american tragedy

Chapter 66 (2)
Chapter 229 (2)
"Oh, Keefe," cried his mother, "we thought you wouldn't be here until nine o'clock. How come so early?"

"Ah, I didn't think of that either. I met Mr. Rilik in Schnackdart and he asked if I'd go with him. I saw old Pop Miles in Tribez Mills Well, there's a second story on the house at last, honey," he said, turning to Roberta, "I reckon he'll have a year to put the tiles on."

"I think so too," replied Roberta.She knew the people at Tribez Mills well.At the same time, she took the coat and the package for him and piled them on the table during the meal.Emily looked at these things with curiosity.

"Don't touch it!" Keefe said to his sister. "Not until Christmas morning. Has anybody got the Christmas tree up? It was my job last year."

"It's yours this year, Kiefer," his mother replied. "I told Tom to wait until you got back, because you always get nice Christmas trees."

Titus came in now from the kitchen, carrying a tree on his back.His thin face and thin arms are just a strong contrast with the energetic appearance of the younger generation.Roberta noticed it when he stood there smiling at his son.Hoping fervently that everyone would be better off than in the past, she walked up to his father and put her arms around him. "I know Sunte has brought something Papa will like." It was a crimson plaid coat, which she believed would keep him warm while he was doing errands around the house.She hoped with all her heart that Christmas morning would come soon enough that he would see the dress.

Then she went to find an apron and wanted to help her mother cook dinner.Afterwards there was no opportunity for private conversation, and it would be hours before they had an opportunity to talk about Clyde, which was of great interest to both of them.A few hours later she took a chance to say: "Yes, but you don't tell anyone just yet. I told him never to, and you never will."

"Well, I won't tell, my dear. I'm a little worried, but I think you know what you do yourself. You know you're old enough to take care of yourself, darling, don't you?"

"Well, yes, Ma. But don't you worry about me, dear," she went on, noticing that a shadow passed over her dear mother's face, not of mistrust but of concern. shadow.Mother had enough on her mind at the Grange, and she must be very careful not to worry her.

The Gables came on Sunday morning with news of their social and economic development in Homer.Though her sister was not as handsome as she was, and Fred Gable was not a man whom Roberta would have been interested in, still, with some troubles brought up by Clyde, and seeing Agnes married, Under the care of her incompetent husband, she can also get a safe little world, and she is comfortable in mind and material. In this way, the restless and doubtful state of mind that has been troubling her since yesterday morning is now gone. excited again.Marrying a man, even if he was as incompetent and unattractive as Fred, was safe, she thought, perhaps better than being so dubious about Clyde as she was now. Some, no? Gable was right in front of him, talking gleefully about how he and Agnes had come to power in the first year of their marriage.He is now able to abandon his teaching job in Homer, and cooperate with others to jointly manage a small-scale book and stationery store. The attached part of the store is mainly a toy department and a soda station.Their business has always been good.If things go well, next summer they will be able to buy a living room furniture, Fred has bought her a gramophone for Christmas, and as proof of their ascendancy they have bought some proper furniture for the Aldens. one's gift.

Gable also brought a copy of Lycurgus's Star.This morning, the guest arrived very late, so he checked the news of the city during breakfast.Lycurgus has a wholesale store, and part of his goods are wholesaled from this store.

"Well, I see it's the time of your life, baby," he said, "this Star says Griffith's got 12 collars from Buffalo alone. Order. They're going to make a fortune."

"We're always overwhelmed in that department, I know that very well," replied Roberta vigorously. "Whether business in general is good or bad, we never seem to have less work. I think it must be good business all year round." .”

"These guys are so comfortable, they don't worry about anything. Someone told me they're going to build a new factory in Illinois just to make shirts. Did you hear anything there?"

"What's the matter, I haven't heard of it, maybe it's another company."

"Besides, what's the name of the young man in charge of your department you mentioned? Is he also from the Griffith family?" He asked enthusiastically, turning over the Lycurgus book. The editorial column of the city news, Lycurgus social news is published on this page.

"Well, he's Griffiths, Clyde Griffiths. What's the matter?"

