Ruby's Reward — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

ag she could, until she was sure the barricade was strong enough to keep out intruders, Then she moved the head of her bed up agniust it, and felt that with the key of the other door always in her posses- sion, she should have a place of refuge to flee to whenever her unwelcome visitor presented himself. At six o'clock, a servant brought to the door a tempting supper upon a tray, but the poor girl was not hungry, or rather she was too wretched to eat. She could be brave enough when Edmund Carpen- ter was there to arouse her antayonism, but it was very different when she found herself a solitary prisoner, and felt that she was liable to remain there indefinitely, and no one dreaming but that she was safe; happy, and contented with her friends. Walter would mniss her letters, and would wonder why she did not write. He might even go to Forest- yale to learn the reason, and would probably be told that she had either gone to Redville or Harrisburg, and would be none the wlser until his trial should come off, when she knew there must be inquiries for her. But she might not be found until it would be too late to do any good, And with a heart bursting with grief, as all these thoughts crowded upon her, she retired at an early hour, and tried to forget her wretchedness in sleep. CHAPTER XLI. WALTER MAKES A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY. Meanwhile Walter was faithfully attending to the duties devolving upon him in Chester. Mr. Conant was more than satisfied with the manner in which he had managed the contract which he had been forced, from the press of other business, to intrust him with, and was meditating a grand promotion for him, if he should desire to remain with him after his year was up. To say that the young man was not troubled and anxious over his disagreeable situation <QEtind ys LenS ] He ; ; 2 oo) of his coming trial, would not be truth; still, he Wis |