american tragedy

Chapter 125

Chapter 318
A telegram of the foregoing was immediately dispatched, forwarded by Belknap and Jefferson.Immediately after they received the telegram, they discussed with Clyde how to respond, and they decided to reply that he was all well and there was nothing to worry about, and that the family should be notified if there was no lawyer.Because they did everything they could do, and at the same time they wrote to Mrs. Griffiths, promising to care about Clyde, and persuading her to resign herself to fate for the time being.

Although the Griffiths were persuaded not to show up in the east, neither Belknap nor Jefferson objected to Clyde having some relatives, so all kinds of news about Clyde's relatives came and went. in the newspapers.His mother's telegram was discovered upon its arrival at Bridgeburg by those who were most interested in the case, and was smuggled around.Eventually, other reporters quickly found and interviewed the Denver family.It didn't take long before all the newspapers in the east and west published very detailed information one after another, such as the current situation of the Clyde family, the nature of the church they ran, their very narrow but distinctive religious beliefs and practices, etc. .It was even mentioned that when Clyde was a child, he was often taken to the streets to sing hymns and pray. The disclosure of these news not only shocked Clyde, but also shocked Lycurgus and the people in the NO.12 lake social field. for shock.

Mrs. Griffiths was an honest woman, devoted and conscientious to her beliefs and her work.She didn't hesitate to tell reporter after reporter the details of her husband's and her own missions in Denver and elsewhere.She also said that ordinary people have good luck, but Clyde and all her children are exceptions.But no matter what crimes he was now being charged with, her child was a good one, and she never believed him guilty.This is the result of some misfortunes coming together.All this, he will explain clearly at the trial.But whatever absurdities he had done were the result of that misfortune.They had also given up their missionary work in Kansas City a few years earlier to move to Denver, leaving Clyde to live on his own.And, following her advice, he wrote to her husband's rich brother, and he went to Lycurgus.Because of Clyde's pride, these conversations made him feel uncomfortable.He often wrote to his mother to express his dissatisfaction.Why does she always talk about what she did with her father? She knows that he hates it, and has always hated going to the street.A lot of people didn't see it the same way, especially uncles, cousins, and rich people he knew, who made their fortunes in completely different ways.Besides, he figured that Sandra must have known what he'd been trying to keep secret.

But despite the circumstances, his mother was earnest and forceful, and he could not help thinking of her with warmth and respect.His mother's passion and unwavering love for him made him emotional.Mother wrote back and said she would be sorry if she broke his heart, but the truth will come out eventually, won't it? God's ways are the best ways, and serving God will never cause any disaster, and she would never want him to lie .But as long as he asks, she will be happy to raise money to help him, hold his hand and plan with him.But Clyde knew it, and he knew it long ago.So, he decided not to let her come now, she would ask him to tell the truth.Her bright, determined blue eyes would stare at him, and at the moment, he couldn't stand it.

At that time, the court session and everything involved in the court session lay before him like a huge dark ship on a rough sea.He attacked violently, and could only refute it with the combined lies of Jefferson, Belknap, and himself.Although he kept reassuring himself, he didn't hit Roberta.Both Belknap and Jefferson understood.Therefore, Jefferson often greeted him at the door of the cell, "Hi, how is it today?"

Jefferson's suit was old and shabby and poorly seamed and queer! And that dark brown hat pulled down over his eyes was old and crooked! His long, His bony hands, which showed strength of character, his stern little eyes, shrewd, determined, cunning, and full of courage, were the very things he managed to impress upon Clyde, and at last to infect him!

"Has any preacher or country girl or Mason's boy been here today?" The recent tragic death of Roberta and a beautiful and rich rival have aroused so much interest that every criminal Sexually curious people, including shallow country lawyers, doctors, businessmen, country evangelists, teachers, friends, acquaintances, etc. of local officials of this or that, flocked to see Clyde.They stood at the door of his cell early in the morning, looking at him with curiosity, disgust, or fear, and then asking unexpectedly, "Are you praying, man? Are you going to get down on your knees and pray right now?" (At this point, Clay I think of his parents) Did he ask God for forgiveness? Did he really deny that he had killed Roberta? Miss Alden? Once three country girls asked: "Can you Tell us the lover's name? Where is she now? We will never tell anyone else. Will she be in court when the court is held?" Clyde could only ignore these questions, or answer them vaguely, evasively, or casually.

