american tragedy

Chapter 85 (1)
Chapter 241 (1)
At this time two letters arrived at the same time, which made things even more difficult.My dearest Clyde:

How's it going, my darling? Is everything all right? It's a glorious place in there.A large number of people have arrived, and people still come every day.The casino and golf course in Pine Bay are open, and there are a lot of people playing.At this moment, the sound of Stewart and Grant sailing to Gray Bay in a motorboat was heard.You must come quickly, dear.It's just too good to describe in words.There is a green road where you can gallop on horseback. Every afternoon at four o'clock, Casino swims and dances.I just got back from a ride on Dick and it was great.After lunch, you can also ride a horse.Bettina said that she will send you a letter in these two days, which can be useful any weekend, so as long as Drada says to come, you will come, you heard, otherwise, Sandra will hit you hard.You bad and good boy!

Are you still toiling in that awful factory? Sandra wants you to be here with her now.We can ride horses, drive cars, swim, dance.Don't forget your tennis rackets and golf clubs.There is a very nice tennis court in the grounds of Casino.

When I was riding this morning, a little bird flew out from under Dick's feet and startled him, and he galloped like hell, and Sandra was terrified.Is Clyde feeling sorry for his Sandra?

Today, she writes many letters.After lunch, posting letters on horseback, and catching the next post, Sandra, Bettina, and Nina were going to Khasi.Do you wish you were there to play too? Then we can dance to the tune of "Tao Die".Sandra really loves this song.Now, though, she has to dress up.I'll write to you tomorrow, bad boy.As soon as I received Bettina's letter, I replied immediately.Can you see these marks clearly? It's the marks of kissing.All prints.All to the bad boys.Write to Sandra every day and she will too.

Give you some more kisses.

Pine Bay, June [-]
Clyde hastily answered her a letter, worded similarly to her letter.However, on the same post, at least on the same day, Roberta's letter arrived.Dear Clyde:

I'm going to sleep, but I have to write a few lines and send them to you.This time, I was really tired all the way and almost fell ill.First, as you know, it's not like I want to come (alone).I think everything is upside-down and unpredictable, although I try to stop myself from thinking so now that we have our own plans now, and you will come to me as you said.

(He reads this partly because he feels sick at the thought of the wretched country in which she lives; Feelings of remorse and pity for her surged up again at this time. For the first time in a long time, when both of them were away, he could think clearly and deeply sympathize with her, melancholy sympathize with her.)

However, the scenery here is beautiful now.The trees are green and the flowers are in full bloom. Every time I open the south window, I hear the bees in the orchard.On my return, I didn't go straight home.I decided to stop at Homer to see my brother-in-law and sister.Because, I have made up my mind, either see them decently, or never see them again.Fred pretty much kept teasing me when I was there, asking me why I wasn't getting married, and then I said, "Oh, well, Fred, don't think I'm not going to get married anytime soon."

However, I was happy to see my mother again.The dearest and most beloved mother in the world, I don't want to make her sad.

(Clyde couldn't help thinking of that dilapidated home, of which she was a part, as he read this. The house, the crumbling house he had seen once recently! And the fallen chimney! Her ugly father. It happens to be a strong contrast to the letter from Sandra.)

Dad, Mom, Tom, Emily, it seems that they are always around me, trying to take care of me.Mom kept saying that I had to take a long break, or quit at all, to rest and get fit, but of course she didn't know it, dear, how poor it was!

But no, I should not infect you with my own sorrow.This time, you won't disappoint me or cause me pain like in the past.It's been a long time since I was here last Christmas until now.But you are really good to me.I can guarantee that I will never become your burden, because I am also very clear that you don't take me to heart anymore.So as long as I can escape this catastrophe, anything else will happen.

Ah, my dear, please don't take these angry words to heart.

