american tragedy

Chapter 92 (2)
Chapter 244 (2)
In several letters sent to Sandra, he passionately confided his mad love to her beloved girl, if it was possible, how eagerly he hoped to come to No. 12 lake on the morning of the [-]th, how excited he was Hope to see her here.He went on to write that it was a pity that at this time, he did not know what to do.His work here, and some trivial matters, may delay him for a day or two, or three days, he may not be sure now, but he will be sure in two days at the latest.He will write to her then.But, he said to himself as he wrote, if only she knew what these little things were.But as he wrote this, he still had no answer to Roberta's ultimatum.He said to himself: It by no means meant that he intended to go to Roberta, and that he would not kill her if he did.He had never once honestly and seriously considered the idea of ​​brazenly doing something bad, or put it forward more precisely, more straightforwardly, more bravely than before, or considered it positively with determination, on the contrary, the more he felt that it must be so Do it, the more he loathes and fears the idea.Therefore, the more I feel that he will not do this.True, when he was constantly fighting among himself, his conscience was from time to time condemned, and he wanted to get rid of these morally and publically terrible ideas.On the other hand, he often thought of going to Great Burton once, in order to calm her down after making demands and intimidating, so that (again evasion, excuses with himself) he could have a more abundant time. Time to plan for the future.

That road by the lake.

That road by the lake.

But once there, what should I do? Should I do it? Who knows? Maybe it will change Roberta's mind.Because, no matter what, what she is doing now is very unfair.He thought that Sandra was having such a life-threatening dream that she was making a fuss, exaggerating her present situation-which, in any case, was not the same as Esta's situation now. ?Cutesta did not force others to marry her.Besides, the Aldens were not much better than his own parents, a poor farmer and a clergyman.Since Esta didn't think wildly about what her parents thought, why should he care what they thought?

Although Roberta has said a lot about who is responsible, is she not responsible at all? It is true that he seduced her, and so to speak, seduced her, but even so, is she not at fault? At that time, if, as she said, it was very moral, wouldn't she be able to refuse? But she didn't.Besides, about all this, about what he had done, hadn't he done his best to help her? Besides, he was so poor and the situation was so difficult.She was as wrong as he was.But now she wants to force him, to force him to marry her.But in fact if she went her own way, which she could do with his help, she could save them both from misfortune.

However, no, she wouldn't do it, and he wouldn't marry her.That's it.She can't force him.No! No! No! Sometimes, when he thought that way, he felt that there was really nothing he couldn't do, that he could drown her so easily, and that it was only her own fault.

However, he still has one thing to worry about: if this matter is known to others and spread to the society, what will they think, how will they deal with him, and how will he treat himself afterwards? These finally made him have another Thought, that is: as much as he himself would like to stay here, he is by no means a man who can do everything, so he must escape.

From the moment Stars received Roberta's letter, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday passed like this, and then, on Thursday night, after a very painful day for him and Roberta, he received another letter from Roberta. A letter like this:
Dear Clyde:

I am writing to tell you that if I do not hear from you or your letter by noon on Friday, I will come to Lycurgus that night and people will know how you treat me by then .I can't wait another hour, I can't stand it.I was forced to do this, and I felt very uncomfortable, but such a long time has passed in vain with you.Besides, Saturday is the third day, and you haven't had any plans yet.My life is over, but you also have to suffer some losses, but I don't think it's all my fault, I have tried my best to help and do a lot of things that can lighten your burden, as for my parents, relatives and friends, and everyone you know, dear People will feel unhappy because of this, and I am naturally very sad.But I couldn't stand another hour more. "

Roberta

Wednesday [-] June at Belds
After receiving this letter, he was finally confused by the following: things have reached this point, and he obviously has to take action.She really wants to come! If he can't think of a way to comfort her or stop her, she will be here tomorrow-the next day.However, two, three, or four days ago, he would not be able to go with her anyway. There must be a lot of people during the holiday, and he must meet a lot of people. He must be more secretive, at least he must have some Time to prepare.Now he has to think about it and act now, God, get ready! Can he give her a call first? Say he's been sick, or he's been worried about money, or Something else prevented him from writing letters, and his uncle was going to Greenwood Lake on the fourth day.His uncle! His uncle! No, it won't work like this, we can't keep pushing things on him. Besides, if he and his uncle meet again, what effect will it have on him or her? For her, he This time it was gone forever.Didn't he tell her the same? So it was better to say that he was going to his uncle and explaining to him why he had to go.In this case, after a while, he might be able to come back.Then she might believe it.In any case, he must say something to her, to reassure her a little, and wait until four days later, and let her wait there, until he can at least make a plan, until he can think of a good way until.This way, or that way.

