Ruby's Reward — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

He bad offered to sit with the Mmvald while the tratoed nurse went out fora restand change, and Ralph Carpenter had selzed this opportunity to make known his \wlsbes respecting the boy whom he had taken trom his dying mother, and reared and loved as his osvn son ; also 2 communication of Importance which that mother hud desired abould be made known to alm when he should come of age. Bub he was weaker than be had thonght. while the -exolfement of recalling the past had been more than he could Dear, and bad brought on this uttack, from which ie wus never to recover, Weltersring‘vas Immediately answered by the ap- ‘peuruoes Of & servant, who was followed by a young ma.n Of per eDS bWenty-live years, whose face instantly Assumed 2 disagresable frown us he saw Walter bernd- ing over his woconsclous trlend, and sing such restora- ives as were at hand. This young man was Edmund Carpenter, only son of Ralph Carpenter, and Walter Richardson, the child of Js father's early love, had never been # favorite with him, a8 we shall see later, A physiclan was siimmoned at once, and everything thif human agency could do was done to arouse the dyjng nan from the stupor Into which he had fallen. _ But every effort proved vunavalling, The learned and skilful dootor pronotnced the sud- ‘den attack a stroke of paralysis, and sald that n few hours would doubtless terminate the patient's life, tor ey, was Db such a low ebb that he could not possibly rally. a That night, while the nurse kept watch in the cham- ber of death, together with Walter, Who could not be persunded [0 leave the bedslda of his beloved benefnotor while lve remained, and who kept hoping against hope thatbhe might mulyand speak to him fust once more, | Edmund Carpenter was locked In the sumptuous Ilbrary below, where, with Gurtalns drawn close and a heavily ‘shaded lamp, he was busily, though nolselessly, engaged in examinining the contents of his father's private desk. This was @ quilnh, ponderous, old-tashloned affalr, which Al. Carpenter had purchased from a trlend who had met with reverses and was obliged to sacritice his | household goods, among which was this desk, that a Wealthy ancestor had brought trom England in old colo- nial Eimes. It was a Ereasure of its kind, and would have delighted the heart of any loverof antiquated furniture, tor if contained all manner of mysterious nookgeaseseai , 2 “ a 2 = *