit