STORIES

SELECTED
FROM
HENRY

O.

BY

EDITED

HEAD

LATE
IN

SMITH

ALPHONSO

C.

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CONTENTS
Frontispiece

Henry

O.

PAGE

Introduction
Duplicity

The
Roads
A

v"

16
41

Reformation
Debut

Brief

Tildy

of

50
57

Lover

LicKPENNY

^"^

Pendulum

The

Transients
The

Roads

The

Furnished

Makes

in

Arcadia

We

Take
Room

Cop

The

Making

and

An

Last

The

Gift

The

Handbook

The

Trimmed

The

Caballero's

of

World

Me

Feel

Magi

the

of

125

149

Hymen

Lamp

OF

118

141

the

182

Door

Dixie"

196
211

Report

Your

156
169

Way

and

Rose

Ill

133

Leaf

A Municipal
Let

Archer
Story

The

'*The

Cafe

the

and

103

Yorker

New

in

91

97

Anthem
A

OF

Unfinished

The

Eon

World

the

Cosmopolite

Mammon

83

Circle

the

The

'^0
77

Whole

the

Squaring

Destiny

of

Retrieved

The

Hargraves

of

224

Pulse

242

INTRODUCTION

found
been
has

of

coign

GOOD

compared.
critics

his

sent

:^

wrote

reproached

equally suggestive

of the

Jesse

and

and

"accused"

goes,

plots

of

the

We

well

be

that

of

which

among

and

The

plots,

O.

employed
from

^The

one

Girl

the

^Our

ShoH

and
must

method

he

who

one

And

adds:

himself
the

of

"In

my

other;

220.

his

"We

O.

we

literary
lary.
vocabuand

widely
slang,

which

indeed

with

Blanche

Colton

Henry

stories,

Gift of

The

the Magi,

connection

with

these

Henry

James

had

that

had

1917.

page

read

Miss

group

observed

(1920),

as

"that

has

compared

be

may

the Habit

Story Writers

of both

vocabulary

the

legitimate

has

in Arcadia,

stylists to

We

far

so

who

including

not

have

us

Review,^

of

for want

James."

the Door,

but

ranchman

which

Transients

of these

2April-June,

been,

Unpopular

vocabulary,

George

Bacheller.

accused

James;

they

interestingly likened.

of

mentioning

Henry

and

hands

are

World

not

slang

the

or

after

Winiams,^

has

The

in

in

unique,

Pater

He

been

writes

has

called

they

uncouth

no

in

who

one

may

who

are

and

have

writer

with

dealing

East,

of Henry

two

says

aspirations,

the

James."

Henry

reahze,"
are

and

West

life

George,

Irving

gestive
sug-

himself

He

real

has

times

for

quests

forth

Henry

and

Irving,

Washington

wrote

imitate

to

he

recent

contrasts.
set

to

strove

we

trying

for

Washington,

reading

"When

us

diverse

so

is

Henry

whom

of

writer

or

many

so

on

parallelsor
once

American

other

No

O.

with

variety of authors

and

number

in the

appraisal of

the

for

vantage

used.

yet the

It

is

older

far

call

writer's

viii

INTRODUCTION

Broken

Wings,
have

Future
O.

at

The

Real

Thing,

their bases

and

The

Madonna

oj

the very

plot principleon
justgiven."

rested the group

No one, however, has gone
Nicholas
Vachel Lindsay : ^

Henry

far afield for

so

How

the

which

analogueas

an

coollyhe misquoted. 'Twas his art

Slave-scholar,who misquoted from the heart.
So when
we
slapped his back with friendlyroar
Esop awaited him without the door,
Esop the Greek, who made dull masters
laugh
With
littletales of fox and dog and calf.
"

"

"

It is

hardly adequate to say that O. Henry misquoted

quotation
mis"coolly." He misquoted reconstructively.He made
Instead of merely mutilating,as Sheridan
art.
an
makes
Mrs. Malaprop do, O. Henry impressesa new
meaning
and releases a new
serve
thought. Many of his misquotations decreations.
of his characters,for
Two
to live as original
example, lose their booty by quarrelingover it: "There was a
rift within the loot,as Albert Tennyson says." A connoisseur
in ordering fashionable
dinners is described
"one
tc
as
the menu
born."
Spenser'sfamous
warning in The Faerie
Be
Qiieene,"Be bolde, be bolde, and everywhere be bolde.
is metamorphosed into "Be bold; everywhere
not too bolde"
be bold, but

be not

bowled

shows

which

Henry, "only
drink,"

we

are

Tennyson's

way

assured, "is

"Fierce

democratized

over."

into

straw

vote,"

the hot air blows."

an

light which
"The

"A

fierce

adder, and
beats

O.

"Strong

subtracter, too."

upon

light that

says

beats

throne"
upon

is
the

throwTi-down."
At

first Mark

Twain

often

for
requisitioned

said

The

Nation," "in

a
spirit,

The

humorist

the authors
most
Kipling were
comparison. "O. Henry is a humorist,"
ful
spiteof his local color and his cheerafter Kipling rather than after Mark

Knight in Disguise.

*July 4,

1907.

and

ix

INTRODUCTION

a
in the present volume^ he pays
impHed, to the author of the Plain Tales,

than

More

Twain.

tribute, stated

or

once

grim?],
grim [less
though his characteristic mood is more
and
saliency."
of Kiphng's terseness
his style has much
that Kipling influenced O. Henry's style.
is no doubt
There
said
that Kipling was
He was
by the message
deeply gratified
and

to have

"

him

sent

O.

also that
that

he had

in all

only

Henry

Well, when you

O. Henry ?
Hall relates
Mr. Oilman
for me."
but
interested in Stevenson
most

you

Hello

him, tell him

see

Do

was

know

in Texas, and had

left his edition of Stevenson
in New
in his room
about
twenty-seven books

York.
Mr.

critiques^
yet
repere

"one

in

Firkins, in

W.

O.

written

literarytrait in which

primary
value

per

literature who

secondary

even

or
se

than

the

Shakespeare prove

unable

surpasses

among

the condition

its utihty is manifest, and

am

or

it is rare

is," he

"There

Chaucer.

and

discriminating
contrastingpointde

most

of O. Henry, finds

Shakespeare

of tales in any

of the

one

to

any

name

O. Henry.

says,

writer

It is not

literarymerits; it is less
foundation
among

of values.

men;

of its absence
possibility

Chaucer
in masters

But
and
of

to
would seem
its presence
of art in which
that very branch
be imperative. I refer to the designingof stories" not to the
intuition or to skillin development, in both of which

primary
has been
largely and
O. Henry
finer phases of invention
to the
of masses,
frequentlysurpassed,but to the disposition
half-educated American
a
blocking-out of plots. That
inal
origin a field in which
should have been original
provincial
his
have been copyistsis enough of itself to make
men
Mr. Firkins cites as illustrations
personalityobservable."
AJter Twenty Years and The Furnished Room.
An Enghsh critic,Mr. S. P. B. Mais,^ finds a bond between
of their
compass
Shakespeare and O. Henry in the common
Mr.
sympathies. Citing the foreword to The Four Million
1

The Trimmed

Lamp.

The Review.

New

^In From

York, September 13, 1919.

Shakespeare to 0. Henry (1918).

INTRODUCTION

continues:

Mais

"Here

get the clue

O.

Henry's great
and Shakespeare and all great
his kinship with Dickens
ness,
the born, large-hearted democrat
He
writers.
was
who,
with the utmost
can
sincerity,
lay his hand upon his breast
nihil a me
alienum
and say: Humani
piito.'*
resemblance
The
to Dickens
to Mr.
seems
Stephen Lea^
of canvas
than of common
cock
matter
a
more
sympathies :
"It

is

work

an

West, form

lengthiestnovels of
It is only the method

Vinci.

Da

that

say

O. Henry's

is vast.

canvas

America

or

His
of the

gloriouslycomprehensive

the

as

to

of Central

great pictureas

one

to

realityhis

In

stories, like those

York

its scope

grossest kind

sustained.

is not

New

of the

error

we

Dickens
that

or

the

of

canvas

is different,not

in

the

result."

English critic^ discovers a likeness to O. Henry

in the sketches of Phil May and the dramas
of Eugene Scribe :
reminds
of Phil May's sketches in economy
of
"His work
us
Another

material

and

ruthless

elimination

of the

unessential.

His

lagsunmeaningly. As the story approaches its

close,the apparently irrelevant delays,the side-issues taken
without
suddenly assume
purpose,
up and dropped ostensibly
vital importance and reach their true proportion in the reflected
a
Alike in his merits and
lightof the finale.
to Eugene Scribe, the
defects, O. Henry had a strong affinity
action

never

master-carpenter of the French

constructive

ability,the

unexpected

solutions to his

Scribe

drama.
talent

same

for

imbroglios,the

public wanted
same
disregard of all that
appeal. He had sufficient
what

almost

the

did

not

before
make

had

the

same

finding neat and

ing
same
giftof knowit knew
for the

itself,the
immediate

ence
keep his audiamused, and sufficient skill in character-drawingto make
his action seem
plausible. More he hardly attempted."
ing
To Miss Williams^ O. Henry has proved both a summarizand a projectinginfluence: "He
sums
up the development
wit and

humor

to

^Essays and LiteraryStudies (1916).

2

Writing anonymously

^Our

Short

Story Writers

in The

Spectator,London,

(1920).

April7,

1917.

INTRODUCTION

ot the short story from Poe to the present. Stockton humor.

and Harte's exaltation of local color conAldrich surprise,

tributed

flood tide.

to his

quite likelythat

It is

not

American

most

Henry's Uneal if
resemblance."writes

an

it is analyzed. Because

of

writers

mentioned

the

times

many

tirst

among

contributory predecessors. ihe

unnamed
reviewer, ^ is persistently

not

unmistakably,
recognized,

be named;

felt before it can

able to avoid the influence

of

has also been

Bunner

...

learned the tools

who

short-story
decade."

twentieth century

tributary

remam

writer

one

has been

of his trade after 1900

the

they

But

it is not

essential similarity They

likeness, but
superficial

an

and Porter

kin, Bunner

one

were

betore

Both '^ere
keen
spiritmoved them.
the slightest
Neither missed the significance
in
reporters.
Each respondedto the stimulus of sugclue to character.
gestion
with
'situation,'
incident
odd
packed
m
every
every
humor
tragedy.And each had that rare power of putting
or
few paragraphsthe secret ot a life,the summary
too
a
in their stories.

of

One

character."

But

Maupassant

de

Guy

comparative testimony
often

more

than

"

learned from
but

French
the

WiUiams

Aldrich and

not

to

author

Henry's merits

O.

to

"It

Maupassant

remark

in this

that

the two

Henry's

"O.

women:

working girland

L sin!
of

men

which
our

wrote
iln

makes

some

the

to

consist

of

he

in

Sun, New

York, March

London,
^The Spectator,

AprU 7,

4, 1917.
1917.

prise;
sur-

the
And

their attitude towa

wrote

and his words

keenly and bitterly,
The

Henry

ential
salient differ-

the most

his work from

preserved
of Maupassant'sshort

When

O.

technique.

sympathy for

of the underworld

woman

serve
ob-

to

to construct

intense and chivalrous

generalhumanity.

truism

bear

beyond
progressed

he

particular
phase
men

to

demerits

or

that

how

Englishcritic already cited^ finds

between

""

more,

once

summoned

been

other writer.

any

Miss

says

has

that
atones
on
were

d
the

crucified

or

cold cruelty
an

insult to

their behalf he

barbed

with

INTRODUCTION

xii

the
Henry James Forman^
difference lies chieflyin Maupassant's defective humor:
"No
fun and humor
it is safe to say, has brought so much
to
one,
the Western
story. Cattle-king,cowboy, miner, the plains
and
novel' but all
the chaparral material
of the 'dime
passant
Mautreated with the skill of a Maupassant, and a humor

insightand

conviction."

To

Mr.

"

of."

dreamed

never

IVIrs. Katharine

Fullerton

Gerould, who

that O.

maintains

is a

"perniciousinfluence," that he did not write short

stories but
the two
only expanded anecdotes, contrasts
authors
thus: *'In Maupassant's stories you
know
how
the
would
characters
conditions
act whatever
extraneous
might
know
how
the people
enter; but in O. Henry's stories you
Henry

acted in

one

set of

circumstances, but

they w^ould act at any other

just,but do the honors go

to

for the life of

characters

"would

act

me

under

how

the

other

time."

have

you

The

remark

Maupassant?

circumstances.

in

our

no

idea how

is eminently

I do

not

selected

Human

know
stories

nature

is

incalculable.
Thackeray said that when writing
proverbially
Vanity Fair he not only did not know what Becky Sharp was
equally ignorant of what she had
going to do next but was
The short story is the simplification
of a small
already done.
ter
Characsection of life; it is not the projectionof a lifecurve.
may

be revealed

or

determined

in it; but

in either

case

it

petrifiedor predestined. Maupassant's art of course

needs no
nature
defence, but a wise insightinto human
was
his virtues.
His characters can
not among
hardly be said to
act.
uniformity
They react, and react with such abnormal
that the reader can
conjecturenot only their reaction to other
happenings but their reaction in the story itself before the
story has fairlybegun.
is not

II
But
to

O.

Henry's

life furnishes

his stories than

can

The

Review, May,

North

American

be found

intimate

more

in

1908.

even

introduction

the most

elaborate

INTRODUCTION

xin

His

array of comparative estimates.

his life was

it is true, before
comment

runnmg

on

his work.

his
life parallels

whose

known
But

writing more

reputation was
enough to

well
I

can

recall

closelyor

made,
serve

no

as

author
reveal-

more

O.

Henry's.
O. Henry, was
William
as
Sidney Porter, better known
ford
born on September 11, 1862 (not 1867), in Greensboro, GuilHere
Carolina.
he resided until 1882,
County, North
and here the O. Henry Hotel with its memorial
attests
room
the affectionate
regard in which his boyhood friends still

ingly than

He

cherish his memory.

few months
to the

went

to school

to his aunt

and

for

graded school that had justbeen founded in

He was
Greensboro.
originaland painstakingin all of his
his teens
school duties and before he reached
was
reading
widely and assimilatively.In these early years he would
and reproduce it with
catch quickly the style of an author

several

in stories told to his coterie.

additions

humorous

attempts

Dickens's

at

this

time

to

unravel

and

unfinished story. The Mystery of Edwin

He

made

complete
Drood, but

his powers.
As he always said that he
in Greensboro
than at any other period of his life,
read more
here the books and authors
it may
be well to summarize
ferred
rein his stories.
The Bible leads with sixtyto by him

gave

it up

as

beyond

references; Shakespeare follows with

thirty-four;
Tennyson, always his favorite poet, with twenty-one; The
Arabian
Nights with fourteen, though the figuresdo not show
of the great classic in his work;
the relative significance
each;
Kipling with twelve; Byron and Dickens with seven
Omar
with six; Conan
Doyle with five; Csesar,
Khayyam
each with four.
Marcus
Aurelius, Keats, and Henry James
of authors alluded to directlyor indirectly
The total number
is one
and thirty-six.
hundred
he
school he passed to his uncle's drug store where
From
three

remained

until 1882.

only as
himself, but
not

and

groups

timid

a
as

were

In both

school and

store

he

was

known

boy, living chieflywithin

Individuals
a
rarely promising cartoonist.
reproduced by him in pen or pencilsketch
and

reticent

INTRODUCTION

xiv

fidelity.The

and

with

equal ease

vous

of all types of Greensboro

house

of all local

later to become

was

first the historian

stories,became

the rendez"

was

New

ing
the clear-

it was

as

Will Porter, who

interpreterof

the

store

characters

and

news;

drug

O.

Henry
through his
through his

as

York

of Greensboro

cartoons.

with

where he remained,
to Texas
the age of twenty he went
until 1898.
He
six months,
the exception of about

lived

first

At

Austin, then
and

Stone
he
was

was

on

to

Salle County,

in La

ranch

he edited

In Austin

Houston.

teller in the First National

was

reporter

back

summoned

Daily

The

on

to

Austin

in Houston

in Houston

trial for the

stand

to

to

Rolling

The

Bank;

While

Post.

moved

then

he

alleged

would
he
he
misappropriation of $1153.68j Had
gone
certainlyhave been acquitted. He protested his innocence
to the last,and
nobody in Austin, so far as I could learn,
dictory
contrabelieved or believes him guilty. The indictment
was
that on
of the
item
in itself. One
charge was
November
12, 1895, while acting as teller of the Austin bank,
he had embezzled
$299.60. But O. Henry had resigned his
position in the wretchedly managed institution early in
since.
ever
December,
1894, and had been livingin Houston
is profound pathos in a note
There
just received from
M.

Colonel

Edward

Houston

but his home

always thought
that if he had
would

have

O.

then

was

Henry

remained

been

proved

was

so.

House

innocent

and
had

and

Judge E.
O. Henry

was

sympathies in his behalf and I looked

closelyenough to feel convinced that he had
I had

in mind

the

year

he

to

I have

in

'*I have
doubt

no

his trial he

stood

P. Hill, then

my

died

born

was

stillis in Austin:

and

in Austin

Post for which

the Houston

Colonel

House.

of

owner

writing, enhsted
into the
done

invite him

no

that

matter

wrong.
autumn

to give him
a
guest. It was
my
purpose
of the
dinner and to have present the Governor, the members
Supreme Court, and other State officials in order that an
to

Austin

as

my

expression of regard and

Unhappily, he died before

affection
I could

might
extend

be
the

offered

him.

invitation

to

INTRODUCTION
I wished

bim.

also to show
he had

hours
delightful

given

me

story writer

train for Austin

taking the

after

ABut

appreciationof the
through his stories.

some

the greatest short

him

xv

the world

his wife

that
Austin

after

Ohio.

Columbus,

released

was

entered

He
on

July 24,

1901.

assumed

the

his first stories and

until he learned

America

the

returned

He

at

himself

prison in

here that he wrote

was

famous

now

to

once

April 25, 1898,

prison on
It

duced."
pro-

for Honduras,

was

sider
con-

Henry was moved

He
at Hempstead.

half year, surrendered

sentenced
to the federal

of

absence

an

South

and

desperately ill.

was

authorities, and

to the

and

in Central

remained

has

O.

back
to turn
by a whim of the moment
Orleans, took a fruiter
passed through New
and

many

O.

pen-name

Henry.
~

After

stay in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, where his

her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Roach,

short

daughter

and

York
to New,
living,he moved
floweringperiod began in December, 1903,
with

contract
rate

of $100

he had

New

The

story. j

dabbled

in

York

March

Magazine under the names

Dowd, and S. H. Peters; the latter
of James
L. Bliss he also signed
central

concern,

Only

month.
1909

in 1903.

he

But

"

comedy

title La

from

week

at the

of Howard

from

now

together with that

name

to

of the

several
the

on

Clark, T. B.

short

story

stories

his

was

"

with

of Indian

Mr.

Franklin

life to which

O.

P. Adams

Henry

gave

on

the

Pope's couplet,

Lo, the

poor

Sees God

any

stories a
his output being sometimes
seven
he deflected
^for six months
once
was
during

collaborated

musical

story

signed a

to November

Ainslee's

written

he

when

real

of this year
in
publishingfive second-rate poems

From

verse,

for

World

His

City.

then

were

Indian!

in clouds,

Ill health

set

dechne

in the

whose
or

hears

untutor'd
him

mind

in the wind.

never
early in 1907, though there was
on
quality of the stories. The end came

in

INTRODUCTION

xvi
June

He

5, 1910.

of his second

home

the

near

buried

was

his last story. Let

wife, Miss

Feel

Me

Asheville, North

in

Sara

Coleman.

Pulse, he

Your

initial stages of his fatal illness and

has

his brave

but

highlands of his native

life among
the
is visited annually

fight for

Carolina,
Into
the

woven

unavaihng
State.

His

wide
by throngs of tourists and a nationis already under
monument
movement
to erect
a
way
that shall testifyfittinglyif not adequately to the admiration
grave

and

affection

of his readers.

in the
issued
Henry's stories were
following order: Cabbages and Kings, 1904; The Four Million,
1906; TJie Trimmed
Lamp, 1907; Heart of the West, 1907; The
Voice
of
of the City, 1908; The Gentle Grafter,1908; Roads
igigs,
Destiny, 1909; Options, 1909; StrictlyBusiness, 1910; Whirland
Sevens, 1911; Rolling Stones, 1913;
1910; Sixes
all published by DoubleThese
are
Waifs and Strays, 1919.
is published
day, Page and Company
except Options which
by Harper and Brothers.
volumes

The

of

O.

Ill

The

and
his

represent
themes, his

favorite

pathos,
they are

and

the

readers

would

the

could

that

the

twenty-five
probably agree.

best

resulted
that
the
be

my

in

recompense

vote

If
a

of

choice

own

critic.

done;

probably

be

closer

career.

he

wrote

that

That
two

no

exception of perhaps
equally good but hardly

AYith

found.

of his

the

it is

^Mien
ten

it

stories

can

remembered

(see page

hardly

be

133)

expected

the dissent of
-five will escape
will
mingled with dissent, no harm

of twenty

study

for both

stories

Henry's best
sixty-two best,
be

censure

are

stages

substitutes

stories

lists of O.

ten

follow

that

distinctive

four

six of these
better

logically
arranged chronoO. Henry's chief regional interests,
and
varying technique, his humor

stories

twenty-five

censor

of O.

and

Henry's
censured.

work

will be

ample

HENRY

O.

and

Sij:es

February,

and

Northerner

Regional

differences

with

Lydia,
that

larger and

both

Major

O.

Henry's

see

fashioned

of

one

yard

was

catalpa

tree

in

upon

the

the
walks.

Rows
the

that

pleased

this

pleasant, private

eyes

of

the

Miss

in A

here

of the
of

Municipal
I

that

am

Mobile,

sir, and

Washington

to

house

its

in

best

trade."

or

stately

of

forecast

statement

that

was

by

locusts

pink
box

style

old-

an

tall white

elms,

and

bushes
and

fifty

white

and

his

reside,

stood

It

portico upheld

high

Yankee

prejudice

the

avenues.

Southern

place

the

of

and

was

place

rained

fence

In

It

of

brief

of

the

(page 228)

to

by

season

sees

characteristic

came

shaded

grass.

quietest

with

building,

brick
The

pillars.
a

from

back

For

Talbot,

boarding

without

by profession

Talbot,

one

interpolate

to

one

between

combines

but

paragraph

Pendleton

for

selected

the

not

am

Lydia

Miss

other

desire

"I

which

Hargraves

Southernism

Major

daughter,

and

and

But

When

yards

Americanism

of the

Southerner.

they

blended

ture.
carica-

this

character

himself,

Henry

Henry's

into

from

difference

"

mediatorial

the

of O.

beginning,

Report,

In

Y."

spot

blind

darkey

attitude

Talbot

the

or

one

"Old

^N.

"

Thimble

the

sectional

passed

never

Thimble,

writes

notebook:

in the

as

he

O.

became

never

characterization

and

later

Southerner

however,

differences,

between
of

much

occupied

Magazine.

Munsey's

difference

The

prison.

in

in

published

Southerner

him,

years

jotting in his
and

written

the

thought.
Six

First

Sevens.

but

1902,

HARGRAVES

OF

DUPLICITY

THE

From

FROM

STORIES

SELECTED

soms
blos-

lined

aspect

the

of the

Talbots.

boarding

house

they

engaged

STORIES

rooms,

the

including a study
finishingchapters to
of the Alabama

Major
had

Talbot

was

littleinterest

or

period before

that

thousands

of

acres

O.