Talk about why I came home.My family thought I was making some clothes for some Lycurgus banquet, and thought I must be very happy.That's fine, better than another idea.If you come, as long as you want to see me again before the next meeting, you might as well come once, although you may not have this intention.Before I leave, I hope to meet and talk to you, if you like.It's funny to think that I'm making clothes and I want to see you, but I know you don't want to do it.I know you're feeling bad now, but one thing I hope you don't forget is that if I were like some people I know, I might be more demanding, and I must will do that.But I told you that I am not this kind of person, and I will never be able to be like this kind of person.As long as you help me escape this test as I said, if you really don't want me at that time, then you can go.

Clyde, please write me a long, cheerful letter, even if you don't want to.And please tell me how you never once thought of me since I was gone, and don't miss me at all, you know for yourself that you never once thought of me in the past; and also tell me how you don't want me to come back ; Also, starting from Saturday, even if you can come in two weeks, why can't you really come before that.

Ah, my dear, those terrible words I just wrote are not really in my heart, but I am so sad, so tired, and lonely, sometimes I can't help myself.I need someone to talk to, not just anybody here, because they don't understand at all, and I can't tell anyone.

However, didn't I just say that I will never be depressed, depressed, or lose my temper again, but this time I didn't do it, did I? However, I promise to change it next time, tomorrow, or every other day One day, because I wrote to you, I felt a little lighter in my heart, Clyde, while I wait here, would you please write me a few lines? Give me encouragement, whether it is your heart or not, It doesn't matter if it's not sincere, but I really want it too urgently.Besides, you will definitely come, won't you? I must be very happy, thank you very much, and I will try my best not to trouble you too much.

you are lonely,

Roberta

Belz on June [-]
It was the stark contrast of these two circumstances that finally made him decide that he would never marry Roberta, never, not even, meet her at Beards, or let her come here to find him. , as long as he can get away with it.Because, he goes or she comes, then, the joy just had because of Sandra's relationship, isn't it all going to run away? This summer, he can't play with Sandra on the NO.12 lake, he It's impossible to run away with her, isn't it? Is there no other way to go?

He came home from get off work one evening in June and found the letters.He was desperate.How unfortunate it is! How dreadful is this almost insoluble problem! Is there no other way to persuade her to go away or stay at home longer, and he will send ten dollars a week, or even twelve dollars, which is enough. It was half his salary, and maybe she could move to some nearby town, maybe he could help her find a doctor, if only she would promise not to mention his name in front of others.

But she wanted him to go to Beards, and within two weeks! He wouldn't do it, absolutely not.He could run away and marry Sandra first, so her family would not be able to divorce them.He can also say that he has nothing to do with Roberta, except for the relationship between the department head and the staff.He hadn't introduced Gilberta to the family, hadn't gone with her to see Dr. Glenn near Gloversville, and she had told him earlier that she hadn't mentioned his name.

But if you want to deny it, you must have such an energy!

It takes such courage to do so.

To have the courage to stand face to face with Roberta.And, he knew for himself, her firm, accusing, horrified, pure blue eyes were the last thing in the world he could bear.Besides, could he do that? Did he have the courage? If he did it, would everything go well? Would Sandra still believe him when she heard it?

However, in any case, in order to carry out this plan, regardless of whether it will be implemented in the future, even if he wants to go to Lake No. 12, he must write to Sandra in advance, saying that he is coming.He took care of this matter casually, and wrote the letter to her very enthusiastically, revealing infinite lovesickness.At the same time, he decided not to answer Roberta's letter.Might as well give her a long distance call.She had told him recently that a neighbor near her had a telephone and that if he had anything to say to her he might as well use it.Writing to her about these matters, especially at a time when, even if written carefully, was just enough to get into her hands the evidence of such a relationship she most needed, especially when he had made up his mind not to be with her. marry.How sneaky all this is! Clearly, it's nasty and dirty.But he would never dream of doing such indecent things, if only Roberta would reason with him.But, Sandra! Sandra! Besides, the majestic villa she described on the west bank of Lake No. 12 must be very beautiful! Now that he is doing that, he has no choice but to make a bad move!

Then he stood up and went out to send the letter to Sandra.On his way out, he bought an evening paper, hoping to distract himself temporarily by reading the local papers about people he knew.He saw this little piece of news on the front page of Albany's Unified Times.

(End of this chapter)