Chapters LXXI - LXXX Summary

In Chapter LXXI Ruth goes to the offices of The Standard and finds a letter from Mr. Walter waiting for her. Mr. Walter tells Ruth in the letter that she is kind to feel obliged to Mr. Lescom, but she should not feel that way. He has cheated her out of payment that she rightly deserves for her talent. Mr. Walter includes a copy of the letter that he sent to Mr. Lescom. In that letter, Mr. Walter chastises Mr. Lescom for claiming any hold over Ruth. She made his paper's reputation, not the other way around.

In Chapter LXXII, Ruth returns home and begins to open her fanmail. One is from a southern gentleman who wants to marry her. The second letter is from a publishing house offering her $800 for the copyright to a collection of...