FROM
for

HENRY

Major Talbot,

his book,

Army,

who

was

"Anecdotes

Bench, and

and

present day

His mind
in his eyes.
the Talbots
Civil War, when

excellence
the

of fine cotton

land

and

niscences
Remi-

Bar."
The

of the old, old South.

adding

the

lived in
o^oied

slaves to till

princely
its guests from the aristocracy of the
and drew
hospitality,
South.
Out of that period he had brought all its old pride
and scruplesof honor, an antiquated and punctiliouspoliteness,
and (you would
think) its wardrobe.
w^ithin fiftyyears.
made
clothes were
Such
surely never
that wonderful,
The
tall,but w^henever he made
major was
of his frock
archaic genuflexionhe called a bow, the corners
to
a
coat
surpriseeven
swept the floor. That garment was
Washington, which has long ago ceased to shy at the frocks
them;

when

the

and

broad-brimmed

the

boarders

family

hats

christened

mansion

was

of Southern
it

"Father

the

scene

of

congressmen.

Hubbard,"

One

of

and

it

certainlywas high in the waist and full in the skirt.

clothes, his immense
area
But the major, with all his queer
of plaited,raveling shirt bosom, and the little black string
smiled
side,both was
tie with the bow always slippingon one
select boarding house.
Vardeman's
liked in Mrs.
and
at
Some
of the young
department clerks would often "string
him," as they called it,gettinghim started upon the subject
the traditions and history of his beloved
dearest to him
Southland.
During his talks he would quote freelyfrom the
But they were
ful
and Reminiscences."
"Anecdotes
very caretheir designs,for in spiteof his sixtynot to let him
see
eightyears, he could make the boldest of them uncomfortable
under the steady regard of his piercinggray eyes.
of thirty
-five,with
Miss Lydia was
a plump, littleold maid
smoothly drawn, tightlytwisted hair that made her look still
but ante-bellum
Old fashioned, too, she was;
older.
glory
the major. She
her as
it did from
did not
radiate from
she who handled
and it was
possesseda thriftycommon
sense;
"

STORIES

major

set

FROM

O.

apart each afternoon

to read

HENRY
to him

the

manuscript

the anecdotes

of his book.

failed to
During
Hargraves never
moved
to
laugh at exactly the rightpoint. The major was
declare to Miss Lydia one
day that young
Hargraves possessed
remarkable
and
a gratifying
perception
respect for the
old regime. And when
it came
to talkingof those old days
if Major Talbot liked to talk,INIr.Hargraves was
entranced
to
"

listen.
Like
loved

almost

all old

linger over
royal,days of

people who
details.

to

almost

talk of the past, the major

In describing the splendid,

the old

planters,he would hesitate until

he had recalled the name
of the Negro who held his horse, or
the exact date of certain minor happenings, or the number
of
bales of cotton
raised in such a year;
but Hargraves never
impatient or lost interest. On the contrary, he would
grew
advance
questionson a varietyof subjectsconnected with the
life of that time, and he never
failed to extract
ready replies.
The
fox hunts, the 'possum suppers,
the hoe dowTis and
in the Negro quarters, the banquets in the plantationjubilees
house
invitations
for fiftymiles around;
w^ent
hall, when
the occasional feuds with the neighboring gentry; the major's
duel with Rathbone
Culbertson
about Ejtty Chalmers, who
afterward
married
of South
a Thwaite
Carolina; and private
Mobile
for fabulous
sums
on
yacht races
Bay; the quaint
beliefs,improvident habits, and loyal virtues of the old slaves
all these were
graves
subjectsthat held both the major and Har"

absorbed

Sometimes,

at

for hours

at

time.

night,when

the young
would be coming
man
after his turn at the theatre was
the
over,

upstairsto his room

of his study and beckon
at the door
major would appear
archly to him.
Going in, Hargraves would find a littletable
of
set with
decanter, sugar bowl, fruit, and a big bunch
a
fresh green mint.
"It occurred
to

always
your

ceremonious

duties at the

arduous

to enable

"

"

major would
begin he was
"that perhaps you
might have found
place of occupation sufiBciently
your
Mr. Hargraves, to appreciatewhat the

me,"
at

you,

the

"

"

had

poet might well have

Nature's
It

was

to

he

artists when

among

'tired

he wrote,

juleps."

Southern

our

fascination to Hargraves

rank

took

He

of

when

in his mind

restorer,'" one

sweet

HARGRAVES

OF

DUPLICITY

THE

watch

him

make

began,

and

he

it.

never

With what delicacy he bruised the mint;

varied the process.
with
with what exquisitenicety he estimated the ingredients;
solicitous

what

he

care

capped

compound with
fringe! And
green

the

the scarlet

then the
glowing against the dark
after the
hospitalityand grace with which he offered it,
selected oat straws had been plunged into its tinklingdepths!
covered
in Washington, Miss Lydia disAfter about four months

fruit

one

morning
and

"Anecdotes

The

pubhshers had
and

sense

in Mobile

owned

for the

money

at the

rental of

The
was

month

almost

were

Reminiscences"

jumped

not

wit.

that they

two

small
in

be

due

house

money.

completed,

but

of Alabama

collected gems

months

would

was

without

which

they

board

Their

arrears.

days.

in three

still

Miss

Lydia called her father to a consultation.

"It is quite
said he with a surprisedlook.
"No
money?
for these petty sums.
annoying to be called on so frequently
Really,I
twoThe
major searched his pockets. He found only a
dollar bill,which he returned to his vest pocket.
"Kindly
attend to this at once, Lydia," he said.
"I must
town
immediately.
umbrella and I will go down
my
get me
from our district,General Fulghum, assured
The congressman
"

"

some

me

book
and

days

ago

With
"Father

use

his influence

to

get my

I will go to his hotel at once

what
arrangement has been made."
him button his
sad little smile Miss Lydia watched
a
and depart, pausing at the door, as he
Hubbard"

publishedat
see

that he would

an

earlydate.

always did, to bow profoundly.

that
It seemed
That
evening, at dark, he returned.
had the
the publisherwho
Congressman Fulghum had seen
had said that
major's manuscript for reading. That person
carefullypruned down about one
if the anecdotes, etc., were
class prejudice
haK, in order to eliminate the sectional and

STORIES

with

which

consider

the

FROM

book

O.
from

dyed

was

HENRY
end

to

end, he might,

its

pubhcation.
The major was
in a white
equanimity, according to his
in Miss Lydia's presence.
was
have
"We
must
money,"
wrinkle

above

her

heat

of anger, but
code of manners,
said Miss

"Give

nose.

as

Lydia,

the

me

regained his
soon

as

with

he

httle

dollars, and

two

will

telegraph to Uncle Ralph for some

to-night."
The
vest
major drew a small envelope from his upper
pocket and tossed it on the table.
he said mildly,"but the sum
"Perhaps it was injudicious,"
was
so
merely nominal that I bought tickets to the theatre
drama, Lydia. I thought you
war
to-night. It's a new
would be pleasedto witness its firstproduction in Washington.
told that the South has very fair treatment
I am
in the play.
I confess I should like to see the performance myself."
Miss Lydia threw up her hands
in silent despair.
Still,as the tickets were
bought, they might as well be used.
So that evening, as they sat in the theatre listeningto the
Miss Lydia was
minded
to relegatetheir
livelyoverture, even
troubles, for the hour, to second place. The major, in spotless
w^th
his
linen,
extraordinarycoat showing only where it
was
closelybuttoned, and his white hair smoothly reached,
looked
reallyfine and distinguished. The curtain went up
the first act of "A Magnolia Flower," revealinga typical
on
Southern
plantation scene.
Major Talbot betrayed some
interest.

"Oh,

see!"

exclaimed

Miss

Lydia, nudging

pointing to her programme.

The major put on his glassesand read
characters
that her fingerindicated.
Col.

Webster

Calhoun.

H.
.

"It's

our

Mr.

Hargraves,"

his first appearance

so
glad for him."
Not
upon

in what

until the second

the stage.

When

act

said Miss
he

calls

and

the line in the cast of

Hopkins Hargraves.
Lydia. "It must be
*the legitimate.' I'm

did Col. Webster

he made

his arm,

his entry

Calhoun

Major

appear

Talbot

gave

THE

an

audible

Miss

DUPLICITY

OF

HARGRAVES

sniff,glared at him, and

uttered

Lydia

freeze

to

little,ambiguous squeak and

in her hand.

her programme

seemed

For

Colonel

Calhoun

solid.

crumpled
made

was

does
nearly resembling Major Talbot
as
one
pea
another.
The
long, thin white hair, curly at the ends, the
aristocratic beak of a nose, the crumpled, wide, ravelingshirt
front, the stringtie,with the bow nearly under one ear, were
almost exactlyduplicated. And
then, to clinch the imitation,
he wore
the twin to the major's supposed to be unparalleled
coat.
High-collared,baggy, empire-waisted,ample-skirted,
hanging a foot lower in front than behind, the garment could
have been designed from no
other pattern.
From
then on,
the major and
Miss
the
Lydia sat bewitched, and saw
counterfeit presentment
of a haughty Talbot
"dragged," as
the major afterward
expressed it, "through the slanderous
mire of a corrupt stage."
Mr. Hargraves had used his opportunitieswell.
He had
of speech,accent, and
caught the major's little idiosyncrasies
intonation
his pompous
and
courtliness
to perfection exaggerating
up

as

"

all to

the

that marvellous
to

be

the

sudden

pink

round

Miss

Lydia

father.

of all

of
sat

Sometimes

culmination

place in

bow

few

the

When

he

her

hand

next

if to conceal
could
of

sent

forth

to

him

would

the smile which, in

be

of the

her

laid

spite of

entirelysuppress.
imitation
Hargraves's audacious
The

formed
per-

major fondly imagined

salutations,the audience

the third act.

entertains

that

stage.

hearty applause.
immovable, not daring to glance toward

againsther cheek, as
her disapproval,she
The

of the

purpose

not

scene

is where

Colonel

neighboring planters in

took

Calhoun

his "den."

Standing at a table in the centre of the stage, with his

friends grouped about
him, he delivers that inimitable,
in "A
rambling, character monologue so famous
Magnolia
time that he deftlymakes
Flower," at the same
julepsfor the
party.

Major Talbot, sittingquietly,but

white

with

heard his best stories retold,his pet theories and

indignation,
hobbies

ad-

FROM

STORIES

and

vanced

Reminiscences"

bertson

that

"

of

his

omitted, and

not

was

"

the dream

of the

duel
it

**

Anecdotes

and

served, exaggerated

narrative

favorite

and

expanded,

HENRY

O.

His

garbled.

with

Cul-

Rathbone

delivered

was

and

with

more

the

major himself put into it.

with a quaint, delicious, wittyThe
monologue concluded
littlelecture on the art of concocting a julep,illustrated by
Here Major Talbot's delicate but sho\\yscience was
the act.
from his dainty handling of
reproduced to a hair's breadth
"the one-thousandth
the fragrantweed
part of a grain too
stead
much
gentlemen, and you extract the bitterness,inpressure,
of this heaven-bestowed
of the aroma,
plant" to his
gusto than

fire,egotism, and

"

"

"

solicitous selection of the oaten

the close of the

At

straws.

the audience

scene

raised

tumultuous

appreciation. The portrayalof the type was so exact,

and thorough, that the leading characters in the play
sure
so
before
were
forgotten. After repeated calls,Hargraves came
the curtain and bowed, his rather boyish face bright and
flushed with the knowledge of success.
At last Miss Lydia turned and looked at the major. His
thin nostrils were
working like the gillsof a fish. He laid
the arms
of his chair to rise.
both shaking hands
upon
is an
will go, Lydia," he said, chokingly. "This
'*We
of

roar

abominable

rise, she pulled him

will stay it out," she declared.
he

Before
"We
advertise
remained

desecration."

"

could

the copy by
to the end.

Hargraves's success
for neither

at

into

"Do

you

his seat.
want

So

exhibitingthe originalcoat?"
have

must

breakfast

the

back

kept
at

nor

him

the

up

late that

dinner

table

to

they

night,
did

he

appear.

About

in the

three

Major

Talbot's

study.

walked

in with

his hands

of his

triumph

"I

to

put it all

notice

over

he

tapped at the door of

major opened it,and Hargraves

afternoon
The

full of the morning

anything

'em

last

unusual

papers

in the

"

too

full

meanor.
major's de-

night,major," he began

ex-

had

"I

ultantly.

OF

DUPLICITY

THE

HARGRAVES

inning,and,

my

I think, scored.

Here's

the Post says:

what

with
conceptionandportrayal of the old-tiroe Southern colonel,
his absurd grandiloquence,his eccentric garb, his quaint idioms and
pride of family, and his reallykind heart,
phrases,his moth-eaten
is the best delineof honor, and lovable simplicity,
ation
fastidious sense
the
The
boards
role on
coat worn
of a character
to-day.
by
of
evolution
less
than
itself
is
an
Colonel Calhoun
genius.
nothing
his
has
public.
Mr. Hargraves
captured
His

sound, major, for a first nighter.^"

the major's voice sounded
"I had the honor"
ominously
performance,
frigid "of witnessing your very remarkable
sir,last night."
Hargraves looked disconcerted.
that

does

"How

"

"

"You

lot of

in the
The

you

ever

say.

I admit

frankly, don't you be offended.

pointers from you that helped me
But

the

way

it's

caught

audience

of that

type, you

theatre

on

know

out

shows

he

I did get

wonderfully
individual.

not

"

that.

Half

the

They recognized

Southerners.

are

I didn't know

"

Major Talbot,"

"

part.

patrons

Oh, I

theatre.

for the

you cared
exclaimed
a

there .^ I didn't know

were

it."

had remained
Hargraves," said the major, who
me
an
unpardonable insult.
standing, "you have put upon
You
have
grossly betrayed my
burlesqued my
person,
"Mr.

confidence, and

misused

hospitality.If

my

thought

you

possessed the faintest conception of what is the signmanual

call you out, sir,
of a gentleman, or what is due one, I would
old

as

The

I will ask you

appeared to be

am.

actor

hardly

take

to

in the

full

to

leave

the

sir."

room,

slightlybewildered, and seemed

meaning of the old gentleman's

words.
"I

"Up

truly sorry

am

here

I know

men

we

don't
who

you

look
would

took

offence," he said regretfully.

things just as
buy out half the

at

you

house

people
to

do.

have

STORIES

10

FROM

O.

HENRY

the stage so
the public would
personality put on
recognizeit."
from
not
sir," said the major
Alabama,
"They are
haughtily.
I have a pretty good memory,
"Perhaps not.
major; let

their

quote

me

at

banquet given

to have

intend

and

Northern

The
in

few lines from

far

so

In response
to a toast
in
I believe
uttered
Milledgeville,
you
printed,these words:
"

of himself

honor

resentment

his loved

or

consequence

of

liberal hand;

but it must

sentiment

be turned

feelingsmay

will suffer without

He

"

is utterlywithout

man

the

as

book.

your

ones

loss.

pecuniary

In

be heralded

to his

or

except

commercial

o-wti

any

imputation

that

does

his

warmth

cast

bear

not

profit.

with

charity, he gives

with

the trumpet

the

upon

and

it the
with

cled
chroni-

in brass.

"Do

think that pictureis fairer than

you

of Colonel

last

Calhoun

one

you

saw

night?"

description,"said

"The

the

the

major frowning,

"is

"

not

^latitude must
be allowed
in
grounds. Some exag
public speaking."
"And
in public acting,"repliedHargraves.
"That
is not the point,"persistedthe major, unrelenting.
I positivelydecline to over"It was
a personal caricature.
look
without

"

it,sir."

Talbot," said Hargraves, with

"Major
"

you

never

dreamed

belongs
return

to

it

at that.

of

the

what

see

pretty good friends for

take

the risk of

for money

"

if you

about

you

been

up

In my
I want,
and

footlights. Now,
in to

came

I want

me.

insultingyou.

I take

me.

over

understand

would

I wish

some

offendingyou

never

mind

how

winning smile,

you

that

profession,all life
what

I can,
and
will,let's let it go

something

months,

to know

and

again.

I know

I found

out;

else.
I'm
you

We've

going to
are

hard

boarding house

and I want
to let
secret
place to keep such matters
you
me
help you out of the pinch. I've been there often enough
and
myself. I've been getting a fair salary all the season,

is no

"

STORIES

12

The

major

and

rose

It

of address.

doubt; but

assist my
"Don't

HENRY

old, famiHar

at the

style

of the old

one

they

had

plantationdarkeys without
widely scattered, and he could

been
face.

or

believe

don't

"I

O.

forward

came

was

recall the voice

not

FROM

I do," he

said

"unless

kindly
"

wdll

you

memory."

Pendleton,
Cindy's Mose, Mars'
what
'migrated 'mediatelyafter de war?
said the major, rubbing his forehead
"Wait
a
moment,"
with the tips of his fingers. He loved to recall everything
with those beloved
connected
days. "Cindy's Mose," he
the horses
reflected.
"You
worked
breaking the
among
'member

you

"

"

colts.
the

Yes, I remember
of

name

West

don't

"

prompt

"dat's

delighted grin
"

Mose

mars',

colts. Mars'
I

to

seem

me

Mitchell, dey calls

Mose

glad to

see

Mose

major. "You
and livingat the

you.

took

hope

you

chair and

have

prospered."
laid his hat carefullyon
WTien

"Yassir; of late I done mouty famous.

all roun'
Newbraska, dey folks come

Dey

dem

Mose.

Uncle

the

it.

floor beside

sold

dem

recall the colts," said the

the first year of the war

place. But sit down, sit down.

old Follinsbee

colts.

'member

You

me

colts

mule

of dem

gimme a pah
goin' with.

Dat's

Newbraska.

married

was

Uncle

Uncle

pa,

it.

dat's

with

stretched

face

Pendleton?"

don't

know

I'm

your

I lef fur to staht

when

man's

him,
Old

Mitchell.

Old

now.

"I

"

old

"

"

me

to Nebraska."

"

"Yassir, yassir," the

me

the surrender, you took

to the
Mitchell, and went

After

now.

ain't

mules

see

for

no

mules

see

in Newbraska.

like dem

hundred

three

to

me

I first got to
mule
dem

Yassir

dollars.

"

three

hundred.
"Den
money

raised

I open
blacksmith
a
Ian'.
and bought some
up

what

died.

town

slam

seb'm

chillun, and

Fo' year

ag'instmy

ago

shop, suh,
Me

and

all doin'
railroad

my

well

come

Ian',and, suh. Mars'

and

made

old 'oman

'cept two
along and

some

done
of 'em
staht

Pendleton, Uncle

Mose

am

THE

DUPLICITY

worth

leb*m

OF

thousand

HARGRAVES

dollars in money,

property,

Ian'."

and

glad to

"I'm

hear

it," said the major heartily. "Glad

to

it."

hear

dat little baby of

"And

Miss

yo'n, Mars'

Pendleton

I be bound
Lyddy
growed up tell nobody wouldn't know
The
major stepped to the door and
name

you

Lydia, looking quite grown

her

in from

came

dat

"

"

one

little tad

what
done

her."
called:

"Lydia, dear,

come?"

will you
Miss

growed

plum

and

up

little

worried,

room.

I tell you?

WTiat'd

"Dar, now!
be

13

don't

You

up.

I kno wed

dat

baby done
Uncle
Mose,

'member

child?"

"He

Cindy's Mose, Lydia," explained the major.

is Aunt

"This
left

Sunny

for the West

mead

when

two

were

you

years

old."
said Miss

"Well,"
remember

you.

Uncle

Mose,
'

and

'plum growed up,

glad to see you, even

I'm

"I

Lydia,

that

at

was

can

hardly

expected

And,

age.

blessed

be

long time

as

you

ago.

to

say,

But

if I can't remember

you."
And
And
the major. Something alive
she was.
was
so
and tangible had come
with the happy past.
to link them
The three sat and talked over
the olden times, the major and
Uncle Mose
viewed
correctingor prompting each other as they rethe plantation scenes
and days.
The
was
doing so far
major inquired what the old man
I'm

from

his home.

"Uncle

Mose

delicate,"he explained,"to de grand

in dis city. I never
preached none, but

am

Baptis' convention
bein'
own

residin' elder in de

expenses,

"And

how
Miss

"Dey's
comes

comin'

from
outen

dey
did

sent

you

able

church, and

fur to pay

my

along."

me

know

were

we

in

Washington?"

quired
in-

Lydia.
cuUud
Mobile.

man

works
He

told

dish here house

I stops, what
Mars'
Pendleton

in de hotel whar
me

one

he

seen

mawnin'.

"What
his

"besides

"

Pendleton

Mars'

"0^'e

de

what
said the

me?"

roll of bills.

major,

colts,Mose, and, if it be
"

dem

hisself.

Old

When

able to pay
now.
fur dem
laid off to pay
Tears
hand

in

were

and

mules.

what

Dat's

Pendleton.

sold

Talbot's

Major

laid his other

railroad
de

Count

saying to

last dollar in the

Uncle

money.

well

as

Mose,

token

Lydia, my

world

that 'Mars'

you
a

week

since,in

dear, take the

ago.

After

Uncle

an

Yassir."
Mose's

You

money.

unsteady voice,
spent his

will accept this

sort of payment,
as

We

devotion

its expenditure."
I to manage
"Take
it,honey," said Uncle Mose.
Hit's Talbot

Mars'

Uncle

Pendleton'

it is a

way,

loyaltyand

of the

is

his shoulder.

upon

"Dear, faithful,old servitor," he said in

"I don't mind

to

Ian' I

my

fur.

took

He

eyes.

po'

Mose

money.

mules

dem

Yassir

descends

buy

mule

dem

Uncle

dollars.
dat

major

for 'em'.

de debt

'longago dead,

plenty

pay

lef old mars'

done

hundred

the

'Take

says:

had

war

Three

Pendleton.

Mars'

to

was

"

handed

He

gitsable, pay

you

De

bein'

mars'

folks

surprise.

dollars."

so

his words.

was

in

I lef old mars'

"AMien

reaching into

him."

owes

three hundred

"Yassir"

Mose,

home

sight of

HENRY

Uncle

fur," continued

come

pocket

O.

FROM

STORIES

14

are

of the old

regime.

better fitted than

"Hit

belongs to

you.

money."
Mose

had

gone,

Miss

Lydia

had

good

cry

"

joy;and the major turned his face to a corner, and smoked

his clay pipe volcanically.
and
the Talbots restored to peace
The succeedingdays saw
Miss
ease.
Lydia's face lost its worried look. The major
frock coat, in which he looked like a wax
appeared in a new
Another
of his golden age.
figurepersonifyingthe memory
and
publisher who read the manuscript of the "Anecdotes
Reminiscences"
thought that, with a little retouching and
he could make
a reallybright
toning down of the high lights,
of it. Altogether,the situation was
and salable volume
fortable,
comthe touch of hope that is often
and not without
than arrived blessings.
sweeter
for

THE

One

about

day,
brought

maid

any

down

her

by

This

!Miss

Dear
I

received

in

Lydia,

table

and

she

read

piece

Lydia

from

was

her

the

of

letter

The

room.

Not

flutter

luck,

good

York.

mild

opened

of

to

New

15

knowing

wonder,

sat

her

scissors.

fortune.

I have

with

Talbot:

thought

New

Miss

what

was

it

their

Miss

for

that

HARGRAVES

after

letter

there.

one

week

showed

postmark

OF

DUPLICITY

and

accepted
stock

York

be

might

you

glad

an

offer

of

to

play

company

of

learn

to

good

my

hundred

two

dollars
Calhoun

Colonel

week

per

in

by

Magnolia

"A

Flower."
is

There
better
amends

for

the

humor

the

anyhow.

in

was

could

he

help

great
he

wanted

Talbot.

Major

tell

not

bad

else

something

easily

I
to

was

me

it.

about

the

spare

anxious

was

He

in

Sincerely

studying

S.

Miss
"The
on

and

open

"Any

the

mail

passing

let

to

part,
me,

some

and
I

so

for

did

yours,

Hargraves.

Hopkins

Mose.?

through

hall,

the

saw

Miss

Lydia's

stopped.
for

us

slid

Lydia

in

this
the

morning,

letter

Chronicle

Morning
table

Uncle

play

Talbot,

Major
door

did

How

him

hundred.

H.
P.

the

you'd

guess

make

to

refused

three

know.

to

you

your

study."

beneath

came,"

dear?"

Lydia,
a

she

fold
said

of

he
her

promptly.

asked.
dress.

"It*S

it

ROADS

From

Roads

April,
that

and

introduces

it.

influence, I think,

but

the

in

Dumas

as

its

Khay^^am

Omar;

for not

David

sheer
In

but

The

again

in

but

Roads

the

fatalism.

It

the

O.

O.

to

seek

on

\NTiat
True

heart

Will

To

they
order,

My

of

the

was

is to

and

heartily,
notary,

for

he

was

the

and

story.

theme

is put

Tansey

pulled

same

Fate

In

of fatalism,

The

see

be.
with

strong,
bear

not

shun

in

me

wield

or

love

the

M.
a

The

for the

of

light-

fight

mould

or

words

The

poet

young

shook

books,

and

of David

Poems

about

the

paid

for the

Mignot.

the

David's;

were

company

Papineau,

man

to

Destiny?

over.

countryside.

the

this

roads

many

Unpublished

song

than

(page 77).

I go

The

and

pistol.

same

surpassed

never

but

repetitions,

fatalistic

of the

final treatment

Henry's

by Stevenson;

inescapable, whichever

1904),

(February,

shows

its detachment,
more

bullet

Henry

It

question

Branch,"

Door,

even

and

triple framework;

For

Left

in

is

preordained
from

stanzaed

in its connective

Maupassant

technique

same

Take

Poe

Magazine,
works.

Henry's

the

Maletroit's

de

suggests

Kiss

ways.

We

Sire

death

impersonal
Enchanted

different

The

only is death

takes,

upon

to

"The

of

its

O.

among

first adventure,

swashbuckling,

Omar

road

unique

"No"

whole

in Ainslee's

published

philosophic

The

the

story

is

story

studied

DESTINY

First

of Destiny.
This

1903.

returns

OF

inn

air,

table

head

little at

he

had

not

drunk

plauded
ap-

Only

wine.

his

one

the

lines,

with

the

rest.

David

drove

went

the

wine

out

into

vapor

the
from

village
his
16

street,

head.

where

And

then

the
he

night
remem-

air

ROADS
bt?red that
he had

he and

resolved

OF
had

Yvonne

to leave

in the great world

"When
are
my
poems

his home

hard

quarreled that day, and

that night to seek fame

on

she

spoke

that
and

man's

self,
tongue," he told himwill, perhaps, think of the

every

fine exhilaration, "she

words

17

outside.

honor

in

DESTINY

this

day."

Except the roysterers in the tavern, the villagefolk were

abed. David
in the shed of his
crept softly into his room
of his small store of clothfather's cottage and made
ing.
a bundle
With
this upon
the
a staff,he set his face outward
upon
road

that

from

ran

He

passed
nightly pen
"

scatter

while

Vernoy.

his

father's

the

sheep

he

wrote

lightyet shining in
his purpose

of

herd
he

verses

Yvonne's

sudden.

of

herded
on

sheep huddled
daily, leaving

scraps

window,

in

their

them

of paper.
He
and a weakness

to

saw

shook

that she
lightmeant
her anger, and that morning might
rued, sleepless,
But,
His decision was
made.
no!
no
Vernoy was
place for him.
Not one
soul there could share his thoughts. Out along that
road lay his fate and his future.
Three
the dim, moonlit
leagues across
champaign ran the
believed in
It was
road, straightas a ploughman's furrow.
the villagethat the road ran
to Paris, at least; and this name
the poet whispered often to himseK
he walked.
Never
as
so
far from Vernoy had David
traveled before.
a

THE

Three

Perhaps

LEFT

that

BRANCH

leagues,then, the road ran, and turned into a puzzle.

It joinedwith another and a largerroad at rightangles. David
stood, uncertain, for a while, and then took the road to the
left
Upon this more
important highway were, imprinted in the
of some
vehicle.
dust, wheel tracks left by the recent passage
Some
half an hour later these traces were
verified by the sight
of a ponderous carriagemired in a little brook at the bottom
of a steep hill. The driver and postilions
were
shouting and

STORIES

18

FROM

tugging at the horses'

a
huge, black-clothed
long, lightcloak.
David
He

quietly assumed

outriders
their

to

powerful
The

David

stood

for

waved
a

habit.
as

stillby

lady

the

old

or

often

word

no

the

heaved
with

solid

on

up

a
one

ground.

foot. The

will enter

the

David's

perceived dimly
He

about

was

again swayed

huge gentleman
carriage,"he
by art and

to

him

voice.
shorter

foot went

to the

the

of the

form

himself

seat

to

its will.

posite,
op-

"You

was

his great weight to the forward seat.

the hill. The
shrunk,
lady was
up
David

corner.

young,

stirred his

he had

for

himself

urged

lady'sside."

loveliness beneath
as

alone

the

exercise

to

carriage,and

one

upon

he

seat.

rear

silent, into her

clothes

directed

and

places,

*'You

gentleman s^omg
carriageproceeded

was

of the

of the command.

the voice

will sit at the

she

driver

voice; David

moment

darkness

the

when

The

The

their

to

He

voice

upon

The

work.

the horses

at

rear

hand.

renewal

In

step.

of the

in

servants.

large,like himself, but smoothed

Obedience
belonged in the path of such
the young
cut
was
poet's hesitation, it was

said, in
Brief

at the

climbed

side stood

one

lady wrapped

tug the great vehicle rolled

outriders

at

of skill in the efforts of the

familiar

shoulder

harmonious

slender

the wheels.

his

HENRY

the road

their clamor

cease

with

On

and

man

control

strength upon

animals

bridles.

the lack

saw

O.

but

could

delicate, mild

poet's fancy

to

while

the

Here

the mystery.
imagined. But

spoken

not

as

he

estimate

perfume

belief that
was

with

from
there

adventure

an

yet he held
sat

whether

his

her
was

such

key to it,
impenetrable
no

companions.
In
the

an

hour's time

vehicle

David

traversed

the

perceivedthrough
street

of

some

the window
town.

Then

that
it

house, and a posstopped in front of a closed and darkened

tilion
the door.
A
alighted to hammer
impatiently upon
above
latticed window
flew wide
and
a
nightcapped head
popped out.
Who
are
ye that disturb honest folk at this time of night?
"

STORIES

20

ends

The

of

FROM

HENRY
reached

moustache

upturned

an

O.

nearly

to

his

mocking eyes.
David
The
lady sat motionless, and now
perceived that
she was
and
possessed of pathetic and appealing
young,
lorn
beauty. He was startled from the contemplation of her forloveliness by the booming voice of the marquis.
is your
and pursuit.^"
"What
name
"David
Mignot. I am a poet."
moustache
of the marquis curled nearer
The
to his eyes.
live.'^"
do you
also a shepherd; I

"How
"I

am

with

answered,

blundered

have

Mademoiselle
and

is

de

possessed of

ten

to her

If the
becomes
I

whom

at

her

to

and

altar this
like

the

her hand

but

fortune

was

Do
chateau

meek

be he

marry

then

the first man

we

prince,charcoal-burner,

the first.

Mademoiselle

another.

decision.

Do

You
not

must

have
vex

minutes, shepherd; and

in her

year

observe

to

own

for self.
yourheart, she

shepherd's
not
interrupt me.
of the

Comte

de

night
ToVille-

been

dutiful,turned upon
me
with cruelty and crimes, and
and

leopardess,charged me
broke, before the gaping priest,the
her.
I swore
there and then, by ten
a

should

descent

promised. Guests were

waiting; her marriage to one eligible
ready to be accomplished. At the

demoiselle, so

had

is of noble

francs

have

you

word.

present; the priestwas

in rank

She

thousand

charms,

wife

conveyed

to

Varennes.

inventory pleases your

your

maur,

upon

Lucie

As

right.

his head

listen, master

"Then
you

guarded my father's flock," David

high, but a flush upon his cheek.
shepherd and poet, to the fortune
to-night. This lady is my niece,

ten
me

be

thousand

plighted for

devils,that she

after

minutes
with

I had

leaving the chateau,

thief.
You, shepherd, are
wed this night. If not you,

met
or

troth

in which

words

or

to make

questions.

your

Ten

they are speeding."

The marquis drummed
loudly with his white fingersupon
the table.
He sank into a veiled attitude of waiting. It was
if some
against
as
great house had shut its doors and windows
have
would
approach. David
spoken, but the huge man's

ROADS

the
a

he

Mademoiselle,"

Instead, he stood by the lady's

said, and

flowing easily before

have

*'You

heard

me

adore

to

say

fancy, at times,

poet

21

bowed.

chair and

words

DESTINY

his tongue.

bearing stoppea
*'

OF

and

that

find

to

elegance and
shepherd. I have

was

his

beauty.
also had

If it be the test

poet.

am

cherish

marveled

much

so

he

the beautiful,that

fancy

is

of

now

mademoiselle?"
in any way,
looked
with eyes
The
at him
woman
dry and
up
young
serious by the
mournful.
His frank, glowing face, made
Can

strengthened.

serve

you

gravity of the adventure, his strong, straightfigureand the

liquidsympathy in his blue eyes, perhaps, also, her imminent
her to sudden
need of long-deniedhelp and kindness, thawed
tears.

she said, in low

"Monsieur,"
and

He

is my
uncle, the
relative.
He loved my

kind.

only

my

because

am

like her.

look

of my
mother, and

made

am

three times

man

this vexation

upon

this mad
thank

There

he

act

for your

you

spoken

none

you,

was

poet's eyes.

now

Poet

he must

me

this fine, new

and

grace.

words,

long."
something more

to

The

minutes,"

have

said David,

I would

you,

mademoiselle; it would
ask love from

years

you

than

held

perfume

what

cannot

to

bringing
cline
de-

course,

let

me

had

I have

him

from

"is

given

to achieve.
not

be

yet, but let

me

with

its freshness

warmly

her.

upon

say

I love

"

rescue

cruel man,
and, in time, love may
come.
future, I will not always be a shepherd.

with

in which

me

I will not
true

gotten;
for-

was

filled him

her

fell

look

the

generosity in

been, for Yvonne

loveliness

subtle

devote

least.

at

dared
me

But

you.

ror.
ter-

so

His tender
strange emotions.
She leaned to it,thirstily.
"Ten

for

will,of

tries to force upon

me

long

married

forgiveme
You

monsieur.

generous

in

will

You

age.

my

hates

before

afraid of his very

looks, and never
have
But to-nighthe would
to disobey him.
I

he

life one

my

be true

to

father, and

brother

has

He

"you

tones,

you

I think
For

do

to

pity
I

you.

from

this

I have

the present I

STORIES

22

FROM

O.

HENRY

will cherish you with all my

heart and make
lifeless sad
your
Will you
fate to me,
mademoiselle?'*
trust your
'*Ah, you would sacrifice yourselffrom pity!"
love.

"From

The

time

is almost

will regret it,and

"I will live only to make

"You

mademoiselle."

up,

despise me."
you happy,

and

myself worthy

of

you."
fine small

Her

will trust

"I

love

and
Once

crept into his from beneath her cloak.

you," she breathed, "with my life. And
"

be

not

may

"

as

you

think.

Tell

him.

the power
of his eyes I may
forget."
and stood before the marquis. The black figure

went

stirred,and the mocking

glanced at the great hall clock.

minutes
A shepherd requireseight minto spare.
utes
he will accept a bride of beauty and
decide whether
to become
Speak up, shepherd, do you consent

"Two
to

income!

mademoiselle's

me

far off

so

from

away

David

hand

eyes

husband?"

"Mademoiselle," said David, standing proudly, "has done

the honor to yield to my
request that she become
my

wife."
"Well
of
could
done

said!"
a

courtier

have
with

said the

drawn

marquis.

in you,
a

the affair

master

"You

have

shepherd.

ing
yet the makMademoiselle

to be
prize,after all. And now
quick as the Church and the devil will

worse
as

allow!"
He

struck

landlord

the

table soundly with

his sword

hilt.

The

candles in the
knee-shaking, bringing more
"Fetch
a
hope of anticipating the great lord's whims.
In
priest,"said the marquis, a priest;do you understand?
have a priesthere, or
ten minutes
The landlord dropped his candles and flew.
The priestcame,
heavy-eyed and ruffled. He made David
and wife, pocketed a
man
Mignot and Lucie de Varennes
gold piece that the marquis tossed him, and shuffled out
again into the night.
the marquis, spreading his ominous
ordered
"Wine,"
fingersat the host.
came,

"

"

ROADS

DESTINY

OF

brought. He stood up
black mountain
the candlelight,
a
of an
something like the memory

he said, when
"Fill glasses,"
at the head

of

of the table in

and

venom

conceit, with

"Monsieur

to

after I say this to you

will make
who
your
in her is an

will

She

life

The

is there

wound,

to be your

wretched

and

in her eyes and

There
peasant.

drank.

wife

thing.

one

The

skin and
is your
your

mouth

that

sieur
promise,mon-

wine.

last,

At

you."
little

grievous cry, as
girl'slips. David,

the

from

came

Drink

life.

rid of

am

marquis

sudden

taken

running black lies and red ruin.

devil that deand anxiety. The
scended

beguilea
poet, for a happy

mademoiselle,

foul

shame

to

even

have

You

inheritance

bring you
to her

stoop

it was

poison in his eye, as it fell upon his niece.

Mignot," he said, raisinghis wineglass,"drink

old love turned

blood

23

if from
with

his

glassin his hand, stepped forward three paces and faced the
marquis. There was little of a shepherd in his bearing.
the honor
to
"Just
now," he said, calmly, "you did me
^allme 'monsieur.'
May I hope, therefore, that my marriage
in
somewhat
has placed me
to you
to mademoiselle
nearer
the right to stand
let us say, reflected rank
^has given me
as
an
more
equal to monseigneur in a certain little piece o*
"

"

"

business

I have

in my

mind.f^"

hope, shepherd," sneered the marquis.

said David, dashing his glass of wine into the
"Then,"
him, "perhaps you will condescend
contemptuous
eyes that mocked
to fightme."
sudden
in one
The
curse
fury of the great lord outbroke
"You

like

may

blast from

sheath; he called
for this lout!"

horn.
the

to

He

widow
"I

make
"

It

in the

know

not

not

put much
husband

its black

there,

sword

"A

laugh

that

labor

upon

me,

and

make

you

lady, with

find you

night.'*
sword-play,"

from

same

the confession
*I know

landlord:

the

to

said: "You

I must

seems

his sword

tore

hovering

turned

chilled her heart, and

madame.

He

before

his
' "

sword-play,

said

David.

He

flushed

to

lady.

mimicked

the

marquis.

"Shall

we

my

FROM

STORIES

24

fightlike peasants with

pistols!"
A postilionbrought two

with

tossed

one

cudgels?

near

David's

Hola

hand.

table," he cried; "even

of the

end

the table

upon

oaken

HENRY
!

Frangoisj

shining great pistolsornamented

the carriage holsters.
The marquis

silver,from

carven

O.

"To

shepherd
to die by

the other

may

pull

the weapon
trigger. Few of them attain the honor
of a De Beaupertuys."
The
shepherd and the marquis faced each other from the
The
ends of the long table.
landlord, in an ague of terror,
clutched
the air and
stammered:
for
"M-M-Monseigneur,
house!
do not spillblood
the love of Christ! not in my
it
The look of the marquis, threatening
will ruin my custom
him, paralyzed his tongue.
"Coward," cried the lord of Beaupertuys, "cease chattering
for us, if you can."
your teeth long enough to give the word
"

"

"

host's knees

Mine

sounds

Even

he

seemed

beseech

to

the floor.

smote
were

peace

beyond
in the

He
him.

was

without

cabulary.
vo-

Still,by gestures
of his house

and

lady, in a clear voice.

him
sweetly. Her eyes

She

name

custom.
"

I will

went

up

give the word,"

to

David

and

said the

kissed

w^ere

She stood
to her cheek.
sparklingbright,and color had come
for her
leveled their pistols
againstthe wall,and the two men
count.
"

Un

"

deux

"

trois .'"

nearly together that the candles

"flickered but once.
The
marquis stood, smiling,the fingers
of his left hand resting,
outspread, upon the end of the table.
David
remained
turned
his head
slowly,
erect, and
very
Then, as a garment falls
searchingfor his wife with his eyes.
the floor.
from where
it is hung, he sank, crumpled, upon
maid
With
of terror and despair,the widowed
a little cry
and stooped above him.
She found his wound, and then
ran
looked up with her old look of pale melancholy.
"Through
his heart," she whispered. "Oh, his heart!"
The

tW'O

"Come,

reports

"

boomed

came

so

the great voice of the

marquis,"out

with

ROADS
the

you to
hands.
this
or

Wed

DESTINY

OF

25

carriage! Daybreak shall

shall be again, and
you
The

night.

next

come

we

If the road

peasant.

to

my

upon,

find you

not

my

livinghusband,
lady,highwayman
a

other, then

yieldsno

on

the churl

that

to the

carriage!"
The marquis, implacable and huge, the lady wrapped again
in the mystery of her cloak, the postilion
bearing the weapons
sound
of its
all moved
out to the waiting carriage. The
ponderous wheels rollingaway echoed through the slumbering
lord
village. In the hall of the Silver Flagon the distracted landabove
the slain poet'sbody, while the
his hands
wrung

opens

gates.

my

Out

with

you

"

of the four

flames
on

and

danced

and

flickered

into

the table.
THE

joinedwith

another

and

BRANCH

RIGHT

Three leagues,then, the road

It

candles

twenty

ran,

and

largerroad

turned

at

not, but

it led he knew

he

David

rightangles.

stood,uncertain, for a while, and then took the road

Whither

puzzle.

was

to the

resolved

to

right.
leave

traveled
that night. He
a
league and
Vernoy far behind
then passed a largechateau which showed
testimony of recent
entertainment.
Lights shone from every window; from the

great

stone

gateway

ran

tracery of wheel

tracks

drawn

in

by the vehicles of the guests.

He rested
Three
was
leagues farther and David
weary.
and sleptfor a while on a bed of pine boughs at the roadside.
Then
again along the unknown
way.
up and on
the great road, sleeping
Thus
for five days he traveled
balsamic
beds or in peasants' ricks, eating of
Nature's
upon
the
their black, hospitable bread, drinking from
streams
or
willingcup of the goatherd.
At length he crossed a great bridge and set his foot within
the smilingcity that has crushed or crowned
more
poets than
His breath came
all the rest of the world.
quickly as Paris
her vital chant of greeting
sang to him in a littleundertone
the dust

"

the hum

High

of voice and
up

under

the

wheel.

foot and
eaves

of

an

old house

in the Rue

Conti.

"

STORIES

26

David

for

paid

lodging,and

his poems.

to

and

The

but many

O.

himself, in

set

to those

tall and

were

of them

stillpossessedof

empty

were

here

who

of

ever

chairj
import
follow

was

but

now

David

rancid

ruined

for dust

save

By night there was the clash of steel and the

from
inn to inn.
Where
straying restlessly
abode

wooden

shelteringcitizens

once

given over

now

HENRY

of decline.

houses

The

street,

was

consequence,

in the wake

FROM

and

rude

dignity,
the spider.

and

cries of brawlers

gentility

once

incontinence.

But

found

to his scant
housing commensurate
purse.
Daylight and candlelightfound him at pen and paper.
One
afternoon
he was
returning from a foraging trip to

the

lower

wine.
came

Halfway
that
A

beneath.

bread
his

up

should

balk

loose, dark
Her

and

dark

for she rested

upon,

beauty
tion.

world, with

on

curds

and

stairway
the stair

even

the

"

he

met

young

justiceof

cloak, flung open,

bottle

or

"

woman

of thin
rather
of

poet'simagina-

showed

rich gown
little shade

changed swiftlywith every

of thought. Within
moment
one
they would be round and
artless like a child's,and
long and cozening like a gipsy's
One hand raised her gown,
undraping a littleshoe, high-heeled
with its ribbons
So heavenly she was,
dangling,untied.
so
unfitted to stoop, so qualified
and command
to charm
! Per'
David
haps she had seen
coming, and had waited for his
help there.
Ah, would monsieur
pardon that she occupied the stairway,
but the shoe ! the naughty shoe ! Alas ! it would
not remain
tied.
Ah! if monsieur
would be so gracious!
The poet'sfingerstrembled
he tied the contrary ribbons.
as
eyes

"

Then

he

would

fled from

have

the

danger of her presence,

but the eyes
long and cozening, like a gipsy's,and
grew
held him.
He leaned
against the balustrade, clutching his
bottle
"You

of

wine.

sour

have

been

good," she said, smiling. "Does

so

sieur, perhaps, five in the house.'*"

*'Yes, madame.

''Perhaps in

I
the

"

I think

so,

madame."

third story, then?'*

mon

STORIES

28

chairs and

FROM

the table and

furniture.

One

of the

O.

Hghted

HENRY

candle

it

upon

all the

was

dressed
in
huge man,
of sneeringpride. The ends
expression was
one
of his upturned moustache
reached
nearly to his mocking
Another
and beautiful, with eyes
was
a
lady, young
eyes.
that could be round
and artless,like a child's,or long and
black.

was

persons

His

keen and ambitious, like

cozening, like a gipsy's,but were
now
other conspirator's. The
third was
of action, a
a
man
any
combatant, a bold and impatient executive, breathing fire
and

steel.

He

addressed

was

the

by

others

Captain

as

Desrolles.
This

struck

man

the table

with

his fist,and

said, with

trolled
con-

violence:
I am
"To-night. To-night as he goes to midnight mass.
tired of the plottingthat gets nowhere.
I am
sick of signals
and ciphersand secret meetings and such haragouin. Let us
be honest

traitors.

If France

in the open,
and not hunt
I back my
I say.
words.

is to be rid of him, let

with

snares

hand

My

he goes to mass."
lady turned upon him

and

To-night,

traps.

will do

kill

us

the deed.

night,
To-

as

The

wedded
The

to

big man

"Dear
"this

plots,must

stroked

his

I agree

waiting. Enough
the endeavor

with

ever

upturned

captain," he said, in

time

cordial look.

thus

bow

to

rash

courage.

moustache.

great voice, softened

Nothing is to be
palace guards belong to
you.

of the

ever
how-

Woman,

by habit,
gained by

us

to make

safe one."

"To-night," repeated Captain Desrolles,again strikingthe

table.
have heard me,
"You
marquis; my hand will do the
deed."
"But
Word

now,"

upon.

carriage.
as

be sent

must

agreed

At

the south

"I

said the

Our

huge

a question.
softly,"comes
to our
partisans in the palace,and a signal
stanchest men
the royal
must
accompany

this hour

what

man,

messenger

can

penetrate
there; once

doorway.^ Ribout is stationed

is placed in his hands, all will go well/'
will send the message," said the lady.

so

far
sage
mes-

OF

ROADS

"Your

upon

lady, risingand restingher hands

the table; "in a garret of this house lives a youth from
and tender as the lambs he tended
provinces as guileless
I have

there.

him

met

in which

room

will.

He

writes
He

me.

upon

he

might

dwell

to

the
too

He

meet.

stairs.

the

near

is mine, if I

in his garret, and I think he dreams

He shall take the message
what
I say.

poems

will do

palace."
The
from
marquis rose
to finish my
not permit me
to

thrice

accustomed

are

we

or

twice

questioned him, fearing that

of

"

but

know,

we

the

exclaimed

"Listen!"

the

is great,

devotion

29

marquis, raisinghis eyebrows.

said the

countess?"

"You,

DESTINY

the

would

have

charm

are

While

infinitely
greater.
the conspiratorswere
knock

with

wide

eyes

"Monsieur,"

engaged,

come

to

my

mother

is

dying. My
the king. Some

in the

d'escalier.

you

of

He

in straits,

in distress.
no

other

help.

swaggering men!
uncle is a captain of
must
one
flyto bring

palace of
him.
May I hope
"Mademoiselle,"
interruptedDavid, his eyes
the desire to do her service, "your hopes shall
guards

ishing
pol-

was

there, panting as one

artless,like a child's.

believe you to be good and true, and I know

the
How
I flew through the streets among

Monsieur,

David

"I

opened it, with

his door, and

she breathed, "I

did

wit and

your

her

and

open

"You

countess," he said.

his amorette

to

at

great throb, to behold

bowed.

is great, but

thus

lines addressed

timorous

and

sentence,

devotion

said: 'Your

some

heard

his chair

"

Tell

how

me

The

lady

"Go
to

the

to

I may
thrust

the

reach

you,

sealed paper
into his hand.
south gate
the south gate, mind
"

*The

falcon

has

"

and

left his nest.'

say

They

will go to the south entrance

to the
the words, and give this letter to the man

and

you

palace. Repeat
who
will reply 'Let
password, monsieur,
when

him."

guards there,

will pass

shining with
be my
wings.

him

strike when

entrusted

the country is disturbed

to

and

me

men

he

will.'

