Ruby's Reward — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XLIL MADAM HOWLAND’S STORY. “Tmpossible !” burst from Walter’s lips, while he regarded his companion as if he thought she had sud- denly lost her senses. “J wish it had been impossible for me to have been so hard-hearted toward my own flesh and blood,” re- turned Madam Howland, in trembling tones, as the tears streamed over her pale face. “It is too sadly true, however, and it would be but simple justice if you should turn with loathing from me, now that I have revealed myself to you, But listen, my boy, and let me tell you my story before you judge me, In my younger days I was a Baltimore beauty and heiress. My father was a wealthy Southerner, own- ing two or three plantations and many slaves, and I inherited from him the pride of birth and station. ‘When I was eighteen years of age, I married Kg- bert Richardson. He also was wealthy, and oceu- pied a high. position in society; and, brougat up as we had been, Ido not know as it is strange that we should both consider poverty and labor as things to be despised and shunned. We had been taught to gauge a person by his position and possessions, rather than to respect him for his intrinsic -worth. We had one son, whom we named Walter, and you ean, perhaps, imagine something of my astonishment and emotion when, on the morning of my accident, you told me that your naine was. Walter Richardson, Something in your face had attracted me from the first, and when you told me your name mieboul weave it oa ayy stronely resembled your fegoute OOS