Ruby's Reward — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XLVII. CONCLUSION, “Can you ever forgive me, Ruby? My worldly am- bition, my pride and love of money, have nearly proved my own ruin, as well as yours. I deserve your supreme contempt instead of the gentle care and kindness which you are giving me.” This from Mrs. Gordon, who had been ill fornearly aweek. She had been taken from the court-house directly to her former boarding-place in the city, whither Ruby had insisted upon accompanying her, and where she had been unremitting in her atten- tions, and as gentle and kind as if her sister-in-law had never done her the slightest injury. “Of course I have forgiven you already, Estelle, Ruby answered. “I will confess, though, that I felt forlorn enough when I found that you werein league with Edmund Carpenter, and determined to make me marry him—I longed for Robert more than ever, tor I was so alone and friendless.”’ ‘Poor child!” returned Mrs. Gordon. weeping, “TI have been false enough to my trust. You have shown yourself tar more of a woman than I ever since our troubles began, and you have shamed me by your patience and self-sacrifice from the first. But I will try to lead a different life after this, and to | make myself worthy of your love.” Ruby stooped and kissed the repentant woman on her lips, thus putting an end to further self denun- ciation. ‘*] have always loved you dearly, Estelle, until this barrier began to grow up between us, and I hope, now that it is removed, we shall be dearer than ever to each other. But—I wantyou to hurry and get well as 8000 a8 possible. Do you think you will be able to get out by next Monday? Madam Howland insists that we shall be her guests for a little while,’ Ruby concluded, with a blush, tor she knew that madam had planned this visit so that Walter and she might Pa more of each other than they could efherwise do.