This

is the

by my uncle, for now

plotagainstthe king's

STORIES

30

life,no

without

one

FROM

it can

after

HENRY

gain entrance
will, monsieur,

nightfall. If you
that my
mother
may

so

O.

him

see

the

to

palace grounds

take

before

him

this letter

she

closes

her

eyes."
Give

it me,"

said David,

eagerly.

"But

shall I let you

late.^ I

home

through the streets alone so

is like a precious jewel.
"No,
moment
no
fly. Each
Some
time," said the lady,with eyes long and cozening,like a
gipsy's,"I will try to thank you for your goodness."
return

"

"

The

thrust

poet

the

doTVTi the

stairway.

the

below.

room

The

The

is

The

was

gone,

returned

to

marquis interrogatedher.
fleet and stupid as one
of his

deliver it."

shook

table

he

bounded

of the

gone," she said, "as

sheep, to

his breast, and

lady,when

eloquent eyebrows

"He
own

letter into

again

from

the

batter

of

Captain

Des-

rolles's fist.
"Sacred
I

name!"

trust

can

"Take
cloak

bears

left my

pistolsbehind!

others."

no

"There

are

and

arms

my

I must

cried; "I have

this," said the marquis, drawing from beneath

his
ornamented
with
shining, great weapon,
carven

silver.

he

put many

To-morrow

must

truer.

none

But

guard

crest, and

already I am
leaguesbetween myself and
find

me

in my

chateau.

it

closely,for it
suspected. Me,
Paris this night.
After

you,

dear

countess."
The

marquis

cloaked, and the

and

flowed

of the Rue

pavements
David
halberd

into

The
puffed out the candle.
lady, well
two
the stairway
gentlemen softlydescended
the crowd
that roamed
along the narrow

sped.
was

the words:

At

laid to
"The

Conti.

the south

gate of the king's residence a

his breast, but he turned
its point with

falcon

has

left his nest."

"Pass, brother," said the guard, "and

On

the

him,

but

One

smong

south

go

quickly."

steps of the palace they moved

the
again the mot de passe charmed
them
and
stepped forward
began:

to

seize

watchers.
"Let

him

ROADS
"

strike
A

of keen

man

through
*'

hand.

the letter which

seized

and

Come

with

he tore

Place

spacious chamber,
dressed, sat brooding
"

it

Sire, I have

spiesas

was

by

the

guards

gate arrested

royal in

their

was

and

the

confined.

To

places."

ing.
passat

David

he

where
in

and

corridor

melancholy

into

anteroom

an

man,

great, leather-covered

sombrely
chair.

To

he said:

man

and

south

through

that

in his

me."

him

conducted

He

will have

you

the

with

"Come

said:

who

officer of musketeers,

an

as

to be

known

men

held

inside the great

read it. He beckoned

the letter and

open

and

entrance

David

me," he said, and led him

"Captain Tetreau,
south

31

the guards told of a surprise.

flurryamong
look and soldierlystride suddenly pressed

uniformed

a man

DESTINY

them

Then

hall.
to

but

OF

told you that the palace is as full of traitors

You have thought, sire,that
is of rats.
sewer

fancy.

my

This

He

their connivance.
I have

penetrated

man

brought

bore

your

letter which
that

here

him

to

your

very

I have

majesty

door
cepted.
intermay

longer think my zeal excessive."

"I will question him," said the king,stirringin his chair.
with heavy eyes dulled by an
He looked at David
opaque
Qo

film.

poet bent his knee.

The

do you come.^^" asked the king.

the villageof Vernoy, in the province of Eure-et-

where

"From
"From

Loir, sire."
"What
"I

"

do you follow in Paris?"

be a poet, sire."
I would

in Vernoy?"
did you
father's flock of
"I minded
my
"What

The

king

"Ah!

stirred

again,and

sheep."

the film lifted from

his eyes.

in the fields!"

"Yes, sire."
"You

morning

lived in the fields;you

and

distributed

stream;

you

lay among
itself upon
ate

your

went

out

in the

cool of the

The
in the grass.
of the
drank
the hillside;you
the

hedges

sweet, brown

bread

flock

living

in the shade, and

STORIES

32

FROM

O.

HENRY

listened,doubtless,to blackbirds
that so, shepherd?"

you
not

**It is, sire," answered

David,

bees at the flowers,and,

maybe,

piping in

with

Is

sigh; "and to the

gathererssinging
grape
a

the

to

the grove.

the hill."

on

*'Yes, yes," said the king, impatiently;"maybe to them;

but surely to the blackbirds.
They whistled often, in the
did

grove,

they

"Nowhere,
endeavored

to

not?"

sire, so

sweetly

express

their song

in Eure-et-Loir.

as

in

some

verses

that

I have
I have

written."
"Can

you

repeat those

"A

long time ago

something better

verses?"

asked

the

I listened to the blackbirds.

than

king, eagerly.
It would

be

kingdom if one could rightlyconstrue

their song.
And
drove the sheep to the
at night you
fold and then sat, in peace
and tranquillity,
to your
pleasant
bread.
Can you
repeat those verses, shepherd?"
this way,
sire," said David, with respectful
"They run
ardor

"'Lazy shepherd, see

Skip, ecstatic, on
See the firs dance
Hear

'Hear
See
Yield

Pan

us

will ask
time

to

the mead;

in the breezes.

blowing

at his reed.

callingfrom the tree-tops.

us

swoop

us

wool

upon
to

In the branches

"If it

lambkins

your

make

your
our

of the

flock;
nests
'

warm

'

"

pleaseyour majesty," interrupteda harsh voice, "I

a
question or two of this rhymester. There is little
I crave
pardon, sire,if my anxiety for your
spare.

safety offends."
"The
d'Aumale
is
loyalty,"said the king, "of the Duke
He sank into his chair, and
too well proven
to give offence."
the film came
again over his eyes.

ROADS

OF

DESTINY

33

duke, '*I will read

"First," said the

the

you

letter he

brought :
"

If he goes,
*To-nightis the anniversaryof the dauphin's death.
for the soul of his son, the
to pray
is his custom, to midnight mass
as
of the Rue Esplanade. If this be his
falcon will strike,at the corner
at the southwest
intention,set a red lightin the upper room
corner
falcon
of the palace,that the
take heed.'
may

said the

"Peasant,"
Who

duke, sternly,"you have

heard

these

this message
to bring?"
"My lord duke," said David, sincerely,"I will tell you.
She said her mother
A lady gave it me.
and that this
ill,
was
words.

gave

you

writingwould fetch her uncle

but
the meaning of the letter,
and good."
"Describe

"Describe
would

her

made

alders,and
you

gaze

sun

peeps

them;

now

she

blossoms.

with

duke, "and

how

tender

smile.

"You

miracles.

Well, she is
is slender, like the

She

their grace.
Her eyes change while
round, and then half shut as the
clouds.

two

her; when

hawthorn

the

shade.

deep

with

between

know

that she is beautiful

swear

perform

to

and

moves

into

all about

number

said David
words

of sunshine

I do not

dupe."

her!"

command

I will

commanded

the woman,"
to be

came

you

to her bedside.

When

she

leaves, there is chaos

She

to

came

and

in the

me

heaven

comes,

is

scent

Rue

of

Conti,

twenty -nine."

"It

is the

"that

have

we

tongue,

house," said
been

have

we

the

duke,

watching.
picture of

turning

Thanks
the

to

the

to

king,
poet's

the

Countess

infamous

Quebedaux."
"Sire
my

and

poor

that

words

lord
have

lady's eyes.

letter
The

my

or

no

duke

duke," said David, earnestly,"I hope

done

no

I will stake

injustice. I
my

life that

have
she

looked
is

an

into

angel,

letter."
looked

at

him

steadily.

proof," he said, slowly. "Dressed

"I

as

will put you

the king, you

to the

shall.

STORIES

34

attend
yourself,

FROM
in his

mass

O.

HENRY
Do

carriageat midnight.

you

accept the test?'*

David

smiled.

"I had

hour

an

hands,

own

At

have

proof there.

my

Half

"I

set

ten

before
a

looked

Take

minutes

to the

the
a

her

how

yours

twelve

red lamp in

into

Duke

eyes," he
will."

you

with

d'Aumale,

southwest

window

of the

hour, David, leaningon

as

the

his

ace.
pal-

his arm,
in
bowed

king, from top to toe, with his head

his cloak, walked
slowly from the royal apartments
waiting carriage. The duke assisted him inside and
The carriagewhirled away
the door.
along its route
dressed

said.

to

the

closed
to

the

cathedral.
On

the
w^as

qui vive
Captain

in

house

Tetreau

at

with

the conspirators when

upon

it seemed

But

the

twenty

they

that, for

of the Rue

corner

should

some

to pounce

appear.

reason,

the

plottershad
royal carriagehad

the
plans. When
than the Rue
reached the Rue Christopher,one
nearer
square
Esplanade, forth from it burst Captain Desrolles, with his
and assailed the equipage. The
band of would-be
regicides,
guards upon the carriage,though surprised at the premature
and fought valiantly. The
noise of conattack, descended
flict
attracted the force of Captain Tetreau, and they came
But, in the meantime,
peltingdown the street to the rescue.
the door of the king's
the desperate Desrolles had torn open
ure
against the body of the dark figcarriage,thrust his weapon

slightlyaltered

inside, and
Now,
with

with

cries and

their

ready

men,

nade
Espla-

fired.

loyal reinforcements
the rasp

at

of steel,but

the

hand,

the

street

frightenedhorses

rang

had

Upon the cushions lay the dead body of the

mock
king and poet, slain by a ball from the pistolof
poor
Monseigneur, the Marquis de Beaupertuys.
dashed

away.

The

Main

Road

Three leagues,then, the road ran, and turned into a puzzle.

It joinedwith another and a largerroad at rightangles, David

FROM

STORIES

36

cottage descended

to him.

He

O.

"

her

double

were

Xnd

sight.

your

the

beds

flower

might

you

chestnut

your

hear

above

tree

in the

and

neat

so

the seemliest wife

already had
pailsand her

village. Yvonne's milk

bright ouf! they blinded you
that way.
But you
must
keep
in the

HENRY

brass kettles
when

sun

eyes

you

her

upon

her

Gruneau's

Pere

passed
3-ard,for

they restored
sing, aye, as

gay

were

to

you

far

as

blacksmith

forge.
But
shut
had

day

when

came

drawer, and

began

been, for

Yvonne

now

was

loveliness of earth

new

drew

out

paper

bite the end

to

touched

again and

come

David

held

of

his heart.

from

longpencil. Spring
a

he must

Poet

have

well-nigh forgotten. This fine

him with its witchery and grace"

and
meadows
stirred him
perfume from her woods
strangely. Daily had he gone forth with his flock, and
he stretched himself under
brought it safe at night. But now
the hedge and pieced words
together on his bits of paper.
The
sheep strayed, and the wolves, perceivingthat difficult
The

make

poems

easy

ventured

mutton,

the woods

from

and

stole

his lambs.
stock

David's
Yvonne's
Her

nose

flash.

She
the

David

dufl, but her

kettles grew

and

pans

of poems
largerand his flock smaller.
grew
and temper waxed
sharp and her talk blunt.

pointed
flock

hired

boy

out

and
to

to

eyes

the poet that

had

his

caught
neglect was

their
ducing
re-

the household.
bringing woe
upon
guard the sheep, locked himself in the

in the top of the cottage, and wrote

more
poems.
furnished
but
with
not
The boy, being a poet by nature,
an
The
of writing,spent his time in slumber.
outlet in the way
little room

discoveringthat poetry and sleep are

the flock steadily grew
smaller.
so
practicallythe same;
Sometimes
increased at an
ill temper
Yvonne's
equal rate.
she would
stand in the yard and rail at David
through his
could hear her as far as the double
Then
high window.
you
blacksmith
Pere Gruneau's
chestnut
tree above
forge.
M.
Papineau, the kind, wise, meddling old notary, saw
this, as he saw
pointed. He
everything at which his nose
wolves

lost

no

time

in

OF

ROADS
to

and

said:

I have

listen to what

perceive,upon
Bril

Monsieur
in

the

Georges

houseful

Paris each

At

poetry.

"

the catacombs

you

when

you

shall take him

you

will know

He
has

as

is

written

old friend.
heart

your

set,

friend,

one

fittle cleared

learned

But

son.

an

I have

fives in

He

of books.

of his

have

Dreux,

Bril.

he himself

year;

You

to say.

tificate
marriage cerbe obligedto

to

me

signifyingthe bankruptcy
are
coming to. I speak
you

paper

is what

space

great pinch of snuff,

I affixed the seal upon

distress
It would
father.

of your

Now%

37

Mignot,

"Friend

that

with

David, fortified himself

went

attest

DESTINY

he visits

man;

will tell

He

books.

made, how

they found out the

of the stars, and why the plover has a long bill. The
names
the
as
meaning and the form of poetry is to him as intelligent
I will give you a letter to him, and
baa of a sheep is to you.

At

the

the next

morning

give your

or

"I

read them.

am

sorry

broke

man

Then

attention

did

you

not

down

upon

Monsieur

took

his

David

little island beat

Bril had

was

the road

on

At

arm.

Dreux

to

he

noon

of Monsieur

Bril.

the seal of M.

through

He

water.

he

under his
of poems
his feet at the door

its contents

up

draws

him

from

dust

learned

sucked
sun

shall write more,

business."

precious roll

the

mped
That

let him

of this sooner."
sunrise

with

and

poems

the letter," said David,

"Write

speak

your

if you

wife and

to your

were

Papineau's letter,and
gleaming spectaclesas the
inside to his study and sat
by a sea of books.
upon
He

conscience.

flinched

not

even

at

manuscript the thickness of a fingerlength and

the back
rolled to an
He
broke
of the
curve.
incorrigible
roll against his knee and began to read.
He slightednothing:
he bored into the lump as a worm
into a nut, seeking for a

of

mass

kernel.

Meanwhile,
of

so

chart
he

much
or

David

sat, marooned,

literature.

compass

thought, must

for
be

It roared

the

trembling in

in his

voyaging in that
writingbooks.

sea.

He

ears.

Half

spray

held

no

the world,

Bril bored

Monsieur

off his

he took

to the

last page of the poems.

Then
handkerwiped them with his chief.

spectaclesand

the best of health," said David.

"In
"How

hundred

flock has
from

wife and

home,

nature's

keen

had

You

contentment.
upon

plenty.

you

lived in the

and

but

all your
wandering about

have

his eyes
horizon
Monsieur

sail.

Mignot;

see

"There

that

went

air and

"Look

tell

me

sea

be

ate

into

the

the

vigilantand

of

bread

recline there
of the

birds
black-

far.?"

of books

you

The

fields with

sweet

Monsieur

as

see

Bril,

if he conned

yonder, through
what

creased
de-

lived in comfort.

and

right thus

his

it has

fifty."

You

to

number

verses," continued

read

for

breast, listeningto the whistle

Am
I
in the grove.
"It was
so," said David.
"I

Mignot.'^"
them yesterday.
counted

To

and

sheep brought
them

ill fortune.

eight hundred
a

Monsieur

you,

nine, when

and

had

have

"You

have

sheep

many

"Three

"I

HENRY

old friend, Papineau, is well.'^" he asked.

"My

The

O.

FROM

STORIES

38

that

the

window,

in that tree."

crow," said David, looking.

is a bird," said Monsieur
Bril, "that

shall assist

that
disposed to shirk a duty. You know
bird. Monsieur
Mignot; he is the philosopherof the air. He
None
is happy through submission
to his lot.
so
or
merry
full-crawed
he with his whimsical
as
step.
eye and rollicking
He never
he desires.
The fields yield him what
grievesthat
have
And
like the oriole's.
his plumage is not
you
gay,
has given
heard. Monsieur
Mignot, the notes that nature
Is the nightingaleany
him.^
happier,do you think.?"
The crow
cawed
David
to his feet.
harshly from his
rose
where

me

am

tree.

thank

"I

not, then,

was

"I

sigh.
try

could
"I

Monsieur

you,

not

read

to write

one

nightingalenote

have
every

it any

Bril," he said, slowly. "There

among

all those

missed

it," said Monsieur

word.

Live

more."

your

poetry,

croaks.?"

Bril, with
man;

do

not

ROADS
thank

"I

overlook

at

Back

his

under
the

that

have

"A

bad

sale

was

not

his title

from

sale

by

who

"

king. There are

pistol oh, a weapon
"

an

banished
choice

some

fit for

Mignot
arquebuse

will do," said

David,

throwing

charged.^"
charge it,"said Zeigler. "And,
of

store

David

by

gadding

pistolunder

was

much

among

in the kitchen

the

only forty

the sale.

But

money

the

on

stove.

not

for ten francs more,

his coat

there.

the

Of

late

neighbors.

David

and

But

she
a

quiet was

taken

to

glowing

opened the door of it and thrust

up

the

to

said the poet.

his attic room
and closed

up

they

made

of the crow!"

song
went

had

fire was

the coals.
in upon
As they blazed
singing,harsh sound in the flue.
"The

to his cottage.

walked

his poems

He

This

ball."

powder and

laid his
Yvonne

I know

in the lot.

it shall be

if I lost ten

"

"

conspiracy against

firearms
"

that
The

crown.

great lord

for

prince!

goods

"Is it

I will
a

of the

belongingsof

been

I must

full of

Zeigler,

sell you
a
Only last

of its value.

commissionaire

said

Mignot,"

wagon

my

to protect them.

"

counter.

add

firearms

tenth

friend

to you,

"This

"

sold anything

the forest harass

from

peddler a

and

has

the

perhaps

who

of Armenia,

I perceive that

fetch

of the chateau

francs

in the

trudged with his poems

his villagehe turned
into

friend

me,

"for

will not

bought
procured at

he

length."
fields cawing

he

purchase

I must

you.^"
day, this, for

that

week

"wolves

said David,

spreading his hands,

weapon

out

books, "and
at

reasons

be back

he reached
Jew

of

to his hand.

came

the hills.

sheep on

I will be

now

man

give you

Vernoy

to

Zeigler,a

one

"Friend,"

road
When

arm.

of

shop

What

of it, I will

said the poet, "I must

sheep."
along the

my

again. "And

me," said the

dine with

the smart

"No,"

39

sheep."

to my

would

*'If you

DESTINY

said David,

you,"

going back

OF

villagethat

score

of

people

the
heard

door.
the

So
roar

FROM

STORIES

40

the

of

pistol.

great
the

where
The

smoke,

it

arranging
The

crow.

Some
M.

first,

whose
the

up

with

arms,"

Monseigneur,

to

ran

picked

the

the

poet

he
the

tell

in

the

up

stairs

notice.
his

upon

awkwardly

the

of
of

luxury

bed,

black

poor

zealous

pity.

Yvonne.

nose

had

mingled

air

explained,

of

his

ran

there
eye

connoisseurship

aside,
de

him

brought
and

weapon

Marquis

and

plumage

torn

chattered

women

Papineau,

mountings
"The

conceal

to

them

of

of

body

their

drew

issuing,

HENRY

thither,

flocked

They

the

laid

men

O.

to

the

Beaupertuys."

cure,

the

among

its

over

and
"and

silver

grief.
crest

of

April,

Magazine,
0.

the
as

Biography

Henry

motion

is

there

but

Les

Hugo's
in

that

tools

spite

to

parallel

close

of

hero's

the

GUARD

the

to

which

Jimmy

months

ten

stay

only

w4th

it in

of

friends
the

in

is received

the

on

''stir"

He

had

He

it is

hardly

its propagandist.

Jimmy
him

his pardon,

the

governor.

nearly

served

expected
When

Valentine

Jimmy
worth

that

escorted

had

longest.
as

plete.
incom-

yet

Jimmy

by

outside

Jimmy's

where

morning

the

at

burglar's
tation
interpre-

also

and

been

reached

not

handed

sentence.

of

as

becomes

uppers,

of way.

months,

three

about

many

as

four-year

that

has

Henry's

shoe-shop,

w^arden

kind

kit

had

life

XLII

chapter

was

in
not

was

consistent.

He

virtue

stitching

signed

tired

of

the

O.

story

from

story

his

offers

pals.

prison

There

been

had

took

the

to

office.

his

not

of the

see

though

name

in

intimates,

story

of the

is taken

thoroughly

is

the

assiduously

was

front

them.

exemplar

the

where

came

Valentine

destroying

himself,

It concerned

stage

he

title of

the

as

reformation

however,

character,

reformation,

maturer

of

Henry's

criticism

chief

story,

vogue,

leading incident

the

to

O.

Valentine

Jimmy

The

Miserables.

pal instead

of the

of

the

to

this

popularity

author's

versions

Spanish

character

The

mentioned.

greatly

and

English, French,

the

of

added

picture

The

191-194.

pages

Cosmopolitan

of

singular history

the

For

1903.

The

in

published

First

of Destiny.

Roads

From

REFORMATION

RETRIEVED

while

to

to
man

had
cut

his

hair.

"Now,

morning.
a

bad

fellow

"Me.^"
a

safe

said

Valentine,"

in my

Brace
at

said

up,

and

heart.

Jimmy,

the

"you'll

warden,

make

man

of

yourself.

Stop cracking safes,

in

surprise.

Hfe."
41

go

"Why,

and
I

live
never

in

out

You're

the
not

straight."
cracked

STORIES

42

no," laughed the

"Oh,

How

now.

see,

FROM

was

HENRY

O.

"Of

warden.

it you happened to get sent

Was
it because
wouldn't
you

Springfieldjob.^
aUbi for fear of compromising somebody
it simply a case
toned society? Or was
that had it in for you.^ It's always one
or
"Me.f^"

Jimmy, still blankly

in my
in Springfield

said
was

never

"Take

him

back, Cronin," smiled

outgoing clothes.

with

up

of

up

that

on

an

prove

extremely highold jury

a
mean

the other

with

you

victims."

innocent

in

Let's

not.

course

let him

and

to

come

life!

"Why,

at

fix him

"and
in the

seven

bull-pen.

den,
war-

"

the warden,
him

Unlock
the

virtuous.

Better

ing,
morn-

think

over

advice, Valentine."

my

At

quarter past

in the warden's

seven

the next

on

He

office.

outer

had

morning Jimmy
on

stood

suit of the villainously

fitting,ready-made clothes and a pair of the stiff,

pulsory
squeaky shoes that the state furnishes to its discharged comguests.
The

clerk handed

bill with

him

railroad

ticket and

the five-dollar

expected him to rehabilitate himseH

and prosperity. The warden
into good citizenship
gave him
chronicled
Valentine, 9762, was
a
cigar,and shook hands.
entine
the books "Pardoned
on
by Governor," and Mr. James Valwhich

the law

walked

into the sunshine.

out

Disregarding the
and

the

smell

of the
he

There

restaurant.

of the birds, the

waving green trees,

flowers, Jimmy headed
straightfor a
tasted the first sweet
joys of liberty

song

shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine

the war^followed by a cigar a grade better than the one
den
there he proceeded leisurelyto
had given him.
From
the depot. He tossed a quarter into the hat of a blind man
Three
hours set
his train.
sittingby the door, and boarded

in the
"

him

down

the cafe of
alone

was

"Sorry
said

Mike.

in
one

little town

Mike

behind
we

Dolan

shook

and

state

line.

hands

with

He

went

to

Mike, who

the bar.

couldn't
"But

the

near

we

make
had

it
that

boy,"
Jimmy, me
protest from Springfieldto
sooner,

STORIES

44

losses

O.

