Ruby's Reward — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

Senator. She was not a beautiful girl, but her po- sition was irreproachable, and the union would have been a4 most desirable one. Major Howland imme« diately instituted inquiries about Walter’s intended bride, and found, to our grief and dismay, that he had already committed himself to a poor girl, who was a clerk in a store. The major was furiously angry at this discovery, and declared if Walter mar- ried her, he should never cross his threshold again.” Walter's lips opened, as if he would have spoken, while his eyes blazed and his whole face expressed the utmost seorn at this statement. Be checked himself, however, and madam re- sumed: “You think that was very hard and unfeeling,” she said, deprecatingly, “butremember that it was ow- ing more to education than an unfeeling heart. I tried to temporize with my husband—tried to pre- yail upon him to go to New York and see this young gsirl—she might not be so unworthy as he imagined. But be would not, and forbade me to take any meas- ures toward effecting a reconciliation, and I was forced to obey, Walter was warned of the conse- quences which would follow his marriage with one whom we believed would disgrace the family, and commanded to return immediately to us, In reply, he wrote a noble and manly letter, pleading his cause most eloquently, and inclosing a picture of his beau- tiful betrothed, which made me almost yearn to own herasadaughter, But the tair, sweet face had no influence upon my busband, except to make him more obstinate, and he finally said so maich that my own pride was touched and?my heart hardened, Walter had also expressed some opinions regarding politics in his letter, that made Major Howland ex- ceedingly angry. He had decidedly refused to come home while the country was so agitated, saying that if the worst came, his conscience would not allow bim to take up arms against the Union, and it would thus be better for him to remain where he wa his was the last bitter drop. Hewas Pea isini cokes