In addition to the above thoughts, he has not calmed down to make a careful and thoughtful plan, so he hurried to a nearby place where no one would eavesdrop.After connecting, just like before, it was another long and vague explanation, but this time the tone was more flattering.He started emphasizing again and again that he was really sick, that he had a fever and was confined at home, so he couldn't make phone calls.Then he said that he had finally decided that it would be better to explain it to his uncle.That way, at some point in the future, he can come back if necessary.He also begged very much, although the tone could not be said to be really affectionate, but he asked her to think about what kind of life he was living recently.Thus he finally convinced her that there was some reason for his delay in contacting her.Not only that, he also told her the plan in his heart.That is, as long as she could wait until six days, he was sure to meet her there, wherever else there was--Homer, Fonda, Lycurgus, Cascades--if she could wait until six days.However, since they were going to keep it all in the dark, he proposed that she be at Fonda on the morning of the sixth in order to catch the noon train to Utiga.

When they got there, they could stay for one night, because it was not convenient to discuss or decide on plans on the phone at this time, and only then could he confide in his plans.He had an idea, before or after their marriage, maybe take a small trip to a place first, just like she had hoped at the beginning, anyway, it is a very interesting way, (his throat is hoarse when he speaks, His knees and hands were shaking, but Roberta wouldn't know how flustered he was.) But she didn't have to ask too much now, and she couldn't tell her all on the phone.However, at noon on the [-]th, he was sure to be on the platform of the Fonda station.When she saw him, all she had to do was buy a train ticket to Utiga and get on the train herself, and he would buy another ticket for himself and get on another car, the one in front of her or the one behind her.When getting off, if she didn't see him at the station, he'd go to her car to get a little water so she could see him, that's all, but she must never talk to him.Then, after arriving at Utiga, she should take care of her luggage, and he will follow her out of the station, to a remote fork nearby, and then, he will come to pick up her luggage, and then together they will find a small hotel .He will handle the rest of the matter, and she doesn't have to worry about it anymore.

But she had no choice.Did she believe him? If she did, then he would give her a call on the third, and of course on the morning of the sixth, so they both knew everything was ready, that she was leaving and he was going.What? Her trunk? The little trunk? Of course, she may or may not have it.And him? He wouldn't bring too much at this time, because as long as she settled down somewhere, if she needed something, it would be easy to send it.

When Clyde was on the phone in a small shop in the suburbs, the shop owner was hiding behind and reading a boring novel. The ghost in his mind seemed to be attached to him again at this time. It seemed to be this ghost. Talking to him, talking to someone who was cold, numb, and terrified.

To that lake you used to go to with Sandra!

Go to the Lycurgus Inn Railway Station and buy a travel map of the area.

Go to the south end.Go south from there afterward, and pick one of those round-bottomed capsize boats like the ones you've seen here on Crane Lake or there.Also, buy another hat and throw it on the water, a hat that can't think of you with the tag ripped off.

Put all your stuff in the box, but leave the box here.This way, in case of accident, you can come back immediately and escape with the box.

In addition, only bring some things with you, and let others think that you are only going to the No. 12 lake for fun, so that if others can't find you in the No. 12 lake, they will think that you only went there and did not go to other places.

Tell her you intend to marry her, but only after this trip.

You can hit her lightly if need be, to knock her out, and that's it... so that if she falls into the lake, it's easier to sink.

Don't be afraid! Don't be soft?

It must be done at night.Walk through the woods so that when people see you again you will be in Three Mile Bay or Sharon.You could say you came from Laggett or Long Lake to the south, or Lycurgus to the north.

Get a false name, and try to disguise your handwriting as much as possible.

Be confident and you will surely succeed.

It was a very low voice again, when she said——when she spoke, she had to be more affectionate, even enthusiastic.If you want her to do what you want, then you have to do it.

So said the ghost in him.

(End of this chapter)