HENRY

into
high enough to bring the matter
up
Price's class of work.
able
By comparing notes, a remarkof the burglarieswas
noticed.
similarityin the methods
Price investigatedthe scenes
of the robberies, and was

Ben

Ben

were

heard
*'

FROM

now

to remark:

That's

Dandy

business.

Look

as

hole.

Yes, I guess
time

next

Ben
while

radish

in wet

do it.

And

Mr.

no

these

had

weather.

short-time

He

got the

He'll do

blers
tumone

his bit

foolishness."

had

for

as

drill but

to

Long

taste

out

clean those

clemency

or

Jimmy's habits.
the Springfieldcase.

up

He's

has

never

resumed

jerked

"

Valentine.

confederates, and

get-aways,

knob

look how

Jimmy

out!

any

knew

working

He's

autograph.

combination

I want

without

Price

that

at

pulling up
only clamps that can
were
punched
easy

Valentine's

Jim

learned

them

jumps, quick
good society
"

successful

helped Mr. Valentine

It
dodger of retribution.

Price

had

taken

other

at ease.
people w^ith burglar-proofsafes felt more
afternoon
Jimmy Valentine and his suit-case climbed

ways

One
out

of the

the

railroad

the

up

mail-hack
down

trail of the

in Elmore,

to

become

given

was

elusive

noted
out

as

that Ben

cracksman,

little town

and

five miles

off

in the

black-jack country of Arkansas.

athletic young
senior just home
from

Jimmy, looking like an

college,went down the
A young
lady crossed

board

side-walk

toward

the hotel.

the street,

passed him at the corner,

and entered
which
door over
the sign "The
Elmore
a
was
Bank."
Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what
he

and

was,

colored

another

slightly. Young

She

man.

men

of

that

was

lowered

Jimmy's

her eyes
styleand looks

and
were

in Elmore.

scarce

Jimmy
bank

became

as

collared
if he

him

w^ere

boy

one

questionsabout
By and by the young

with

the steps of the

of the stockholders, and

began

to ask

the town,

of the young
man
''Isn't that
young

Jimmy,

loafingon

feedinghim dimes at intervals.

out, looking royally unconlady came
scious
with

the suit-case,and

lady Miss
speciousguile.

Polly

her way.
Simpson.?" asked
went

"Naw,"
a

said the

gold watch-chain

come

you

.P I'm

going

45

Annabel

"She's

boy.

What'd

this bank.

owns

REFORMATION

RETRIEVED

to

to

Adams.

Elmore

get

Her

for?

bulldog.

pa

Is that
Got

any

dimes.'^"

more

Jimmy went to the Planters' Hotel, registeredas Ralph D.

He leaned on
the desk and
Spencer, and engaged a room.
He said he had come
declared his platform to the clerk.
to
Elmore

to look

for

the shoe business,

location

to

go

into business.

in the town?

now,

He

had

How

thought

was

of the

opening?
clerk was
The
of
impressed by the clothes and manner
He himself was
something of a pattern of fashion
Jimmy.
to the thinlygilded youth of Elmore, but he now
perceived
his shortcomings. While
Jimmy's
trying to figure out
tion.
of tying his four-in-hand he cordiallygave informamanner
business.

shoe

Yes, there
There

wasn't

there

Was

ought

be

to

exclusive

an

goods and generalstores

was
fairlygood. Hoped
in Elmore.

would

He

an

good opening

shoe-store

handled

in the

them.

shoe

line.

place.

The

dry-

Business

Spencer would
it a pleasant town

Mr.

find

in the

decide

in all lines
to locate

to live

in, and

people very sociable.

in the town
Mr. Spencer thought he would
a few
stop over
the situation.
No, the clerk needn't
days and look over
would
He
call the boy.
carry
up his suit-case, himseK; it
rather heavy.
was
from
Mr.
Jimmy
Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose
and
Valentine's ashes" ashes left by the flame of a sudden
in Elmore, and prospered.
alterative attack of love" remained
of trade.
He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run
friends.
and made
also a success,
Sociallyhe was
many
Miss
He met
And
he accomplished the wish of his heart.
and more
Annabel
captivated by
Adams, and became
more
the

her charms.
At the end of

year

the situation of Mr.

Ralph Spencer was

his shoe-store
the respect of the community,
and he and Annabel
engaged to be marwere
flourishing,

this: he had
was

won

FROM

STORIES

46

in

ried

HENRY
the

Adams,

Mr.

weeks.

two

O.

typical, plodding,
Annabel's
pride in

approved of Spencer.
much
him
almost
at home
as
equaled her affection. He was
and that of Annabel's
married
in the family of IVIr. x^dams
sister as if he were
already a member.
this letter,
in his room
and wrote
One day Jimmy
sat down
banker,

country

he mailed

which

to the safe address

of

of his old friends in

one

St. Louis:
Old

Dear

I want

Pal:
to be at Sullivan's

you

night,at nine o'clock.

for

tools.

And,

me.

I want

you

glad

to

Little Rock, next

to wind

to make

also, I want

you'llbe

I know

place,in

some

little matters

a
present of my kit of
couldn't
duplicate
you

you

get them

up

day
Wednes-

"

ness
Say, Billj^I've quit the old busiI'm
I've got a nice store.
making an honest
a
ago.
year
the finest girlon earth two weeks
from
living,and I'm going to marry
I wouldn't
touch
It's the only life,Billy the straightone.
now.
the

lot for

thousand

dollars.

"

"

dollar of another

man's

money

now

for

million.

After

I get

going to sell out and go West, where there won't be so

I tell you,
much
brought up against me.
danger of having old scores
Billy,she's an angel. She believes in me; and I wouldn't do another
for I
Be sure
to be at Sully's,
crooked
thing for the whole world.
with
I'll bring along the tools
me.
must
see
you.
married

I'm

Your

old friend,
JiM\rF.

night after Jimmy wrote this letter,Ben

Monday
in a livery buggy.
Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore
until he found
in his quiet way
out
town
He lounged about
the drug-store across
From
the
he wanted
to know.
what
street from
Spencer's shoe-store he got a good look at Ralph
D. Spencer.
the banker's daughter are you, Jimmy.?"
"Going to marry
said Ben to himself, softly. "Well, I don't know!"
The
next
morning Jimmy took breakfast at the Adamses.
He was
going to Little Rock that day to order his weddingThat
would
be
suit and buy something nice for Annabel.
On

the

the first time

he had

left town

since he

came

to

Elmore.

It

had

been

REFORMATION

RETRIEVED

than

more

since those

now

year

47
last

professional

he could

he

out.
thought
safelyventure
After breakfast
downtown
gether
toquite a family party went
Mr.
Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's
Adams,
ried
marfive
sister with her two little girls,
and
nine.
aged
They
came
by the hotel where Jimmy still boarded, and he ran up
Then
and brought along his suit-case.
to his room
they went
There
stood Jimmy's horse and buggy and
to the bank.
on
road
to the railDolph Gibson, who was going to drive him over

"jobs,"and
"

station.
All went

inside the

into the banking-room

high, carved oak railings
future son-inJimmy included, for Mr. Adams's
law was
welcome
anywhere. The clerks were
pleased to
be greeted by the good-looking,agreeable young
who
man
Miss Annabel.
was
going to marry
Jimmy set his suit-case
down.
Annabel, whose heart was
bubbling with happiness
and livelyyouth, put on Jimmy's hat, and picked up the suit*
"

I make

"Wouldn't

case.

"My!

Ralph,

how

heavy

nice

drummer.?"

it is.^^ Feels like it

said Annabel.
full of

was

gold

bricks."
of

nickel-platedshoe-horns
coolly,"that I'm going to return.
charges by taking them up.
"Lot

The

Mr.

Elmore

Adams

was

Bank

had

in

there," said Jimmy,

press
exThought I'd save
I'm gettingawfully economical."

just put in
proud of it,and

very

new

safe and

insisted

on

an

vault.

tion
inspec-

The
vault was
but it had a
a small
by everyone.
one,
It fastened with three solid steel bolts
patented door.
new,
thrown
simultaneouslywith a singlehandle, and had a timelock.
Mr. Adams
beamingly explained its workings to Mr.
but not too intelligent
interest.
courteous
a
Spencer, who showed
The
two
children.May and Agatha, were
delighted
by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs.
While
thus engaged Ben Price sauntered
in and
they were
leaned on his elbow, looking casuallyinside between
the railings.
He
was

told

the

justwaiting for

teller that
a

man

he

didn't want

he knew.

anything; he

FROM

STORIES

48

there

Suddenly

was

O.

scream

HENRY

two

or

the women,
elders. May, the
from

and

nineUnperceived by the
in a spiritof play,had shut Agatha in the vault.
year-oldgirl,
a

commotion.

had

She

she had

as

The

shot the bolts and

then

old banker

clock hasn't

seen

can't be

door

been

wound

mother

Adams

and

bination
com-

opened,"

he

it for

tugged at
groaned.

the combination

nor

of the

do.

to the handle

sprang

"The

moment.

Mr.

the knob

turned

"The

set."

screamed

again,hysterically.
"Hush!"
said Mr.
Adams,
raising his trembling hand.
"All be quiet for a moment.
Agatha! he called as loudly as
"Listen
he could.
to me."
During the following silence
ing
they could justhear the faint sound of the child wildlyshriekAgatha's

"

vault

in the dark

men

fright! Open the door!

do something.?"
isn't

"There
that

go

man

long

in there.

Agatha's mother,
her

hands.

we

There

into convulsions

with

Adams,

shall

from

terror.

the mother.

Oh, break

nearer

door," said Mr.

Spencer, what
it

panic of

precious darling!"wailed

"My
of

in

than
in

"She

it open!

Little Rock

shaky

child

do.^^ That

"

Can't

who

voice.
she

will die

can

you

open

"My

God.

can't

stand

isn't

enough air,and, besides, she'll

fright."

frantic now,

beat

the

door

of the

vault

wildly suggested dynamite.

Annabel
turned to Jimmy, her largeeyes full of anguish, but
possible
not
nothing seems
quite imyet despairing. To a woman
she worships.
of the man
to the powers
"Can't
do something, Ralph
try, won't you?"
you
He looked at her with a queer, soft smile on his lipsand in
Somebody

"

his keen

eyes.

"Annabel,"

he said, "give

me

that

rose

you

are

wearing,

will

you?"
Hardly believingthat

the bud

from

the bosom

she heard

him

of her dress, and

aright,she unpinned
placed it in his hand.

Jimmy stuffed it into his vest-pocket,threw off his coat, and

pulled up his shirt-sleeves. With that act Ralph D. Spencer
passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place.

"Get

RETRIEVED

REFORMATION

from

away

the

all

door,

of

49

he

you,"

commanded,

shortly.
He

his

set

that

From

of

suit-case

time

and

swiftly
did

always
the

when

others
In

steel
record

him

In

^he

softly

In

silence

drill

pet
minutes

ten

back

the

bolts

almost

Agatha,
mother's

Valentine
toward

railings
heard
he
the

Ben!"

around
that

And

voice

big

immovable,

smoothly

into

the

door.

gathered

was

into

and

coat,
As
he

walked

her

he

he

went

knew

once

outside

Ben

the

thought

call

he

"Ralph!"

Ben

recognize

have

you.?

acted

rather
Mr.

Your

in
with

his

his

Well,

let's

way.

Price

turned

and

smile.

strange
I

go.

don't

now."

difference,

mistaken,
you.

still

Jimmy,

much
Price

somewhat

stood

strangely.
Spencer,"

buggy's

he

waiting

said.
for

"Don't
you,

it?"

And

the

burglarious

own

opened

safe,

door.
that

man

last,

makes

you're
I

his

on

front

said
at

it

then

"Guess

believe

the

door

"Hello,

know

he

as

hesitated.

never

"Got

put

far-away

At

ments
imple-

arms.

Jimmy

But

but

collapsed,

ence
pres-

himself

to

his

and

"

the

queer

and

biting

was

flat.

out

spell.

breaking

"

threw

deep

of

shining,

whistling
a

it

opened

unconscious
the

out

if under

as

Jimmy's

door.

laid

work.

watched

minute

He

and

be

to

orderly,
at

table,

seemed

else.

one

any

he

on

the

on

strolled

down

the

street.

ain't

THE

The

From

Four

Stories

1904.

the

background
Not

initial than

terminal.
flavor

they

move

with

out

of it.

When

O.

so

You

stories

nothing
omit

what

you

will

in O.

plot and
that
of

it may

an

do

Restaurant
who

how

the
the

to

should

to

know

Bogle's

half

boulevard

each

and

are

table
seasons.

you

should

checks

for there

you

but

are

be

And

terms

it may

that

This

be
and

story

anecdotes.

and

Family
fortunate
to

if you

know

belong

of moment,

you

worth

money's

get your

story

in

interested

things

are

of both

short

of the

one

it

"

least.

rows
a

to

House

in

that

of

highway

Brown-Jones-and-Robinson,

two

is

stories

provisions.

waiters'

situated

of

if you

call

"

integration

proverb.'^

Chop

For

consumes

whom

impoverished

parable

not

Bogle's

loss.

Bogle's,
is

dubbed

been

know

into

gone

peaching
critic is im-

fragmentarily

Testament

they
has

atmosphere

the

summarized

New

distilled

have

omit

the

atmosphere.

and

or

more

nouns,

the

discreditable

more

expensively

other

half

is to

"

then

it is to

it is your

in quantity, at

There

up

not

dine

it any

and

and

Lover

you

ones

cut

mutilated

Lickpenny

If

Is

than

anecdote

similarly
A

be

work

Henry's

see

retold

then

no

what

restaurant

setting

or

are

the

anecdotes,

own

and

condition

They
and

stituting
con-

writers

many

settings

story,

these

beginning

nominate

mere

his

than

background

character.

His

this

called

are

But

the

essential, the

an

more

To

retell

to

in

27,
ground
back-

of

plan,

or

continuous.

are

omitted

have

Henry's

product.

Try

plot

at

Henry.

March

World,

compounded

as

three."

adjectives, they

verbs.

the

O.

They

the

of

is mentioned

with

dismissed.

talk:

"rule

setting

or

in The

characters,

or

story

of

thought

character

short

TILDY

published

First

commonly

are

OF

DEBUT

Million.

setting,

or

the

BRIEF

of tables

caster-stand,
From

the

in the

Eighth
six in each

room,

containing
cruet

pepper
50

bourgeoisie, that

cruets

you

may

Avenue.
On

row.

of condiments

shake

cloud

STORIES

52

she

could

wait

FROM

O.

HENRY

in a hurry
They who were
restrained their impatience for the joy of merely gazing upon
her swiftlymoving, graceful figure. They who
had finished
that they might continue
in the lightof her
eating ate more
smiles.
there
and
Every man
they were
mostly men
tried to make
his impression upon
her.
Aileen
could
successfullyexchange repartee against a
dozen at once.
And
smile that she sent forth lodged,
every
like pelletsfrom a scatter-gun, in as many
hearts.
And
all
this while she would
be performing astounding feats with
at

upon

once.

"

orders

"

of

pork and beans, pot roasts, ham-and, sausage-andthe-wheats, and any quantity of things on the iron and in the
and

straightup and on the

and merry
flirting
exchange
being a salon, with Aileen

pan

and
near

If the transients
the

took

one

With

of wit

Bogle's came

her to

entranced

whom

she

broker

asked

There

adorers.

to

or

Recamier.

much

was

Aileen

One

rivalry

could have

least twice

dance.

feasting
mighty

by the fascinatingAileen,

steady customers.
evening. At
every
theatre

all this

for its Madame

of the

many

engagement

an

her

regulars were

among

were

side.

week

had

some

gentleman
"The
Hog"

stout

Tildy had privately christened

known
presented her with a turquoisering. Another
as
one
who
the
rode
Traction
on
"Freshy,"
Company's repair
his brother
was
as
going to give her a poodle as soon
wagon,
in the Ninth.
the man
who
And
got the hauling contract
stock
always ate spareribsand spinach and said he was
a
"I

don't

it
before

over

and

her to go to "Parsifal"
with him.
know
where
this place is," said Aileen

with

Tildy, "but

I put a stitch into

I guess!"

while

ing
talk-

the

wedding-ring'sgot to be on
ain't that right.^^
travelingdress
"

Well,
But, Tildy!
In

steaming,chattering,cabbage-scented Bogle'sthere was

almost a heart tragedy. Tildy with the blunt nose, the haycolored hair, the freckled skin, the bag-o'-meal figure,had
never

eyes

had
when

an

admirer.

she went

to and

Not

man

followed

fro in the restaurant

her
save

with
now

his
and

THE

DEBUT

BRIEF

OF

TILDY

53

then when

None
they glaredwith the beast-hungerfor food.
bantered
of them
her gailyto coquettishinterchangesof wit.
None
of them
loudly "jollied"her of mornings as they did
the eggs were
slow in coming, of
Aileen, accusing her, when
late hours

in the

given her

ever

of envied

company

invited her upon

turquoiseringor

No

swains.

had

one

to

voyage

mysterious, distant "Parsifal."

Tildy was
They who

sat

from

honeyed
the

to

the bill of fare; and

otherwise-flavored

and

fair Aileen.

around

and

then

season

make

her.

brieflywith

raised

tations
quo-

their voices

in

eloquentlyaddressed

accents,

and

tolerated

men

her

to

They writhed
impending form

the

over

pulchritudemight
and

the

good waitress, and

at her tables spoke

in their
of

chairs

to

Tildy, that

ambrosia

gaze

Aileen's

of their bacon

eggs.

And
could

Tildy was
receive

content

the

she

the

flatteryand

loyalto the short

was

to be the unwooed

Grecian.

drudge
The

homage.

She

if Aileen

blunt

nose

Aileen's friend; and

was

the attention of
glad to see her rule hearts and wean
from smoking pot-pie and lemon
men
meringue. But deep
below our
freckles and hay-coloredhair the unhandsomest
of
dream
of a prince or a princess,
not vicarious, but coming
us
to

was

alone.

us

There

was

morning

when

Aileen

tripped in

to work

slightlybruised eye; and Tildy's solicitude was

enough to heal any optic.
"Fresh
guy," explained Aileen, "last night as I was
home
at Twenty-third and
Sixth.
Sashayed up, so
a

and

made

break.

I turned

sneak; but followed

air

again.

face.

Then

me

Gee!

but

he

give

Til.'^ I should hate

Tildy listened
No
at

man

any

had
hour

ever

I
me

and

that

toast

to

Does

eye.

at

tried to follow

it look

should

Nicholson

to the adventure

of the

cold, and

down,

Eighteenth, and
slapped him a good one,

that Mr.

in for his tea

comes

down

him

see

with
almost

going
he

did,

he made

tried his hot

side of the
real awful,
it when

he

ten."
with

breathless

her.

twenty-four.

What

She

was

admiration.
safe abroad

bliss it must

have

FROM

STORIES

54

been

have

to

had

follow

man

O.

HENRY
and

one

black one's eye

for

love!
the customers

Among

Seeders, who
thin and

had

a
Bogle's was
young
worked
in a laundry office. Mr.
hght hair, and appeared to have

at

rough-dried and

starched.

Aileen's

so

notice;

he devoted

where

he

He

was

usually sat

himself

One

day when Mr. Seeders came

only
drinking beer. There were
Mr.

TMien

the restaurant.

Seeders

Seeders

was

been

recently
too diffident to aspire to
of Tildy's tables,
at one

silence and

to

named

man

boiled

weakfish.

in to dinner
two

had

or

three

he had

been
in

customers

finished his weakfish

Tildy'swaist, kissed her loudly

the street, snapped his
upon
the laundry, and hied himself to

around
he got up, put his arm
and
out
impudently, walked

fingersin the direction of

Arcade.
at the Amusement
play pennies in the slot machines
For a few moments
Tildy stood petrified. Then she was
and saying:
of Aileen shaking at her an arch fore-finger,
aware
"Why, Til, you naughty girl! Ain't you getting to be
Miss Slyboots! First thing I know
a-^^ful,
you'llbe stealing
of my
fellows.
I must
some
keep an eye on you, my lady."
Another
Tildy's recovering wits. In
thing dawned
upon
from a hopeless,lowly admirer
she had advanced
moment
a
to be
a

She herself
of the potent Aileen.
mark
for Cupid, a Sabine who must

Eve-sister

an

man-charmer,

was

now

be coy
Man
had

banquet boards.
The sudand her lipsdesirable.
den
found her waist achievable
Seeders had, as it were,
and amatory
performed for her a
miraculous
piece of one-day laundry vvork. He had taken
the Romans

when

the

sackcloth

starched

and
lawn

The

both

Not

even

kissed

her

ironed
"

uncomeliness,

it, and

the robe

returned

of Venus

had
it to

washed,
her

dried,

sheer

broidered
em-

herself.

in

in the restaurant.

Tildy
was

of

their

Tildy's cheeks merged into a rosy flush.

Circe and Psyche peeped from her brightened eyes.
and
herself had
been
Aileen
publicly embraced

freckles

Now

at

were

could

slack

she

not
went

keep
and

When
delightfulsecret.
Her
stood at Bogle's desk.

the

trade
eyes

shining;she

were

DEBUT

BRIEF

THE

OF

to let her

tried not

TILDY
sound

words

55

proud and

boastful.

around

me

"That

the waist
so.?" said

"After

this week

At

the

of them

kissed

and

get

meal
she

whom

modestly, as

gentleman insulted

"A

put his

around

arm

her

directed

at

Aileen

horizon

of

stream

for she

bosom,
the

the

whose

one

to-day

alone.

and

of the

towers

plain in

gray

armor.

food

before

she

said

needed

in the

to

stering:
bol-

no

He

restaurant.

me."

in various

ways

some

"

congratulations; others turned

badinage that had hitherto been
And
Tildy's heart swelled in her

at last the

saw

hugged

more."

merit

kissed

revelation

diners

upon

week

Tildy set
acquaintance

had

waist

my

"He

his business

when

me

accepted the
with
incredulously, some
The

dollar

said.

me."

Bogle, cracking open

you

with

to-day," she

me

regular

next

customers

each

insulted

gentleman

"A

of Romance

which

she

had

rise above
for

long

so

traveled.
For

two

days

Mr.

Seeders

not

came

again. During that

time

to be wooed.
Tildy established herself firmlyas a woman
She bought ribbons, and arranged her hair like Aileen's, and
She had
tightened her waist two inches.
a
thrillingbut
delightfulfear that Mr. Seeders would rush in suddenly and
shoot her with a pistol. He must
have loved her desperately;
and impulsive lovers are always blindlyjealous.
Even
Aileen had not been shot at with a pistol. And then
Tildy rather hoped that he would not shoot at her, for she
to overwas
always loyal to Aileen; and she did not want
shadow

her friend.
At
came

back

4 o'clock

in.

There

end

of the

restaurant

Aileen

was

pots and
back

the afternoon

on

to where

Tildy
mustard

looked
spoon

were

they
up

of the third

customers

no

at

the

day

Mr.

tables.

Seeders
At

the
Tildy was
refilling
quartering pies. Mr. Seeders

the

mustard
walked

stood.
and

saw

against her

him, gasped, and

heart.

A red hair bow

pressed
was

the

in her

STORIES

56

hair; she
necklace

with

Mr.

tanked

or

accept

behind

table

colored

hair.

and

cast

had

but

in

Yet

other

plunged

into

fresh

"Don't

ever

knot

floor.
kiss

had

court

the

among

of

and

noses

the

the

to

hay-

hair

red

bow

been
the

at

prophetic

and

and

she

the

maudlin

false

to

pages

and

alarm;

she

Beauty.

arm

her; and

around

was

butter

chips

till it found

friend's.

turnip-faced
He

again

cups,

despised utterly;

had

Sleeping

coffee

back

going

kiss

the

the

pioneer

stirred

fret. Til," said

it.

she

herself

thrown

and

torn

clocks

Aileen's

had

blunt

had

of

the

the

lost.

of her

she

not

remain

groped

with

and

away,

made.

and

out

"

that

as

been

it if

done

drunk."

backed

chips

Seeders

But

"That

worth

her

fairyland.

you

entirely.

out

of

of been

Tildy

they

set

clasp

warm

heart
travel

was

had

lady

no

Tildy, you'll

I wouldn't

Seeders

butter

do

I
well

pretty

was

Miss

hope,

hadn't

Mr.

what

for

I wouldn't

that

and

the

truth,

screen

have

hand

's red

So

convenient

his

all

not

it.

reparation

her

forevermore

done

plea

the

the

the

doin'

that

might

unmeant;

wouldn't

He

apologize

to

you

believe

was

From

taken

who

running

and

among

it upon

want

sober.

was

wherein

plain

prince

sobbing

was

ain't

of

the

"I

I wouldn't

feeling

flat upon

the

the

and

bead

blue

heart.

embarrassed.

pocket

he,

handsome

this

departed,

Tildy

the

badge,

symbolic

and

Tell

what

With

must

silver

evenin'.

