Ruby's Reward — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

At first, during her recital, there had been a strug- gle in Walter’s mind—a conflict between resentment tor the treatment which his father and mother had received at the hands of one who ought to have shown them only tender consideration, aud sym- pathy and pity for this lonely old lady who was suing so humbly tor his forgiveness and affection. Pride, too, stood like a giant in the way. It seemed almost disloyal in him to be willing to drop thus into the {ap of luxury, to have benefits heaped upon him by he band that had witheld even the necessaries of life from those whom he had so dearly loved. If she had been poor and suffering he would have yielded to her entreaties at ounce, and gladly given her what care and comforthe could. But he recoiled from taking any step which would seem as if he had been influenced by her wealth or position. , Madam Howland could not fail to read something of all this in his expressive face, : '*Walter, do you shut your heart against me,” she pleaded, “I know I have done wrong, and now let me atone, ag far as I can, for the wretched past, by loving and caring for you; by smoothing your path and helping you on in the world, and, when I am done with it, all that I have will be yours.” Walter lifted his eyes—they were full of fears, for her tone had moved him—and said, with flushed cheeks, yet in a tone that had a ring of pride in it: «That is just what troubles me and makes me hesi- tate. If you were poor it would be comparatively easy, for then I should not appeur to be seeking inv own preferment, or to be acting from selfish motives; if you were poor I would gladly care for you, love you and strive to make your future smooth and peaceful,” = . ~ “Oh! my boy, I a poor—so poor that my old heart is starving for loveandsympathy. Wealth will not ce ieee such things, and my future will be dark in- eed, now that I have found you, it you will not come to me aud be the staff of my old_age ui 4 let your pride keep you from me, Woareeeattateolen eat