Ruby's Reward — page 322: what you’re looking at

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

“Doubtless it was something of that nature; but does not your heart ever yearn atter your own kin- dred?’ Madam Howland asked, regarding him, ear- nestly. Again Walter colored vividly; he was very sensitive upon this point. *T have oftem wished that I had relatives—that I could know I belonged to some one who really cared for me because the same blood flowed in wy veins; but—" ae WYO Ye “T could never thrust myself upon those people who were so unkind to my father—who ignored and despised my mother simply because she was poor,” he answered, proudly. “My mother was a lady in every sense of the word,” he continued, with somé excitement. ‘‘She was as refined and cultured as—as vow are, Madam Howland, andvery beautitul. Herparents were at one time very wealthy, but misfortune deprived them ot their prop- erty ; while Miss Martha Burton moved in the best society, and she took the greatest pains to have my mother carefully edueated,”’ “Have you a picture of your mother,’ madam asked. “Yes, but not here, I shall be happy to show i¢ to you some time. But, Madam Howland,” Walter asked, earnestly, ‘don’t you think it is a mean spirit that looks down upon and despises really worthy people of pecuniary misfortune, on because they do not happen to occupy a certain position?” He looked up into his companion’s grand face with questioning eyes as he asked her this, while there was a slight curl of scorn upon his fine lips, for he heartily despised the arrogance and purse-pride of which he had spoken, He was startled by the effects of his Hors for the woman had grown white to her lips, ines ciually groaned alond at his 8 question, ete age aa = ‘a Fae