'pology,

my

known

gray

hip

said

when

a-way

and

his

other
up

But

Avenue

flushed

Tildy,"

the

that

Eighth

HENRY

pie.

"Miss
done

O.

swinging

was

into

pumpkin

I'd

the

Seeders
hand

one

Venus's

wore

FROM

ain't

Aileen,
little

anything

apologized."

who

did

clothespin
of

understand

not

of

gentleman

Seeders
or

he

From

29,

The

of the City.

Voice

reviews

Few

1904.

behalf

Roosevelt,

"were

The

and
A

Lover

Lickpenny

Island

Coney
the

for

the

thought

vocabulary
in

their

John,
the

understand

bounded

is

the

along

girls in

of

this

with

who

priceless fur

in

who

other

information.

that

of
was

as

beauty,

as

the

Store.

gloves

of

57

ideas

in the

are

department

human

She

had

species,
listened

girls
as

wary

that

she

with

to

and

had

that

of

would

the

endowed

animals

human

for unfortunate

the

and

was

gents'

of

saving ingredient

other

we

We

Masie

in

other

foreseeing
has

when

the

varieties

2,999

she

but

words

experience.

two

secretive

the

mingled
above

the

nature,

of

buy gloves

knowledge

Masie's

less

saleslady

their

such

Browning.

or

own

wide

Perhaps
her

and

buy

women

our

Biggest

versed

wisdom

brain

the

eighteen

of gents

acquired

of

imitation
some

of
or

altitude

and

reach

altitude

became

kind

cat.

the

"

number

Goethe,

mate.
consum-

found.

more

in

girl's imagination

real, the

be

to

in the
Masies

are

us

the

is

art

working

probably

Shakespeare,

she

Besides

of

was

counsellors, had

of the

story

She

kind

it in

Maltese

thing symbolized

and

reach

proniulgated

stored

wise

the

had

Masie
the

"

and

gents.

the

but

3,000

Here

gloves.
stores

for

All

Dante,

were

of them.

beings

for

Row,

however,

the

sham

not

more

Lick-

are:

purpose,

the

narrowed,

words

by the

There
one

the

become

connotation.

Saint

read

germ

had

The

York, Brickdust

others, but

Colonel

said

publication

the

original, the sjTnbol

that

reforms

dominate

so

"The

as

Henry."

in New

Elsie

him

York,"

of O.

their

of the

mistake

of

New

is less reform

any

may

her

make

to

as

of

order

There

than

"The

stories

by the

Lamp.

of

World, May

acclaim

to

end."

shop-girls

Unfinished Story,

Trimmed

fail

the

in the

stories

Lover, An

penny

the

in The

published

Henry

unto

suggested

of these

notable

of

First

O.

of

little shop-girl's knight

attempted

LOVER

LICKPENNY

lack

of shrewdness
silver

cunning.

fox

STORIES

58

Masie

For

the

with

and

as

glove measure
you

wondered

When

HENRY

was

who

thought

how

she had

cooks

of Hebe; and

not

was

butter

cakes

in

in the
the

over

come

deep-tinted blonde,

her counter

you

Biggest Store;
tape-line for your
looked again
as
you

by Minerva's
eyes.
Masie
chewed
looking
gazed up as if at the

tutti

clouds
looking she
and smiled wistfully.
That is the shop-girl
smile, and I enjoinyou to shun it unless
well fortified with callosity
of the heart, caramels, and
you are
of Cupid.
This smile belonged
a congenialityfor the capers
to Masie's

he

She

hand

your

the floorwalker

frutti; when

O.

lady

behind

stood

closed

you

of

poise

She

window.

beautiful.

was

calm

FROM

was

recreation

hours

have

own.

his

and
He

not

to the store; but

the floorwalker

is the

Shylock of the stores.

WTien he comes
nosing around, the bridge of his nose is a tollbridge. It is goo-goo eyes or "git" when he looks toward a
thus.
not all floorwalkers
are
Only a
pretty girl. Of course
few days ago the papers printed news
of one
over
eighty years
must

of age.
One

day Irving Carter, painter,millionaire,traveler,poet,

It is due
automobilist, happened to enter the Biggest Store.
to him
to add that his visit was
not voluntary. Filial duty
took him
by the collar and dragged him inside, while his
mother
the
bronze
and
terra-cotta
philandered among
statuettes.
to the

in order to shoot
glove counter
the wing. His need for gloves was
minutes
a few
on
genuine;
he had forgotten to bring a pair with him.
But his action
heard of glovehardly calls for apology, because he had never
Carter

across

flirtations.

counter

As

strolled

he neared

conscious

of

the
this

vicinityof his fate he hesitated,suddenly

unknown
phase of Cupid's less worthy

profession.
Three

four

ing
leancheap fellows, sonorouslygarbed, were
the counters, wrestlingwith the mediatorial
handover
coverings, while gigglinggirlsplayed vivacious seconds to
their lead upon the strident stringof coquetry.
Carter would
or

STORIES

60

FROM

O.

HENRY

There

is my
I assure
name;
the greatest respect that I ask the favor
fr
acquaintances. May I not
your

again.

you

Masie

knew

men

hesitation

"Sure.
with
When
"As

she

that

it is with

of

becoming one of
hope for the lege?"
privi-

who buy gloves. Without

especiallymen
him frankly and smilinglyin the
looked

said:

and

eyes,

"

you

you're all right. I don't usually go out

strange gentlemen, though. It ain't quite ladylike.
should you
want
to see
me
again.^"
I may," said Carter.
"If you would
allow me
soon
as
I guess

"

call at your
home, I
Masie
laughed musically.

to

"

in three

us

If you

could
I'd

rooms.

"Oh,

see

flat

our

just like

no!"

gee,

to

see

once

ma's

she

said,

There's

phatically.
em-

five of

face if I

to

w^as

bring a gentleman friend there!"

"Anywhere, then," said the enamored
Carter, "that will
be convenient
to you."
"Say," suggested Masie, with a bright-idealook in her
peach-blow face; "I guess Thursday night will about suit me.
of Eighth Avenue
and Fortyto the corner
Suppose you come
the corner.
But I've
eighth Street at 7 :30. I hve rightnear
Ma
lets me
by eleven.
never
got to be back home
stay out
after eleven."
Carter

hastened

ratifyher
A
near

promised gratefullyto keep the tryst, and then

to his mother, who
was
looking about for him to
purchase of a bronze Diana.

with small eyes

and
salesgirl,
Masie, with a friendlyleer.

"Did

make

you

hit with

an

obtuse

strolled

nose,

his nobs, Masie.^"

she

familiarly.
"The
gentleman asked
permission to call,"
Masie, with the grand air, as she slipped Carter's
the bosom

he

spin in

answered
card

into

of her waist.

"Permission

"Did

asked,

say

his auto

to

call!"

anything
afterward

echoed
about
.f*"

small
dinner

eyes,

in the

with

Waldorf

snigger.
and

it!" said Masie,

''*0h,cheese

he

joint. No,

never

life there
bet your
takes the order."

can

you

what

in his electric runabout,

mother

he

love

that

knew

He

his heart.

at

out

to

if he

buys
pigtailon

no

chop

but

suey
a

with

his

dull

pain

him

to

come

head

the supper
the waiter

Biggest Store
bit his lipwith a
had

used

there's

the

from

glided away

Carter

As

be

won't

swelled

Waldorf;

his card, and

on

had

you

the

mentioned

address

Fifth Avenue

took

been

"You've

You've

driver

since that hose-cart

ever

61

wearily.

think.

don't

things,I

swell

to

LOVER

LICKPENNY

for the

twenty-nine years of his life. And that

the object of it should make
so
readilyan appointment with
him at a street corner,
though it was a step toward his desires,
tortured him with misgivings.
in all the

first time

Carter

the

know

did not

shop-girl.He

did not

know

that

or
a
scarcelyhabitable tiny room
The
kin.
kith
and
with
streetdomicile filled to overflowing
the
is her parlor;the park is her drawing-room;
avenue
corner
is her garden walk; yet for the most
part she is as inviolate
is my
mistress of herself in them
as
lady inside her tapestried

is often

her home

either

chamber.
One

evening

at

and

park.

They

two

after their first

weeks

into

strolled arm-in-arm

Masie

Carter

dusk,

found

bench, tree-shadowed

meeting.
a little,
dimly-lit
and secluded, and

there.

sat

gently around her.

againsthis shoulder.
golden-bronze head slid restfully
"Gee!"
sighed Masie, thankfully. "Why didn't you
For

think

first time

the

I love you.
well enough
in

our

stole

arm

Her

ever

of that before.^"

"Masie,"

you,

his

and

said

Carter, earnestly,"yo^ surely know

You

I ask you sincerelyto marry

me.
by this time to have no doubts

I must

have

you.

care

nothing

of

me.

that

know

me

I want

for the difference

stations."

"What

is the

difference.'^" asked

Masie, curiously.

"Well, there isn't any," said Carter, quickly,"except in

the minds

of foolish

people.

It is in my

power

to

give you

means

O.

Masie.
"They all say that," remarked
I suppose
really work
give you.
you
the

"I

I ain't

races.

furnish

can

aU

you

as

the

talk.

If I could

third time

he'd

"Please

dear.

me,

have

the

been

say

Ever

only

I loved

or

that

said Carter,
the first day

you

amused

an

man

delicatessen

want,"

proofs you

laugh, "to

got stuck

the

me

on

hear

such

him."
I'd get mashed
on
"Listen
things,"pleaded Carter.

since

I first looked

into your
for me."

in the world

woman

the kidder!"
smiled
ain't you
girlsdid you ever teU that-f^"

"Oh,
other

in

they

I think

me

seen

don't

meet

"It's the kid

I look."

as

green

I want
gently. "And
you, Masie.
I saw
you."
"They all do," said Masie, with

'em

my

ample."

are

follow

to

HENRY

social positionis beyond dispute,and

lifeof luxury. My

aU

FROM

STORIES

62

Masie.

eyes

"How

you

many

the
at
length he reached
persisted. And
little soul of the shop-girlthat existed somewhere
flimsy,fluttering
His words penetrated
deep down in her lovelybosom.
She
its safest armor.
the heart whose
lightnesswas
very
And
looked
with eyes
that saw.
at him
warm
glow
a
up
visited her cool cheeks.
Tremblingly, a^-fully,her moth
But

w^ngs

Carter

closed,and
Some

of love.
other

she seemed

about

faint

side of her

glimmer of
glove counter

to settle upon

lifeand

the flower

the
its possibilities
on

dawned

upon

her.

Carter

felt the

the opportunity.
change and crowded
"Marry me, Masie," he whispered softly,"and we will go
will forget
from this ugly city to beautiful ones.
We
away
work and business, and life will be one
long holiday. I know
where
think

I should
of

shore

take
where

you

"

I have

been

there

is eternal, where

summer

often.
the

Just
waves

always ripplingon the lovely beach and the people are

will sail to those shores and
We
happy and free as children.
remain
of those far-away
there as long as you please. In one
full of
cities there are
grand and lovely palaces and towers
beautiful picturesand statues.
of the city are
The
streets
are

water^

and

one

travels about

in

"

"And

wish

we

will

the

in

India

visit

and

see

the

Brahmins

and

the

Japanese

in

countries.

think

"I
"It's

felt

folded
At

the

"How

wanted

"Go

on

"Nit;
marry

to

the

and

it

and

of

and

foreign

it, Masie.^^"

coolly.

said,

she

home,"

the
of

thread,
within

Masie,

combat

to

them.

He

had

held

the

soul

of

closed

Masie's

for

his

wild

Once

she

had

about

his

chum,

o^\ti.

Lulu,

laid
way-

counter.

friend

what

it?"

making

her

patting

Lu,

varying,

her

him.

had

day

swell

your

Say,

hand

next

the

useless

triumph.

cool

know

to

was

silken

her

and
said

he's
him

on

trains

sights

like

come

stronger

Store

more.

me

would

had

that

by

and

you

him?"
any

camel

the

ride

and
Hindoos

the

queer

going

He

was

angle

an

are

"Oh,
it

hope

wings

in

and

the

you

happy

but

Biggest

her

all

of

see

cities

European

there,

temples

be

and

certain

and
her

cities

gardens

better

her.

though

Psyche,

in

had

moods,

moment,

the

and

on

feet.

humored

he

ancient

travel

will

late."

thistle-down
But

her

we

getting

Carter

After

think

you

to

rose

world.

and

Persia,

Don't

Masie

"we

wonderful

and

races

Carter,

the

elephants

chariot

"Gondolas."

suddenly.

up

Masie.

said

continued

then,"

whatever

sitting

63

Carter.

so,"

thought

"I

Masie,

smiled

"Yes,"

we

said

know,"

"I

LOVER

LICKPENNY

side

do

curls.
think

you

she

asked.

"He
that

ain't

fellow

do?"

stage?"
too

go

cheap
down

guessed
a

to

guy

Coney

Lulu,
for

breathlessly.
that.

Island

He

for

wanted

wedding

me

tour

to

"

THE

From

The

Habit,

12, 1904.
furnished
the

Trimmed

O.

theme

Henry

followed

17-24),

the

The
text

Girl
in

and

The

from

Habit,
and

Harbinger
flying

he

thus

of ordinance."

also

Churchill

The

1917).

It alone

is

habit

battle, have

been

evolutions

at

in animals:
to

seen

the

"Eighty-First

shepherd
A

of

citizen

aboard.

Manhattan

Elevated

the

the

stairway

walked

lexicon

"

let

of

An

precious
bounds
and

Scribners,

Professor

James's
at

mark
re-

many

their customary

through

go

the

on

Artist

cavalry-horses,
and

tation."
gravi-

bugle-call."

'em

two

sheep scrambled
Ding-ding!
rattled
of the

slowly

of his

There
married

of the

Street

scrambled

John

illustration

together

come

sound

called

earth

of

the

(in Omviirandy,

"Riderless

the

its most

all within

stoiy

"

repetition."

chapter

great

us

His

"Habit

keeps

society,

keeps

Seat,

please," yelled

out,

the

in blue.

flock

down

of

Baytop

happy

in his

Maupassant's

Gordon's

latter

about

is what

Cabby's

silly theory

some

James

pages

lum.
Pendu-

18, 1906).

that

power

is

fly-wheel

enormous

Read

"the

as

the

The

frequent

or

was

Strays,

dictionary:

custom

there

approached

of

(March

the

relapse,

1902), which
and

From

Harbinger

William

says

the

and

first

first draft

Rubber,

by

habit

He

June

World,

resolve

(see Waifs

is from

acquired

agent.

Armistead

The

Habit

hails

"Habit,"

conservative

in

The

(March,

than

more

pieces, though

to

subject, "is

and

the

aptitude

Eagle

Circle

Comedy

of

material.

story

the

in

published

alternation

Black

being little

Girl

or

the

of

Round

by

the

First

rich

Passing

followed

The

tendency
In

with

latter

Then

Lamp.

especially

in The

quickly

PENDULUM

are

years

toward

daily
no

and

The

John

with
his

life there

lives

in
64

such

no

surprises awaiting
flat.

Perkins

Slowly,

word
who

man

As

he

flock
of

cars

released

the

flat.

was

another

cattle

and

away,

station

and

out

the

drifted
flock.

because
as

has

walked

in

haps."
"perbeen
John

THE

PENDULUM

65

prophesied to himself with gloomy

cynicism the foregone conclusions of the
Katy would meet him at the door with a
Per'kins

cold

and

cream

sit upon

macadamized

of Russians

paper,

For
with

butter-scotch.

there

would

dressingwarranted
rhubarb,

stewed

blushing

the

at

After dinner

quiltthat

and

hand.

At

a-week

contract.

not

the

would

the iceman

bottle

show

had

half -past

monotonous

day.

kiss flavored

with

his coat,

remove

be pot roast, a salad flavored

to crack or injurethe leather,

certificate of

Katy

would

downtrodden

lounge, and read, in the evening

type.
Japs slaughteredby the deadly lino-

and

dinner

He

and

of

strawberry marmalade
chemical
purity on its label.
him the new
patch in her crazy

for her off the end

cut

of his four-in-

they would
spread newspapers
the
furniture
catch
the
of
to
over
pieces
plasteringthat fell
when
the fat man
in the flat overhead
began to take his
physicalculture exercises.
Exactly at eight Hickey " Mooof the vaudeville team
the
(unbooked) in the flat across
ney,
hall,would yield to the gentle influence of delirium tremens
and
chairs
under
the
delusion
that
begin to overturn
Hammerstein
was
pursuing them with a five-hundred-dollarThen

air-shaft would
steal forth

slipoff

get

once

at

gent

the

window

and

the

across

the

and

paste her Thursday

and

the

over

of the

dumbwaiter
Mrs.

would

Zanowitski's

Yalu; the lady with

terrier would

Skye

name

evening routme

the

across

flute;the nightly gas leak would

highways; the
janitorwould drive

more

shoes

champagne

his

out

trolley;the

five children

the

frolic in the

to

its

seven

tripdownstairs

her bell and

Frogmore

the

letter-box

flats would

"

be under

way.

John
knew
and

Perkins
that at

reach

speech

in

"Now,

knew

these things would

happen.

quarter past eight he would

for his

hat,

and

that

his wife

querulous tone:
where
are
going, I'd like
you

his

summon

would

And

he

nerve

deliver this

"Thought
"and play a

I'd
game

drop
or

up
two

to

of

to

McCloskey's,"

pool with

know, John
he would

the fellows."

kins?"
Per-

answer,

late such

Of

had

he would

eleven

O.

FROM

STORIES

66

been

HENRY

Perkins's

John

Sometimes

return.

Katy

habit.

At

would

be

ten

or

asleep;

waiting up, ready to melt in the crucible of her ire

little more
a
gold plating from the \^Tought steel chains of
to answer
For these things Cupid will have
matrimony.
he stands at the bar of justicewith his victims from the
when
Frogmore flats.
a tremendous
upheaval
To-night John Perkins encountered
No
his
when
he
door.
reached
of the commonplace
Katy
sometimes

with

there

was

three

her

kiss.

affectionate,confectionate

The

All about
in portentous disorder.
lay
of the floor,
Shoes
in the middle
in confusion.
seemed

rooms

her

things
curling tongs, hair bows, kimonos, powder box, jumbled
this was
not
Xaty's way.
together on dresser and chairs
with
John
the
comb
heart
With
a
a sinking
saw
curlingcloud
Some
unusual
hair among
its teeth.
of her brown
hurry and
have
fully
possessed her, for she always careperturbation must
the
on
placed these combings in the little blue vase
into the coveted
feminine
mantel
to be some
day formed
"

"rat."

Hanging
folded

John

paper.

running
''Dear

the

conspicuously to
seized

it.

jet by

gas

It

was

string was

his wife

from

note

thus:

John:

just had

telegramsaying mother

is very
is going

going to take the 4-30 train. Brother Sam

in the ice box.
There is cold mutton
to meet me
at the depotthere.
50 cents.
I hope it isn't her quinzy again. Pay the milkman
She had it bad last spring. DonH
forgetto write to the company
about the gas meter, and your good socks are in the top drawer.
I

sick,

am

I will write to-morrow.

katy:'

Hastily,
Never

Katy
and

during

been
over

routine

their two

separated for
in

dumbfounded

that had

never

years
a

of

night.
way.

varied, and

had

matrimony
John
Here

read
was

it left him

the
a

he

note

break

dazed.

and
over

in

STORIES

68
had

that

curbed

John

him

him

palled upon

FROM
when

always
loosened.

were

Perkins

O.

HENRY
the

Katy

flats had

Frogmore
was

gone.

accustomed

analyzing his
emotions.
But
he sat in his Katy-bereft 10x12
as
parlor
he hit unerringly upon
the keynote of his discomfort.
He
knew
that Katy was
to his happiness. His
now
necessary
feelingfor her, lulled into unconsciousness
by the dull round
of domesticity,had been sharply stirred by the loss of her
Has
it not been dinned
into us by proverb and
presence.
and fable that we never
sermon
prizethe music tillthe sweetvoiced

bird

not

was

has

flown

"

in other

or

to

less florid and

no

true

utterances?
*'I'm

John Perkins, "the way

double-dyed dub," mused
I've been treatingKaty.
Off every
night playing pool and
with her.
bumming with the boys instead of staying home
The
her, and
poor girlhere all alone with nothing to amuse
me
acting that way ! John Perkins, you're the worst kind of
shine.
I'm going to make
it up for the little girl. I'lltake
a
a

her

out

the

McCloskey

let her

and

Yes, there
dance

come

boys

were

could

thing

gang

was

the

And

amusement.

some

right from this minute."

cityroaring outside for

in the train of Momus.

woo

that

the remorseful

And

I'll cut

John

out

Perkins

to

McCloskey 's the

knocking the balls idlyinto the pockets againstthe
the nightlygame.
But no primrose w^ay nor
clicking

hour for
cue

see

at

soul of Perkins

the bereft.

The

his, lightlyheld and half scorned, had been

taken
from
it. Backward
to a
him, and he wanted
away
certain
named
whom
the cherubim
bounced
Adam,
man
from
the orchard, could
Perkins, the remors/eful,trace his
was

descent.
Near

the

righthand of John Perkins stood

back
of it stood
Katy's blue shirtwaist.
something of her contour.
Midway of the
individual wrinkles made
by the movements
working for his comfort and pleasure. A
odor

looked

long

of blue-bells
and

came

soberly

at

from
the

it.

chair.

On

the

It still retained
sleeves

of her
delicate
John

fine,

were

took

arms

but

in
pelling
im-

it and

unresponsive grenadine

PENDULUM

THE

had

Katy

would

be

What

life

The

door

satchel.

John

sick

to

she

So

telegraphed.
for

of

cup

third-floor
back

the
old

the
of

for

and

the

the

little

right

train

next

the

at

all

got

"Ma

Katy.

was

hand

wasn't

depot,

and

said

after

soon

back.

rattle

and

of
flats

Frogmore

I'm

and

adjusted,

the

just

cog-wheels

buzzed

band

Things.

was

gear

looked

his

hat

where

"Now,

"Thought
game

Katy,
I'd
or

its

slipped,
the

wheels

in

I'd

querulous

up

of

the

to

going,
a

clock.

the

walked

you

drop
two

at

and

are

asked

carrying

said

Sam

click

of

Perkins

reached

play

neglect.

they
dying

the

as

machinery
spring

was

revolved

in

orbit.

John

kins?"

took

in

back,"

get

spell,

Order

the

touched,

his

coffee."

front

into

their

heard

Nobody

to

little

all

for

things

stupidly.

anything.

to

had

just

her

at

glad

amount

back

came

up

walked

Katy

stared

I'm

make

"

her?

without

opened.

"My!

would

He

she

tears

yes,

"

When

eyes.

different.

was

Tears:

unresponsive.

Perkins's

John

into

came

been

never

69

pool

to

It

He

8.15.

door.

like

to

know,

John

Per^

tone.

