THE CHIPPEWA FALLS DAWSONS
Chapter Six
Ruth was excited that she had been able to
sell the house so quickly. She had only been in Philadelphia two days. She had
always thought that her home was special. Fortunately, the price that she was
receiving for the house was enough to pay off her husband’s debt. Any money she
would get for their furnishings and decorations she could bring to Chippewa
Falls. The banker and the new buyer would be here any time now, and Ruth was
trying to get presentable. She had dismissed all of the help, and had been
doing the cleaning and packing herself. Only Ruth’s personal maid had stayed.
Elaine had no family, and had asked to be allowed to come to Chippewa Falls
with Ruth. Ruth had agreed, as long she understood that there was no position
for her. They would not be able to have help. Elaine had stated that she would
be able to find work. Elaine had taken some of the decorations to an art house,
to see if they could be sold. So it was left to Ruth to do all the packing.
Ruth looked up at herself, and noticed all the dust in her hair. If only
Rose could see me now, she thought. At the ringing of the doorbell, Ruth
straightened her dress, and went to open it. I have never opened this door
to a guest the whole twenty-one years I have lived here.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen," Ruth
said, as she opened the door.
"Ruth. Common servant, are you?"
Cal asked, with a sneer in his voice.
"What are you doing here, Mr.
Hockley?"
"Why, Ruth, really. I just bought this
house, and I expect you to welcome me into it."
Ruth looked at her banker, who nodded his
head yes.
"Whatever did you buy this house
for?"
"It is not your place to question me.
But since I had to break off the engagement with Rose, I needed a house for my
new wife."
"New wife?"
"Yes. Just because your daughter is
third class scum does not mean that I shall never marry."
At Cal’s comment, Ruth straightened her back.
The banker could see the warning in Ruth, but Cal had carelessly turned his
back to set his hat on the table. Ruth calmly walked over to Cal and spun him
around. She raised her hand, and punched Cal right in the mouth. It was an
amazing roundhouse punch. Frankly, the banker was surprised Ruth had it in her.
Cal was not amused. He picked up his hat, holding his jaw with the other, and
turned to leave. "I expect you to be out by the end of the week. Good
day."
"Well, I guess you need to sign these
papers then, Mrs. DeWitt Bukater," the banker said, still shaking his head
over the punch Ruth had delivered.
"The money I get from selling the house
eliminates all my debts?"
"Yes. As soon as you sign, I will take
the money and pay off every debt owed."
"Where are they?" Ruth asked, as
she led the banker into the sitting room. Her hand hurt, but it was worth it.
That man was not going to say those things about her daughter. "If only I
hadn’t been blinded by money," Ruth said quietly, but the banker still
heard her. He didn’t comment. He couldn’t wait to leave, so he could tell
everyone at the bank what had happened, including his wife, who hated the
Hockleys.