An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser — Read

And then, as planned that night between them--a trip to Grass Lake the next morning in separate cars, but which, upon their arrival and to his surprise, proved to be so much more briskly tenanted than he anticipated. He was very much disturbed and frightened by the evidence of so much active life up here. For he had fancied this, as well as Big Bittern, would be all but deserted. Yet here now, as both could see, it was the summer seat and gathering place of some small religious organization or group--the Winebrennarians of Pennsylvania--as it proved with a tabernacle and numerous cottages across the lake from the station. And Roberta at once exclaiming: "Now, there, isn't that cute? Why couldn't we be married over there by the minister of that church?"

And Clyde, puzzled and shaken by this sudden and highly unsatisfactory development, at once announced: "Why, sure--I'll go over after a bit and see," yet his mind busy with schemes for circumventing her. He would take her out in a boat after registering and getting settled and remain too long. Or should a peculiarly remote and unobserved spot be found. but no, there were too many people here. The lake was not large enough, and probably not very deep. It was black or dark like tar, and sentineled to the east and north by tall, dark pines--the serried spears of armed and watchful giants, as they now seemed to him--ogres almost--so gloomy, suspicious and fantastically erratic was his own mood in regard to all this. But still there were too many people--as many as ten on the lake.