McCloskey's,"
with

was

the

fellows."

said

John,

"and

TRANSIENTS

The

From

Voice

The

"who

Arcadia,
for

have

of the

world

upper

the

turning

There

hotel

on

the

Its

rooms

delights
in

without

its aerial
a

T^ere

and

deep-green

the

attended

by

that

Alpine

climbers

joy
chef

or

in

its kitchen

who

that

would

turn

Old

Point

Comfort"

green

with

envy,

and

Maine

venison

oflScial
A

heart

few

have

Manhattan.
reduced
cool

of

the

During
of

twilight

of

this

out

that

guests

its

has

escaped
low

discovery

and

deep

of

wide

give

the

ever

upward

brass

buttons,
attained.

never

for

brook

you

served,

food

sea

sah!""

Gad,

"by
that

it the

Adirondacks.

in

have

and

temperature.

glide dreamily

Mountains

chology
psy-

would

melt

the

warden.

game

found

array

White

the

of

phase

will prepare

better

than

only turned

new

guides

trout

Corny

story.

of

staircases

haunts

was

shrubbery

elevators,

serene

is

oak

inconveniences

its broad

mount

can

with

in dark

glean by

the

name

is

and

might

not

short

It

finished

breezes

He

that

promoters.
are

Home-made

for the

area

Broadway

summer-resort

cool.

One

new

poor

tales

possibilitiesof thus

His

illustrated

in
and

poverty-stricken

among

the

saw

Henry.

but

their

they

Raschid.

O.

was

Raschid
a

who

one

al

name

colonized

is

was

of

Caliph

playing

Henry

Transients
the

and

pleasure

O.

says

among

relation

humble

the

and

Haroun

al

the

of

There

his

Haroun

on

that

silks

on

No,

and

by

tables
"

Brannigan.
tables

and

the

July

World,

before

dowTi

go

from

themselves

diamonds

donning

Bagdad,"

months

few

to

strange

of

The

in

published

Caliph

written

obtained

it not

availed

not

accustomed

solace

Is

First

certain

the Cad,

was

the

histories.

was

and

Caliph

lowly

of the City.

"There

17, 1904.
in

ARCADIA

IN

month

scattered

oasis
you

the
will

gazing

desert

July
see

luxuriously

lofty dining-room,
70

in

at

the
about
one

of

hotel's
in

the

another

IN

TRANSIENTS
the

across

71

congratulatory.
unoccupied tables, silently

of

waste

snowy

ARCADIA

waiters
Superfluous, watchful, pneumatically moving
before
hover
it is expressed.
want
supplying every
near,
The
temperature is perpetual April. The ceilingis painted
colors to counterfeit
in water
which
a
summer
sky across
delicate
to

drift and

clouds

do not

vanish

those

as

of nature

do

regret.

our

in
pleasing,distant roar of Broadway is transformed
the imagination of the happy guests to the noise of a waterfall
with its restful sound.
At every
filhngthe woods
strange
fearful
lest
anxious
their
the
turn
an
footstep
guests
car,
and invaded
be discovered
retreat
by the restless pleasureseekers who are forever hounding nature
to her deepest lairs.
of
the little band
Thus
in the depopulated caravansary
connoisseurs
during the heated
jealously hide themselves
the delightsof mountain
enjoying to the uttermost
season,
and seashore that art and skill have gathered and served to
The

them.
In this

to the hotel

July came

to the clerk for her

card

that she sent

"Mme.

Heloise

Beaumont."

D'Arcy
Madame
loved.

whose

registeredread

to be

name

one

Beaumont

was

guest such

the

as

Hotel

Lotus

She

possessed the fine air of the elite,tempered and

the hotel
sweetened
by a cordial graciousness that made
of
employes her slaves. Bell-boys fought for the honor
ship,
answering her ring;the clerks,but for the question of ownerwould
the

other

have

habits

to

her

guests regarded her

exclusiveness

This

deeded

and

beauty

that

super-excellentguest
consonant

were

with

as

the

hotel

and

its contents;

the final touch

rendered

rarely

the customs

the

entourage

left the
of the

of feminine

hotel.

fect.
per-

Her

discriminating

enjoy that delectable

must
leagues
hostelryone
forego the city as though it were
roofs
is in
the
nearby
By night a brief excursion to
away.
in the umremains
order; but during the torrid day one
patrons

of

the

Hotel

Lotus.

To

FROM

STORIES

72

O.

HENRY

brageous fastnesses of the Lotus as a trout hangs poised in

of his favorite pool.
the pellucidsanctuaries
Beaumont
Though alone in the Hotel Lotus, Madame
preserved the state of a queen whose loneliness was of position
delicate
at ten, a cool, sweet, leisurely,
only. She breakfasted
being who glowed softlyin the dimness like a jasmine
in the dusk.

flower
But
a

at dinner

beautiful

as

gown

was

in

cataract

's gloryat its height.

Madame

immaterial

and

mountain

the mist

as

The

gorge.

She

from

wore

an

seen
un-

nomenclature

of

roses

is beyond the guess of the scribe.

Always pale-red
its
front.
It was
lace-garnished
a
reposed against

gown

that

this gown

the door.

head-waiter

the

thought

You

viewed

of Paris when
and

of

mysterious countesses,
rapiers and IMrs. Fiske and
untraceable

you

respect and
it,and
saw

certainly of
Lotus

that

met

at

maybe

Versailles

rouge-et-noir. There

Hotel

in the

rumor

with

and

was

Madame

an

was

cosmopolite,and that she was pullingwith her slender white

the nations
in the favor of
hands
certain strings between
Russia.
roads it
Being a citizeness of the world's smoothest
that she was
small wonder
was
quick to recognize in the
desirable spot in
refined purlieusof the Hotel Lotus the most
America
for a restful sojourn during the heat of mid-summer.
Beaumont's
residence in the
On the third day of Madame
hotel a young
entered and registeredhimself as a guest.
man
His clothing to speak of his points in approved order
was
pression
quietly in the mode; his features good and regular;his exof the world.
that of a poised and sophisticated
man
"

informed

He

"

the

clerk

that

he

would

remain

three

or

four

days, inquiredconcerning the sailingof European steamships,

and
sank
into the blissful inanition of the nonpareil hotel
with

the contented

The
"

and
that
ate

calm
not

traveler

in his favorite

inn.

question the veracityof the register

the
He
drifted
into
exclusive
Harold
Farrington.
of life in the Lotus so tactfully
and silently
current
a
ripple alarmed his fellow-seekers after rest. He

young
was

air of

man

in the Lotus

"

and

not

to

of its patronym,

and

was

lulled into bliss-

with

ful peace

acquired his

TRANSIENTS

IN

the other

fortunate

table and

his waiter

ARCADIA

73

mariners.

and

In

the fear lest the

dinner

After

the

on

after

day

next

the

day he
panting

should

that kept Broadway warm

after repose
and destroy this contiguous but covert

chasers
upon

one

pounce

haven.
arrival of Harold

Beaumont
in
dropped her handkerchief
Farrington Madame
Mr. Farrington recovered
and returned it without
passingout.
the effusiveness of a seeker after acquaintance.
the discriminat
a
mystic freemasonry between
Perhaps there was
drawn
Perhaps they were
guests of the Lotus.
to another
one
by the fact of their common
good fortune in
of summer
in a Broadway hotel.
resorts
discoveringthe acme
delicate in courtesy and tentative in departure from
Words
the two.
And, as if in the expedient
formality passed between
resort, an acquaintance
atmosphere of a real summer
the spot as does the mystic
grew, flowered, and fructified on
plant of the conjuror. For a few moments
they stood on a
the corridor
which
ended, and tossed the
balcony upon
feathery ball of conversation.
"One
tires of the old resorts," said Madame
Beaumont,
smile.
"What
with a faint but sweet
is the use
to fly to the
mountains

or

people that

very

"Even

be

getting to be
when

further

make

the

on

Philistines

us

the seashore

the
away

both

follow

us

ocean," remarked

upon

you.

scarcelymore
summer

from

The
than

resorter

Broadway

dust when

noise and

to escape

the

there?"

Farrington, sadly, "the

most

exclusive

ferry boats.
discovers
than

that

Thousand

steamers

Heaven
the

are

help

Lotus

Islands

is
or

Mackinac."

hope our secret will be safe for a week, anyhow," said

with a sigh and a smile.
"I do not know
where
I
Madame,
would
descend
the dear Lotus.
I
go if they should
upon
know
of but one
in summer,
and that is the
place so delightful
"I

castle of Count

Polinski, in the Ural

"I hear that Baden-Baden

this season," said
fall in

and

Mountains."

Cannes

are

almost

deserted

Farrington. "Year by year the old resorts

others, like ourselves, are
disrepute. Perhaps many

FROM

STORIES

74

HENRY

O.

seeking out the quiet nooks that

majority."
"I promise myself three days more

must

of this delicious rest,"

his

proclaimed

"I

regret.
I do

said, *'but

he

sails."

Cedric

the

Monday

Farrington's eyes
leave on
Monday,"

Harold
too

"On

Beaumont.

said Madame

by the

overlooked

are

not

go

abroad."

shrugged

Beaumont

Madame

shoulder

round

one

in

foreigngesture.
''One
The

though it may be.

been in preparation for me
longer than a
must
house
give ^rv^hata
parties that one
I shall never
forget my week in the Hotel

hide here forever, charming

cannot

has

chateau

Those

month.

"

But

nuisance!
Lotus."

I," said Farrington in

shall

"Nor

low

I shall

voice, "and

forgivethe Cedric.''
On Sunday evening, three days afterward, the two sat at a
littletable on the same
balcony. A discreet waiter brought
ices and small glassesof claret cup.

neyer

Beaumont

Madame
that she had

her hand

Near
After
a

she had

Lotus, "I
to

^'clock

to-morrow.

till I draw
You're

smile

the

that

had

out

won

tell you
something. I'm going
I've got to
in the morning, because
the

behind

hosiery

vacation's

counter

dollar is the last cent

paper

up

at

at

eight
I'll see

another

having

I went.

before

I wanted

of

purse.

took

That

this vacation.

instead

and

my

saving up

do

the purse

Store, and

been

"I've

never

lay a
opened

eight dollars salary next Saturday night.

gentleman, and you've been good to me, and I

to tell you

wanted

ful.
thought-

my

real

seemed

to

I'm

work.

my

Mammoth

Casey's

want

breakfast

leave before
back

evening gown

small chatelaine

the table

her ice she

eaten

She

at dinner.

day

Farrington," she said, with

the Hotel

go

on

beautiful

same

bill.

one-dollar
"Mr.

to

each

worn

the

wore

one.

to

out
to

of my

wages

spend

one

I wanted
crawl

out

at

to
seven

for
week

get

up

every

just for
like a lady if I
when
I please
morning; and
a

year

STORIES

76

twelve

in

Saturdays.

on

did

spend

Below

the

we

the

cool

July

shadows

her

week

night.

the

and

'11

be

all

right

if

even

swells."

sweltering

Inside

windows,

HENRY

Coney

the

the

balcony

O.

guess

with

reigned,
low

the

near

FROM

the

ready

growled

city

Hotel

at

the

Lotus

solicitous

and

waiter

nod

to

buzzed

tempered,
single-footed

Madame

serve

and

escort.

At

the

Madame
reached

the

elevator
made

Beaumont
the

noiseless
will

Farrington,*
Manus.

of

door

Some

"Good-night,

cage

you?
call

me

Jimmy,"

her
he

last
said:

McManus

Jimmy."
said

"Just
is

"

Madame,

But

ascent.

the

before
that

forget
name

leave,

his

took

Farrington

James
"

and

they
'Harold
Mc-

ROADS

THE

Tidball's

fault, dear

suggested

and

by

result

least, the

ourselves

is within

this

of

adumbration

of

backwoodsmen
intensified

in

an

city

eastern

woods

lies in wait

highway

becomes

paragraph
formed

merely

at

addition

the
that

west
to

engine
were

not

life of

the

backbiter
with

in the

West."

of
take

of that

good

striking

to

bad,

the

of

The

becomes

wilds; while,
into

hero,

One

in the

who

western

in the

practice

use

the

and

in the next

Note

of

wilderness.

slanderer,

illuminating

same

his friend.

rifle; sharp

precisely

speaking

develops

his life for

and

is

Roosevelt's

bad-tempered

transplanted

down

of Roads

tank

the

story

characteristic

stopped

lay

for his foe

miles

when

is

ends

our

qualities, good

merely sullen and

to

robbery

of the

Twenty

things

is

the

is

Colonel

cheery, quiet neighbor

uncomplainingly

ready

in

measure,

This

He

5.

"All

some

There

from

modern

more

decrees

are."

Take.

passage

AUeghanies:
is

and

I, chapter

ruffian

his

hand,

other

the

power

We

accentuated

treacherous

murderous,
on

the

and

in

which

in New

original stark

with

it is,is in

as

of Destiny
stage

the

tempered

think

we

Roads

volume

in civilization

who

man

The

story

of the West,

Winning

that

The

things

in

doctrme

Henry's

are

the

"

explained

(page 16).

Roads

the

upon

been

of character.

of Destiny
also

put

*'Fate, inexorable

thought:

Western

had

story

stars.

underlings,"

called
was

7, 1904.

of,

our

in Roads

story,
was

in

are

found

it

1918,

Henry's

we

melodrama,

Henry's

27,

of O.

fatalism
and

O.

that

fatalism

Pollock's

November

York,

O.

of the

Channing

When

at

denial

direct

is not

Brutus,

August

Worlds

version

Western

in ourselves,

But

in The

published

(page 80),

summary

*'The

is

First

Whirligigs.

From

TAKE

WE

to

East

the

last

repetition that

of Destiny.

Tucson
water.

on

famous
for

the

it.
77

"Sunset
Besides

flyer acquired

Express"
the
some

aqueous

other

O.

FROM

STORIES

78

HENRY

lowering the feeding hose, Bob

Dodson, and a quarter-bred Creek Indian
Tidball, "Shark"
the
called John
Big Dog climbed on the engine and showed
that they
engineer three round orifices in piecesof ordnance
orifices so impressed the engineer with their
These
carried.
fireman

the

While

was

in a gesture such as
that he raised both hands
possibilities
accompanies the ejaculation"Do tell!"
leader
of Shark
Dodson, who was
At the crisp command
to the ground
of the attacking force, the engineerdescended
John Big Dog,
Then
and uncoupled the engine and tender.
the
the coal, sportivelyheld two
upon
guns
perched upon
engine driver and the fireman, and suggested that they run
and there await further orders.
the engine fiftyyards away
and Bob Tidball, scorning to put such lowDodson
Shark
through the mill, struck out for
grade ore as the passengers
They found the messenger
the rich pocket of the express car.
taking on
Express" was
in the belief that the "Sunset
serene
stimulating and dangerous than aqua
pura.
nothing more
While Bob was
knocking this idea out of his head with the
already dosing
was
butt-end of his six-shooter Shark Dodson
safe with dynamite.
the express-car
of $30,000, all gold and
safe exploded to the tune
The
thrust their heads casuallyout of
The passengers
currency.
the windows

to

the

jerked at

at

booty

their
car

and

look

bell-rope,which

his tug.
in a stout

ran

The

for the thunder-cloud.

Shark
canvas

awkwardly

in

sagged

Dodson

down

and

Bob

conductor

loose

and

resisting,
un-

Tidball, with

out of the
bag, tumbled
their high-heeled boots

express
to

the

engine.
the engine,
but wise, ran
The
engineer, sullenlyangry
But
from the inert train.
according to orders, rapidly away
covered
rethis was
before
accomplished the express
messenger,
Tidball's persuader to neutrality,
jumped
from Bob
out

of his

car

with

and

Winchester

rifle and

took

trick in the

wittingly
Big Dog, sittingon the coal tender, unget,
lead by giving an imitation of a tarmade
a wrong
ball exactly
With
a
the messenger
trumped him.

IVir. John

game.

chevalier of industry-

blades the Creek

his shoulder

between

79

TAKE

WE

ROADS

THE

rolled off to the ground, thus increasingthe share of his

in the loot
Two

miles from

The

robbers

by

sixth each.

one

them

crashing through

of

to

woods,

open

the other

mounted

primeval, lonely
Tidball

sUpped

and

low-

tied to

were

bridle

and

who

bag across
discretion through the
boulder

mossy

on

the

Here

gorge.

forest

and

that

bore

broke

and

and

pommel,

one

animal

the

They

free.

set

the

with

two

with

fast and

Five

was

of saddle

divested

robbers

rode

ride

never

the

down

waiting for John Big Dog,

by night or day again. This animal
One

hanging branches.
would

stop.

chaparral brought

horses

three

where

of

thicket

plunged

to

lined the track.

that

woods
steep slope into the thick
minutes

and

defiant adieu

ordered

engineer was

the

the tank

waved

rades
com-

Bob

foreleg.

and sat down

through the head at once
for the present by
secure
hold a council of flight. Made
trail they had traveled, the questionof time was
tortuous
them
longer so big. Many miles and hours lay between

to

him

shot

They

up

the
no

and

Dodson's
horse,
Shark
the spryest posse that could follow.
and dropped bridle, panted and cropped
with trailingrope
Bob
in the gorge.
thankfully of the grass along the stream
double handfuls of the
out
the sack, drew

opened
packages

Tidball
neat

with

chuclded

"Say,

knocks

financingthat
"What

long

daylight in
"Oh,

wait

to

I guess

we?

we

of

sack

gold,and

child.

called

pirate,"he

joyfully

it" you
got a head for
the horns off of anything in Arizona."
We
Bob?
a hoss for you,
to do about
we

could

do

here.

They'll be

trail before

our

on

the mornin'."
that
the

while," answered
animal

one

going

we

are

ain't got

said

"you

the

and

double-decked

old

you

Dodson,

to

of currency
the glee of

come

Accordin'

across.

cayuse

of

"We'll
sanguine Bob.
By jingoes,we made

to the marks

on

double

yourn'U carry

this money

annex
a

for

the first

haul, didn't

there's $30,000

"

$15,000 apiece!"
"It's short of what

expected,"said Shark Dodson.

kick-

STORIES

80

FROM

O.

HENRY

And
then
ing softlyat the packages with the toe of his boot.
he looked pensively at the wet sides of his tired horse.
'*01d Bolivar's mighty nigh played out," he said, slowly.
*'I wish
"So

that

sorrel of yours
hadn't got hurt."
it can't
I," said Bob, heartily,"but

do

Bolivar's

got plenty of bottom

get fresh

to

Dang

mounts.

how

funny it is that an
here and give us Western
What
desperado business.
anyway.?"
New

York

boulder

chewing
Ulster County.
I ran
It

was

the road

York

City. I had
I always

evenin'

one

with

where

fork to take.

show

that

I went

West

with

we

That

I reckon

for New

came

to

I didn't

know

lots of

the

place

which

hour, and

an

it.

you'd have

ended

the other
up

about

Dodson
a

got

good

deal

up

and

then

of

camp

road."
said

the same,"
ain't the
us

roads
the

out

turn

rather

leaned against a tree.

hadn't
sorrel of yourn
he said again, almost pathetically.
that

himself, Bob,"
"Same
here," agreed Bob; "he was
sure
crowbait.
But
Bolivar, he'll pull us
a
Reckon

bag

walkin'

was

makin'

into

run

teen.
seven-

do."

Shark
"I'd

was

in

travelin' among
the little towns,
I've often wondered
if I wouldn't

was

different if I'd took

out

it.

it for half

night

on

farm

and

Tidball, cheerfullyphilosophical. "It

take; it's what's inside of us that makes
we

way

about

on

when

goin' there

forked

from,

you

bundle, makin'

and

West

Bob

was

West.

the road

Wild

"Oh,

in

in the

sittingdown

home

comin'

my

out

come

spades

born

was

do

left-hand.

turned

"I

felt like I could

the

have

Dodson,

from

idea of

I studied

can

part of the East

clothes

an

took

and

fellows

aw^ay

my

like you
cards and

Easterner

accident

an

along
money.

he'll get us both far

it,Shark, I can't help thinkin'

twig.

helped.
enough

"

State," said Shark

and

be

we'd

this

better

boodle

be

ag'in

movin'
and

on,

we'll

hit

first-rate kind

through

hadn't
the

hurt

we.

all

right.

Shark.?

trail for

of

I'll

higher

timber."
Bob

Tidball

replaced the spoil in

the

bag

and

tied

the

most

.45 held

Dodson's

"Stop

he

without

him

upon

be hittin' the breeze."

said Shark.
"Set still,"
I hate

Bob.
of

one

plenty

he's

BoUvar,

us.

grin.

"We

hit

goin'to

he

to

got

breeze,

no

for but

chance

ain't any
tired, and

there

but

tell you,

to

ain't

"You

of Shark

waver.

funnin'," said Bob, with

your

the

up

the muzzle

was

saw

looked

he

When

cord.

tightlywith a
prominent object that
of it

mouth

81

TAKE

WE

ROADS

THE

can't

carry

double."

again.

and

time

thought

shootin'

you

man,

I've heard

two

or

one

Shark, put your

some

deal, and

queer

stories about
I

but

never

littlefun with

Bolivar

on

together

square

and

blackhearted

shoot, you

shoot"

lives

our

peculiarway,

we'll get

up, and

gun
to

mean

in

men

if you're justhavin'

Now

believed 'em.
If you

always give you

was

you

risked

I've

for three

Dodson,

Shark

you.

quietly. "We've

said

year," Bob

and

pards, me

been

"We

me,

vamose.

of

son

tarantula!"
face bore

Shark

Dodson's

"You

don't know

bad

how

deeply sorrowful look.

I feel,"he sighed,"about

that

breakin' his leg,Bob."

face changed in an instant to
The expressionon Dodson's
The
of cold ferocitymingled with inexorable cupidity.
one
like an evil face in
showed itselffor a moment
soul of the man
sorrel of yourn

of

the window

reputablehouse.

Truly Bob Tidball

The deadly .45 of the

"hit

the

false friend cracked

and

never

was

that the walls hurled back

with

And

Bolivar, unconscious

roar

last of the holders-up of

stress

But
to
to

of
as

Shark

again.

filled the gorge

indignant echoes.

accomplice,swiftlybore away
the "Sunset
Express,"not put to
gallopedaway

Dodson

his view; the revolver

curved

arm

of

and
strangelyupholstered,

feet, not

with

breeze"

the
the

"carrying double."

fade from
the

to

in stirrups,but

desk.
quartered-oak

mahogany

in his

the

woods

right hand

seemed
turned

chair; his saddle

opened his eyes and saw

resting quietlyon the edge
he

was

his

of

STORIES

82

telling

am

Wall

Decker,

There

sedative

buzz

"Ahem!

electric

an

Peabody,"

have

fallen

is it,

Peabody?"

settle

to

come

sir, if

short,

the

hesitating
below,

remarkable

most

"

Tracy

deal

to

the

and

in

must

What

dream.

Williams,
Y.

X.

"I

Z.

He

is outside.

The

market

caught

remember."

you

What

remember.

"Yes,

his

Peabody,

blinking.

Dodson,

said

sir, of

WilHams,

"Mr.

"

fan.

I had

asleep.

Dodson

chair,

wheels

of

of

eyes.

his

by
hum

firm

the
his

opened

confused

HENRY

of

Dodson,

standing

was

was

of

O.

brokers,

clerk,

speak.

him

that

you

Street

confidential

has

FROM

is

X.

Y.

Z.

quoted

to-day,

at

Peabody.?"
"One
"Then

of

in

corner

soul

of

cold
the

the

window

"He

will

cannot

carry

thought

remember

not

the

at

his

and

home

too

Dodson's

ferocity

mingled

show^ed
of

settle

at

double."

itself

reputable
one

sold

he

it will
to

face

for

"

take
the

changed
inexorable

with
a

moment

He's

that

you

deliver

ing
speakan

old

have

practically

you

might

you

price

on

man

and

that

market

Williams.

to

Dodson,
I

Z.

expression
of

one

Y.

world

The

in

X.

settles

the

Mr.

talking

"for

nervously,

rather

Peabody,
been

I've

yours,

might

If he
in

it, but

price."

said

me,"

of

friend

his

that's

"Excuse

you

sir."

eighty-five,

is, I

thought

the

stock

at

98.

every

cent

he

has

shares."
in

instant

an

The

cupidity.
like

evil

an

to

face

house.

eighty-five,"

said

Dodson.

