Ruby's Reward — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

She had not seen fit to make any reply to his last remark, but went on quietly with her breakfast, and an awkward pause followed. It was broken by the entrance of a servant, who handed Mrs. Gordon a telegram. She broke the seal in an agitated manner, and read it with a blanching face. “What is it, Estelle?” Ruby asked, observing it. “My sister Emma is very ill—dying, they fear—and they have sent for me to come to Harrisburg imme- diately,’ Mrs. Gordon replied, in trembling tones. “You will go?” “Of course, I must,in spite of the storm; but— what will you do, Ruby? Will you conie with me?” Ruby looked thoughtful. She did not wish te go to Harrisburg. She would not stay thete at Forestvale another twenty-four ro: a and there seemed to be only one thing for her to do. “Mr. Carpenter, do you know where Mr. Ruggles stops when he is in the city?” she aaked, turning to Edmund before replying to her sister. A peculiar light flashed into the young man’s eyes as he mentioned a house with which she was not fa- “Iniliar. “Will you allow Thomas to take a note to him for “Ine when he earries Estelle to the station?’ she asked, “Certainly,” he replied, heartily. “Thomas is at your service in any way.” “Then I will goto Redville, Estelle,” Ruby said, speaking to Mrs. Gordon. ‘‘I will write him to come tor me to-day, and if he is notready toreturn I will g¢ and spend the intervening time with Florence, Now come and I will help you get off, for, of course, you wish to start as soon as possible.” She pushed back her piate and arose as she spoke, and preceded her sister from the room, Edmund Car- penter’s eyes following her witha sinister, trium- plant expression, [TO BE CONTINUED.] comichooks.com