Ruby's Reward — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

- Walter lifted grave, questioning eyes to his com- -panion’s face as she made this statement, She flush- ed slightly as she met his glance, “-You wonder,” she said, reading his thought, ‘“‘why I did not at once claim you as my grandson. I[ will frankly confess that something of my old pride of race revived, as the knowledge was forced upon me, and I dreaded to commit myself until I hadtried your character. I wanted to be sure that you were’worthy of my love and of the name you bear. This is why I have urged you to come here so much; why I have asked you questions, which, no doubt, you have thought were very presuming from an entire stranger, But, my dear boy, I find you a true and noble man; one whom I can honor and feel proud to own as my grandson, if you allow me that privilege. I came -yery near revealing myself on the day of your arrest, and it was only by a mighty effort that I restrained inyself. It was a great blow to me, even though you bore it 80 bravely and appeared so innocent. When Mr. Conant came to Chester, he called here and re- lieved my mind, asserting that he could trust you un der any circumstances, and then I contided everything to him, under a promise of secrecy, and commission- ed him to spare no expense for you, but see that you had the very best counsel retained for your trial. “And now, my dear boy,” the old lady said, in con- clusion, a8 she laid her hand upon Walter’s arm and leaned forward to look more closely into his face, “can you forgive all the injury and injustice toward your parents of which I have been gully? I have suffered for it in the lonely years that I have spent in my desolate home, and tenfold since I discovered that you are my grandson, and realized how much [ have missed in not having had you to comfort and cheer me during these long years. Will you try to torget it all, Walter, and be to me in my old age what ITknow your father would have been—a kind and loving son, a staff and comfort,” Her voice had grown husky and trembling; there were tears in her eyes and a wistful, appeal & Ox- pression upon her aged face. comicbooks.com POR a OOO Saeko Pre Bee