For, notwithstanding his aversion to such questions, Belknap and Jefferson had often advised him that it was for his own good that he must appear mild, optimistic, and polite.Moreover, journalists, men and women, brought photographers, art reporters, etc., to interview him and draw a portrait of him.But, on the advice of Belknap and Jefferson, he generally either refused to comment on these people, or did what he was advised to say.

"You can say whatever you want," Jefferson reminded him gently. "As long as you don't say anything of substance. Besides, this is what you should know, keep your head down. And, laugh all the time, understand? Didn't you forget that list? (He gave Clay De made a long list of some of the questions he would be asked on the witness stand and how he should answer them, typewritten below. Otherwise, if there is any better opinion , can be asked. These questions are related to his trip to Great Burton, why he bought another straw hat, why he changed his mind - when, where, why) Do you understand? You have to I can recite it backwards."

Next, he might light a cigarette, but not ask Clyde to smoke it.This is because, in order to have a decent reputation, he is not allowed to smoke here.

For a while, after each such visit, Clyde thought himself fully confident of doing what Jefferson had said, and would do in due time—walking up to the courtroom refreshed and easy— —He could bear anyone, anyone's gaze, even Mason's gaze, and forget that he was afraid of him even in the witness stand, and Mason had many facts at hand, which meant that he would He could also forget the horrors of the facts that this answer explained--Roberta, her last scream, all the suffering and sorrow since the loss of Sandra and her glorious world, all can forget.

But whenever twilight fell or the days were sad, it was only that lean, bearded Clyde, or that grotesque and uncertain Sissel, or it was those two who were there, Swimming around, or coming to the door to say, "Okay?" There is no hope.For, in spite of his lawyer, his mother, his brother, his sister, he was so lonely! There was never a letter from Sandra, of course.Because, at first she was shocked and terrified, and when she gradually recovered, she had a slightly different view of him at this time. In the final analysis, maybe it was out of love for her that he decided to kill Roberta, thus becoming Now such a victim abandoned by society.However, due to the extreme prejudice and fear of the whole society, she would never dare to write to him.Wasn't he a murderer? Besides, how miserable his home in the West was.

It is said that he was preaching in the street, even he himself, or else it was the children sent by the church to pray and sing hymns! However, sometimes she thought of his urgent, beyond reason, Enthusiasm that seemed entirely capable of burning itself out; moreover, it was something she couldn't help thinking about now and then. (He must have loved her so deeply for such an insidious act!) She wondered, therefore, whether, after the animosity towards the case had been less intense than it had been now, would it be possible, by some respectful The purpose of writing to him without writing her name may just be to let him understand: for his extraordinary love for her, she hopes he can know that he has not been completely abandoned.However, she immediately decided that she couldn't, she couldn't, if her parents knew, or guessed, or let everyone, or past friends know, then what should I do? I can't write this now. A letter, yes, at least not yet.Maybe it could be postponed for a few more days, until he was released, or...maybe...convicted...she wasn't sure yet.Nevertheless, for a time she was devastated, and she abhorred that he should have committed such a cruel and terrible crime in order to get her.

These days, Clyde always walks up and down in the cell, or leans on the fence and looks out at the empty square outside through the dense windows, and occasionally looks anxiously at the papers brought by his lawyer. Magazines or books, or those few newspapers that have been read several times, or a game of chess, or a meal.Thanks to the special care of Jefferson and Belknap, (this was suggested by his uncle), his food was much better than that of ordinary prisoners.

But, not being able to get Sandra again, he was always thinking from this point on, beginning to doubt that he could hold on to this—this struggle that seemed to him sometimes to be worthless.

Sometimes, in the dead of night or just before dawn, there was silence in the prison cell, and all kinds of dreams——the hideous sight that he feared most swallowed up his courage and courage, and made him suddenly jump up with a heartbeat. He was jumping non-stop, his eyes were wide open, and bursts of cold sweat were breaking out on his face and hands.That chair somewhere in the state penitentiary.He had read how the prisoner died in this chair.He just kept walking, thinking in his mind what if the outcome went against Jefferson's predictions, if he was convicted and the request for a retrial was rejected, so, ah, so, how can he escape from the detention center? Those old walls, so thick! Could it be with a hammer or a stone, or someone, like his brother Rank, his sister Julia, or Hegglund, or Rattler ,—maybe be able to send him something, if he can get in touch with any of these people, let him or her bring him these things, even if it is a saw, it can also saw these fences Drop! Then, run away, as far away as possible.He should have escaped last time in the bushes.But how to escape? Where to escape?

(End of this chapter)