Ruby's Reward — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VI, A NEW REVELATION, Epuctypb Carprester hac met Ruby Gordon aba brilliant reception given by a mutual friend during the previous winter. It was the young girl’s first Season in society, and she was as fresh, beautiful, and charming as it was possible for a ‘debutante to be. Of course she at once attracted a great deal of attention. She was not one of your regulation society belles, whose one ambi- tion has always been to “ come out,” ata certain time, and whose education has been conducted solely with reference to that object. She was natural, sweet, and piquant, with a mind of her own, and plenty of spirit to speak sow her honest Opinions, and to show her approval or disapproval of the modes and customs of society, and the many admirers who crowded round her, Edmund Cavpenter had been fascinated fronr the first moment of their meeting. ‘ He had’ frequented fashionable circles fora number of years, and showered atten- tions upon many belles without ever having been captured by one; but he thought he had never seen anyone so lovely as Ruby Gordon. She was not yet eighteen, and was like a sweet, wild rose ; her spirtts were light as air, every movement was full of unstudicd grace, and she was quick and keen as a brier in comee@eton