Ruby's Reward — page 334: what you’re looking at

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

She had supposed Ruby sate at Redville during all this time, although she had wondered at not hearing ‘from her. She had written once, but the letter had never been sent, having been overlooked in the worry and excitement of her sister’s illness, and she had found plenty in that home of sorrow to fill both heart and hands, to the exclusion of allelse; for the invalid had been a fearful sufferer, lingering upon the borders of the grave for weeks, anc only been released by death a few days before the trial. Mrs. Gordon had confidently expected to meet Ruby upon her return to Philadelphia, and it had been a particularly pleasant prospect, for remorse had been busy in her heart, condemning her for the part which she had taken against her. Edmund Carpenter saw her turn toward him after Mr. Ruggles had concluded, and he knew well enough what was in hermind; but he appeared to be per- fectly at ease, and wore an unconcerned air which baffled her completely. “And J have not seen Ruby since I bade her. good- by in Mr. Carpenter’s house on the morning when I was so suddenly summoned to my sister,” she said, in a trembling tone, as she turned again to Mr. Rugeles. | “Then Heaven help us all!—something dreadful must have happened tod her,” returned Mr. Ruggles, greatly agitated. Just then Edmund Carpenter arose, and approach- ing them, shook hands with his uncle and Mrs. Gor- don ina cordial manner; ; then asked, in a natural, off-hand way : ‘cWhere is Miss Ruby ?—she ought to be here to-day. Was she not able to come with you 2” Mrs. Gordon's heart sank, for she argued at once that he could know nothing regarding her young sis- ter’s strange disappearance. His question had entirely deceived her; but Mr. Ruggles regarded the young man aeeeee while Mr. Conant, who had stood silently by d conversation, was very sure that the eon sa aa -4