"I feel as if I saw his name just now. I just wanted to know if it was the man, and it must be, look, isn't it the one?" He handed the paper to Roberta, a Point to the piece of news.

Miss Stiebe, of Gloversville, gave a ball on Friday evening at her city home, attended by several notables of Lycurgus society, including Miss Sandra Finchley, Bettina Miss Cranston, Miss Jell Double, Miss Gertrude Double, Miss Pele Haynes, and Mr. Clyde Griffiths, Mr. Frank Harriet , Mr. Tracy Double, Mr. Grant, Mr. Cranston, Mr. Scott Nicholson, the dance ended late at night, and the general gatherings of young people did the same.Lycurgus' guests did not return in their carriages until dawn.It was reported that most of the people who attended the ball planned to hold another reunion of the same nature on New Year's Eve at the Ellery's house in Schnackdart, and so on.

"He seems to be quite the showman there," Gable said when Roberta was still reading the paper.

The first thing Roberta noticed when she read the news was that the party didn't seem to have anything to do with the people Clyde said they were going to.First, there was no mention of Myra Griffiths or Bella Griffiths in the papers.On the other hand, Clyde had recently been referring to names she had only just become acquainted with, and the papers said they were all in attendance.Sandra Finchley, Bettina Cranston, Double Sisters, Pele Haynes.He said it wasn't much fun, but the papers said it was a fun party, and said he was going to another party of the same nature on New Year's Eve, but she was supposed to be with him that night .He didn't even mention the date during the new year.Maybe he'll come up with another excuse, like last Friday, oh, my God! What the hell is going on!

The only romantic charm that had seemed to her about coming home for Christmas evaporated in an instant.She began to worry about whether Clyde cared about her as much as he pretended. She was so infatuated with him that she fell into such a miserable situation. What would it be like for a girl like her to be in the world without a home, without children, without a proper place in the local society to which she had been accustomed? Go ahead and love her, but under such circumstances, how can she be sure that he will not abandon her in the future? Besides, if this is the case, then it is impossible for her to marry someone else, and her future is at stake. If it is dangerous, it may be unimaginable, and it is impossible to rely on him.

She became silent.Gable asked her, "It's this guy, isn't it?" She ignored it, stood up and said, "I'm sorry, I have something to walk away for a while. I need to find something in the bag." Hastily went upstairs to the room where she had lived before.After entering the room, she sat down on the bed and rested her chin on her hands.Whenever she has something on her mind or has to think about it, she always has such a habit.Then she stared at the floor.

Where is Clyde now?

If he took a girl to Steele's ball, which one would he take? Did he adore her? Because Clyde had always been loyal to her, so before today, he might have asked She didn't even think about other girls being courteous.

It's a pity that now... now!

She got up and went to the window, looking out at the orchard.When she was a little girl, she was intoxicated by the beauty of life in the orchard many times.At this time, the scene here is desolate, bare and thin branches, these twigs are trembling, and a single leaf is also trembling.And the snow, and the dilapidated cabins that are in dire need of repair.Clyde didn't care about her anymore.She was at once anxious to think that she must not stay here another hour, not even today, if she could.She must go back to Lycurgos, must remain with Clyde, and persuade him to restore his old tenderness to her.If you can't even do this, then rely on her. Being there can prevent him from being too focused on other people.It is obviously inappropriate to leave like this time.Not even on holiday days.When she was gone, he could abandon her completely and focus on other girls.If so, was it not her own fault or whose? She immediately thought about finding some suitable excuse to go back today.However, she also thought that after such preparations in advance, leaving now would be unreasonable and incomprehensible to others, especially her mother.She decided that she would have to endure until the Christmas afternoon she had promised.I will go back when the time comes, and from now on, I will never leave for such a long time again.

However, during this period of time, all her thoughts were focused on one thing: how, and by what means, to ensure (if it could be done) that Clyde would not change his mind, that he would be safe in social status and emotionally. Can take pity on her and marry her in the future.If he lied to her, how could she persuade him (if she could) so that he would not lie again in the future.How to make him feel that lying was not the right thing between the two of them.How to make her firmly occupy a vital position in his heart, so as not to let other people's obsession arouse his obsession.

What should I do?

(End of this chapter)