"

Bolivaj

FROM

STORIES

84

crumbling

ringingtheir bells. At the twelfth

hand-baggage upon the step and wiped the

red mansions,

he rested his lean

dust

from

his hat-band

and

forehead.

faint and
To

far away
in some
remote,
the door of this,the twelfth
came

rung,

housekeeper

surfeited
shell and
He

asked

if there

who

house

made

was

throat; her throat

third floor back, vacant

since

week

think

of

Her

to

voice

back.

wholesome,
un-

hollow

lodgers.
from

came

"I

fur.

an

edible

with

lined with

seemed

bell he had

its nut

eaten

in," said the housekeeper.

her

depths.
whose

him

fillthe vacancy
to let.
a
room

to

bell sounded

The

hollow

that had

worm

sought

now

"Come

HENRY

O.

have

Should

the
wish

you

look at it.?^"

to

The
from

young

man

followed

her up

the stairs.

particularsource
mitigated the shadows
stair carpet that
a
They trod noiselessly
upon

have

forsworn.

It seemed

to have

light

of the halls.

no

would

faint

its

become

own

loom

vegetable;

to have

degenerated in that rank, sunless air to lush lichen or

that grew
in patches to the stair-case and was
spreading moss
viscid under
the foot like organic matter.
At each turn of
the stairs were
niches in the wall.
vacant
Perhaps plants
had once
been set within them.
If so they had died in that
foul and
stood

tainted

air.

there, but it was

It may

be that statues

not

difficult to conceive

devils had
the

dragged them
unholy depths of some

"This
throat.

is the room,"
"It's

nice

forth

of the saints had

in the darkness

that

imps

and

down

and
to

furnished

said the

pit below.
housekeeper, from

It ain't often

room.

vacant.

her

furry
I had

trouble at
elegant people in it last summer
no
all,and paid in advance
to the minute.
The w^ater's at the
end of the hall.
Sprowls and Mooney kept it three months.
sketch.
Miss
B'retta
They done a vaudeville
Sprowls
have
heard
of
her
that
Oh,
you
was
may
just the stage
the dresser is where
names
the marriage
right there over
certificate hung, framed.
The gas is here, and you see there
is plenty of closet room.
It's a room
everybody likes. It
never
stays idle long."
some

most

"

"

"

"

"Do

have

you

"They

man.

and

comes

goes.

good proportionof

lodgers

my

Yes, sir,this is the theatrical

the theatres.

with

is connected

85

theatrical people rooming here?"

many

the young

asked

ROOM

FURNISHED

THE

people never
stays long anywhere. I get my
and they goes."
Yes, they comes
share.
in advance.
He
paying for a week
engaged the room,
take possessionat once.
He
tired, he said, and would
was
district. Actor

counted

He

ready,

she

said,

moved

young

to

"

and

towels

at the end

Vashner

Miss

"

had

room

put, for the

he

he carried

girl

The

money.

even

away

questionthat
"A

the

out

water.

As

been

made

the

keeper
house-

time, the

thousandth

of his tongue.
Miss Eloise Vashner

do

"

lodgers? She would

likely. A fair girl,of medium
be singingon the stage, most
height and slender, with reddish, gold hau* and a dark mole
her left eyebrow."
near
Them
the name.
stage people
"No, I don't remember
They comes
has names
they change as often as then- rooms.
such

remember

you

one

among

your

No, I don't call that one to mind."

they goes.
of ceaseless interrogation
Five months
No.
Always no.
time spent by day in
and the mevitable negative. So much
agents, schools, and choruses; by night
questioningmanagers,

and

music

halls

hoped

for.

He

of theatres

the audiences

among

sure

was

low

that

He

who

had

he

so

that

from

dreaded

to

he

find what

loved her best had

since her

down

all-star casts

most

tried to find her.

disappearance from

great, water-girtcity held her somewhere,

to

but

it

this

home
was

like

constantly,with
quicksand,shiftingits particles
foundation, its upper granulesof to-day buried to-morrow

monstrous
no

in

and

ooze

The

slime.

furnished

room

received

its latest guest with

first

hectic, haggard, perfunctory

a
pseudo-hospitality,
cal
like the specioussmile of a demirep. The sophistiwelcome
ture,
in reflected gleams from the decayed furnicomfort
came
the ragged brocade upholsteryof a couch and two chairs,
cheap pierglassbetween the two windows, from
a foot-wide

glow

of

and

giltpicture frames

two

or

one

O.

FROM

STORIES

86

HENRY
a

brass

bedstead

in

corner.

guest reclined, inert, upon

The

in

confused

it

speech as though

tried to discourse

to him

chair, while
an

were

the

apartment

in

room,

Babel,

of its divers tenantry.

brilliant-flowered
like some

lar,
rectangupolychromatic rug
surrounded
by a billowy sea of soiled
tropicalislet lay
those pictures
matting. Upon the gay-papered wall were
A

that

pursue

the

homeless

house

from

one

house

to

The

"

fast,
Huguenot Lovers, The First Quarrel, The Wedding BreakThe mantel's chastelysevere
Psyche at the Fountain.
outline was
ingloriouslyveiled behind some
pert drapery
of the Amazonian
like the sashes
dra^Ti
rakishly askew
desolate flotsam cast aside by the
ballet.
some
Upon it was
borne them to a fresh
when
room's marooned
a lucky sail had
two, picturesof actresses, a medicine
vase
or
port a trifling
"

bottle, some

stray cards

of

out

deck.

by one, as the characters of a cryptograph become

the httle signsleft by the furnished room's procession
explicit,
in
of guests developed a significance.The threadbare
space
had
the rug in front of the dresser told that lovely woman
in the throng. The
marched
tiny fingerprints on the wall
spoke of little prisonerstrying to feel their way to sun and
of a bursting
air. A splatteredstain, raying like the shadow
bomb, witnessed where a hurled glassor bottle had splintered
with its contents
againstthe wall. Across the pierglasshad
in staggeringletters the name
been scrawled with a diamond
One

It seemed

"Marie."

that

succession

the

of dwellers

in the

yond
fury perhaps tempted bewreaked
and
forebearance
by its garish coldness
furniture
was
it their passions. The
chipped and
upon
a
bruised; the couch, distorted by bursting springs,seemed

furnished

room

had

turned

in

"

"

horrible monster

grotesque
cloven

convulsion.

been
Some

great slice from

the floor owned

and

that had

slain

potent

more

the marble

cant
its particular

individual agony.

during the
mantel.

and

It seemed

shriek

stress

of

some

upheaval had
Each
plank in
as

from

rate
sepa-

incredible that all this

injuryhad

malice and

the cheated

been

hut

that

The

young

is

gods
can

we

own

our

and

and

sweep

have

yet it may

ful
resent-

their wrath.
cherish.

and

adorn

allowed

those

by

room

kindled

that had

in the chair

tenant

the

survivingblindly,the

instinct

household

87

upon

their home;

time

home

at false

rage

wrought

been

called it for

had

who

ROOM

FURNISHED

THE

thoughts

these

to

file,soft-shod, through his mind, while there drifted into the

furnished

room

sounds

furnished

and

heard

He

scents.

in

and incontinent, slack laughter;in others

tittering
the monologue of a scold, the rattlingof dice, a lullaby,and
dully; above him a banjo tinkled with spirit.
one
crymg
mittently;
Doors
banged somewhere; the elevated trains roared interAnd
back fence.
cat yowled miserably upon
a
a
room

one

breathed

he

than

breath

the

smell"

cold, musty

vaults mingled with

and rotten
mildewed

the

house"

dank

effluvium

as

from

of the

reeking exhalations

of wind

singlebuffet

cried aloud:

and

sprang

and

wrapped

all his

could
must

been

wrest

has
from

smallest
touched.
The

room

came

as

if he

as

confused

had

out

the

And

been

rich odor

reached

upon

fragrance and

and

The

He

filled with

was

livingvisitant.

about.

thing
This

But,

caressed

called,
him

clung to

his

for it,

arms

and

it not

was

the sound

he cried, and

token, for he knew

he

would

been

made
but

her

own

"

set
carelessly

^whence

to

recognizethe

had

and

that had

he sprang

belonged to her or that

envelopmg scent of mignonette,

that

it

him?

in this room,"

loved
had

time

sound.

been
it

that she had

and

commingled. How
Surely
peremptorily called by an odor?

touched, that had

"She

It

sureness

seemed

around.

for the
be

have

faced

him

senses
one

such

*'What, dear?"

and

up

of linoleum

room

mignonette.

with

it almost

emphasis that
man

of

odor

strong, sweet

underground

woodwork.

Then, suddenly,as he rested there, the

the

rather

savor

came

in order.

had

she
the

odor

it?

Scattered

half a dozen
flimsy dresser scarf were
hairpins
those
discreet, indistinguishablefriends of womankmd,
feminine of gender,infinite of mood, and uncommunicative
of

upon

the

"

STORIES

88

FROM

O.

HENRY

he

These

ignored,conscious of their triumphant lack

of identity. Ransacking the drawers
of the dresser he came
He
discarded, tiny, ragged handkerchief.
a
upon
pressed
it to his face.
It was
and insolent with heliotrope;he
racy
tense.

hurled

it to the floor.
theatre

last

was

book

woman's

him, poised between

bow

also is
and

And

the

on

black

ice and

drawer

he found

odd

tons,
but-

two

lost

pawnbroker's card,

programme,

marshmallows,
the

In another

divination

satin hair
fire.

But

of

dreams.

bow,

the

which

black

In

halted

satin hair

femininity'sdemure, impersonal, common

tells

then

ment
orna-

tales.

no

he traversed

the

like

room

hound

the scent,
of the bulging
on

skimming the walls, considering the corners

and
mantel
and
knees, rummaging
matting on his hands
cabinet in the
tables,the curtains and hangings, the drunken
for a visible sign, unable
to perceive that she was
corner,
there beside, around, against,within, above
him, clingingto
him, wooing him, callinghim
so
poignantly through the
finer senses
that even
his grosser
became
ones
cognizant of
the call. Once
loudly: "Yes, dear!" and
again he answered
for he could not yet
turned, wild-eyed,to gaze on vacancy,
discern
the

form

odor

of

since when
He

color

and

odors

have

burrowed

found

in

had

fold of

ground

beneath

oath.

He

sifted

dreary

and

ignoble small

the

of her whom

there, and

whose

and

outstretched
that

voice to call.^^ Thus

and

and

corners,

found

passed in passivecontempt.
the matting a half -smoked

this he

but

in crevices
he

love

Oh, God, whence

mignonette.

cigarettes. These
he

and

his heel with

from

room

he

end

records

green

spiritseemed

to

hover

end.

to

of many
sought, and who

and

in

arms

odor, and
he

groped.
corks
But

and
once

cigar,and
trenchant
He

found

ant;
peripatetictenhave lodged
may

there, he found

no

trace.

And
He
that
He

then
ran

he

from

showed
smothered

thought

of the

the haunted
crack

of

housekeeper.

light.

his excitement

downstairs

room

as

She

came

out

best he could.

and
to

to

dooi

his knock.

FURNISHED

THE
"Will

tell

you

the

sir.

"Yes,

Mooney,

for

framed,

on

cupied
oc-

I came?"

before

Missis

nail

kind

"What

besought her, "who

Mooney she was.

My house is well
respectability.The marriage certificate hung,

theatres, but
known

89

tell you
again. 'Twas Sprowls and
Miss
B'retta
in the
Sprowls it was

can

said.

as

he

madam,"

me,

I have

room

ROOM

"

over

of

lady

Miss

was

in

Sprowls

"

looks, I

mean?"

"WTiy, black-haired, sir,short, and stout, with a comical

face.
They left a week ago Tuesday."
before they occupied it?"
"And
with the
a
singlegentleman connected
"Why, there was
left owing me
He
week.
Before
him
a
draying business.
Missis Crowder
and her two
children, that stayed four
was
old Mr. Doyle, whose
months; and back of them was
sons
He
six months.
That
kept the room
paid for him.
goes
back

year,

sir,and

thanked

He
dead.

The

I do

further

her and

crept back

that had

essence

remember."

not
to his

The

room.

vivified it

was

The

gone.

of

stale

was

room

mignonette had departed. In its place was

odor of mouldy house furniture,of atmosphere

fume
per-

the old,
in storage.

ebbing of his hope drained his faith. He sat staring

he walked
at the yellow, singinggaslight. Soon
to the bed
and began to tear the sheets into strips. With
the blade of
them
his knife he drove
tightly into every crevice around
The

windows

and

the

out

door.

light,turned

gratefully
upon

It

was

Mrs.

McCool's

retreats

dieth
"I rented

the

all
gas

was

full

snug
on

and

he

taut

again, and

turned

laid himself

the bed.

So she fetched it and

worm

When

night

sat with

where

to

Mrs.

go

the

with

Purdy

in

one

can

for beer.

of those

house-keepersforegather and

terranean
subthe

seldom.
out

my

third floor,back, this evening,"said Mrs.

STORIES

90

Purdy,
He

across

went

with

that

in

said

furnished

for

'Tis

alive.
be

"As

you

been

sense

the

after

has

we

for

then.?"

him,

by

rentin'
she

cluded
con-

Mrs.

dyin'

McCool."
rooms

business,
a

the
be

to

kape

we

ma'am.

of

in

"are

tones,

renting

rentin'

living

our

for

furriest

tell

'tis

ma'am;

McCool,

mystery.
her

in

Mrs.

wonder

him,

with

not

rayjict

has

it

There
if

room

bed

of

they

be

it."

making,"

remarked

Purdy.
"Yis,

helped

colleen
face

Purdy,
growin'

lay

ye

she
she

'tis

ma'am;

Mrs.

a-been

assenting
by
McCool."

be

her

third

called
but
left

floor,

killin'

Purdy,

just

'Tis

true.

the

out
to

was

had,

"She'd

Mrs.

will

say,

did

be
tell

ye

laden

rale

the

suicide

did

took

man

said

do

Purdy,

are,

ye

people
a

And

Mrs.

young

ma'am.^"

"You

rent.

have

many

tould

right
Ye

Mrs.

to

*'A

ago.'*

whisper

husky

foam.

Purdy,

kind.

"Rooms,"

"

of

admiration.

of

rooms

Mrs.

HENRY

O.

hours

two

ye,

intense

circle

bed

to

did

*'Now,

fine

up

FROM

herself

wake

one

back.
wid

A
the

this

ago

slip

pretty

gas

"

day

swate

of

little

ma'am."

handsome,
critical,

eyebrow.

as

"but
Do

for
fill

you

say,"

that

mole

up

your

said
she

glass

Mrs.
had

a-

again,

STORIES

92

September of the
house's good man
the

and

and

year

durable

more

HENRY

of the soul, in which

consider

to

comes

vanities, and

as

O.

FROM

desire

to

blessingsof

roof
the

and

gardens

ographers
sten-

of his mate

return

decorum

the

season

and

the

moral

excellencies.

cigarette. The guarded glow of

his salient points for a moment.
He
type of burglars.
not yet been recognized and accepted.

burglar lighted a

The

illuminated

the match

belonged

to

the third

This

third type has

policehave made

The

classification is

Their

familiar

us

with

The

simple.

the first and

collar is the

second.

ing
distinguish-

mark.
collar he is
a
burglar is caught who does not wear
described as a degenerate of the lowest type, singularlyvicious
and depraved, and is suspected of being the desperate
criminal who stole the handcuffs out of Patrolman
Hennessy's
walked
and
1878
to escape
arrest.
pocket in
away
The
other well-known
wears
a
type is the burglar who
He is always referred to as a Raffles in real life. He
collar.
is invariablya gentleman by daylight,breakfastingin a dress
suit, and posing as a paper-hanger,while after dark he plies
his nefarious occupation of burglary. His mother
is an
tremely
exwealthy and respectedresident of Ocean Grove, and
When

when

he

file and

is conducted
the

He

asks

at

for

once

nail

in every
fiancees in all the Territories, and the

and

print his

newspapers

his cell he

Gazette.

Police

in the Union

State

to

always

has

wife

matrimonial

of cuts

of the ladies who

having

been

galleryout of their stock

bottle after
cured by only one
doctors, experiencinggreat relief

were

given up by

five

after the first dose.

The
nor

burglarwore

have

been

have

not

He

was

neither

Raffles

policewould
him.
baffled had they attempted to classify
They
the
of
respectable,unassuming burglar
yet heard

is neither

This

blue sweater.

of the chefs from

one

who

above

burglarof

nor

Hell's Kitchen.

below

the third class

masks, dark lanterns, or

gum

The

his station.

began

shoes.

to

He

prowl.
carried

He
a

wore

no

38-calibre

MAKES
in

revolver

THE

his

WHOLE

WORLD

and

pocket,

he

chewed

KIN

93

peppermint

gum

thoughtfully.
furniture

The

of the house

The

protectors.

silver

in its

swathed

was

far away
remarkable

was

dust

summer

in

safe-depositvaults.
"haul.'*
His objective

burglar expected no
that dimly lighted room
where
the master
of the
point was
should
be sleepingheavily after whatever
house
solace he
had
of his loneliness. A
sought to lighten the burden
touch"
there to the extent
of legitimate,
might be made
fair professionalprofits loose money,
watch, a jewelled
a
He
had
stick-pin nothing exorbitant
or
beyond reason.
The

*'

"

"

the window

seen

left open

burglar softlyopened

The

had

and

the

taken
door

the chance.

of the

lighted room.
low.
The
turned
A man
lay in the bed asleep.
gas was
On
the dresser lay many
crumpled
a
things in confusion
roll of bills,
a watch, keys, three
poker chips,crushed cigars,
a
pink silk hair bow, and an unopened bottle of bromoseltzer for a bulwark
in the morning.
The
the dresser.
The
burglar took three steps toward
in the bed suddenly uttered a squeaky groan
and opened
man
His right hand
slid under his pillow,but remained
his eyes.
"

there.

"Lay still,"said
of the

looked

at

citizen

like that

of

burglarin

type do

the round
hold

"Now
The

third

the

not

conversational

hiss.

The

glars
Bur-

tone.

citizen in the

bed

burglar'spistoland lay still.

the burglar.
hands," commanded
up both your
had
little,
a
pointed, brown-and-gray beard,
painless dentist. He looked solid,esteemed,
disgusted. He sat up in bed and raised his
end

of the

irritable,and
right hand above his head.
"Up with the other one," ordered the burglar. "You
might be amphibious and shoot with your left. You can
count
Hurry up, now."
two, can't you?
"Can't

raise the other

one," said the citizen with

of his lineaments.
"What's

the matter

"Rheumatism

with

it.?"

in the shoulder."

tion
contor-

"

Inflammatory?

burglar stood

The

afilicted

the

on

"

inflammation

The

"Was.

dresser and

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

94

for

has
moment

He

one.

then, with

down."

gone
or

glanced

two,
the

at

holding his
plunder on

air back

half -embarrassed

at the

gun

the
man

grimace.
stand
there making faces," snapped the citizen,
"Don't
to burgle why don't yoii
bad-humoredly. "If you've come
stuff lying around."
do it? There's some
"'Sense
me," said the burglar,with a grin: "but it just
that rheumatism
It's good for you
too.
socked
me
one,
and me
happens to be old pals. I got it in my left arm, too.
have
would
Most
popped you when
you
anybody but me
wouldn't hoist that left claw of yours."
"How
long have you had it?" inquired the citizen.
I guess that ain't all. Once you've got it,
"Four
years.
life that's my
it's you for a rheumatic
judgment."
"Ever
try rattlesnake oil?" asked the citizen,interestedly.
"Gallons," said the burglar. "If all the snakes I've used
the oil of was
they'd reach eight times as
strung out in a row
far as Saturn, and the rattles could be heard at Valparaiso,
he, too, made

Then

in the bed.

sudden

"

Indiana, and

back."

the citizen.
Pills,"remarked
No
'em five months.
"Fudge!" said the burglar. "Took
tract,
ExI tried Finkelham's
relief the year
good. I had some
and Potts's Pain Pulverizer;
of Gilead poultices,
Balm
the buckeye I carried in my
pocket what
but I think it was
"Some

use

Chiselum's

the trick."

done
"Is

in the

worse

yours

morning

or

at

night?"

asked

the

citizen.

"Night,"
take

down

did you ever

"I never

said the

on

I'm

busiest.

won't
of yours
I guess
you
try Blickerstaff's Blood Builder?"
in paroxysms
did.
Does
come
yours

that

arm

steady pain?"
The burglar sat
gun

burglar;"just when

his crossed

"

down

knee.

on

the foot of the bed

and

or

Say,
Say !
is it

rested his

jumps," said he. "It strikes me

for it. I had to give up second-story
"It

sometimes

stuck

half-way

up.

doctors

know

the bloomin'

I've spent

"Same

here.

any

relief

humidity the size of

arm

tablecloth

if I pass

And

York.

to New

'East

"I

dead

"You're

good

starts

said the

hades!"

for it."

ting
get-

topher!"
great Chris-

rain"

.11.

on

its

there's

where

moisture

of

streak

Florida

from

theatre

Lynne' matinee going on, the

jumping Uke a toothache."

"It's undiluted"

what"

tell when

can

I got
lieve
I don't be-

because

work

any?"
it's goin'to

too," said the citizen.

"Me,

way

when

And

mornings.

*'0f

swell

Yours

looking

dollars without

thousand

I ain't

when

Tell you
is
what

95

KIN

WORLD

WHOLE

THE

MAKES

starts

my

an

left

burglar.

the citizen.

right,"said

thrust it into
burglar looked down at his pistoland
attempt at ease.
his pocket with an awkward
"ever
try opodeldoc?"
"Say, old man," he said, constramedly,
The

said the citizen

"Slop!"

angrily. "Might

as

^
"
well rub

on

butter."

restaurant

burglar. "It's a salve suitable for

the kitty scratches her finger. I'll tell
when
little Minnie
thing that
I only find one
We're
up against it.
you what!
Little old sanitary, ameliorating,lesther up.
Hey?
eases
get on
Say" this job's off" 'sense me"
we-forget Booze.
"Sure," concurred

70ur

"For

"

week,"

said the

dress myself without

citizen, "I haven't

help.

I'm

been

able to

is in

afraid Thomas

the

bed,

"

and

out," said the burglar,"I'll help

"Chmb

The

'Sense

some.
let's go out and have
she goes again!"
There
ouch!

clothes and

but
liberty,

your

the

you

get

into

duds."
conventional

the citizen.

He

returned

as

tidal

wave

and

flooded

stroked his brown-and-gray beard.

"
he
"It's very unusual
"Here's your shirt," said the

began.
burglar, fallout.
"

I know

96

who

man

said

could

he

the

Ointment

hands

in

going

were

'Liked

out

The

last

burglar

"Come

got

green?"

forgot

to

dresser

I've

Omberry's

0.

HENRY

him

fixed

the

weeks

two

so

four-in-hand."

his

tying

in

the

door

citizen

turned

explained;

"laid

and

back.

started
"

FROM

both

use

they

As

STORIES

on,"
the

money,"

my

he

it

on

night."
caught
he

price.

said

him

by

bluffly.
Ever

try

the

right
"I

witch

ask

sleeve.
Leave

you.

hazel

and

oil

alone.

it
of

winter-

SQUARING
From

The

Voice

begins with

called

ginnings:
The

believe

to

O.

rather

Henry,

strike

They

plot
O.

Henry

was

had

in circles.

diplomatist
sink,

travelers

their

at

up

in

At

familiar

straightforward
is.

as

philosophy

and

the

page

hazard

of

be

must

Nature

in

ural

is

rounded;

lost

in

the

the

the

city
round

eyes

line of the

hori^pntal

mouth

the

travel

by

artificial

ever

of

the

was

reader

to

in

spite

up

of

away

flirt's

optic

is the

mark

proves

attach

the

opening
the

Nature

moves

product

than

circles

until

Also,

frequently wind
to

tale

The

of

of

Making

vehement

geometry.

on

lines.

of

The

in

nat"

angles.

perfect

by rectangular

man

cles;
cir-

streets

himself.

typify innocence;
the

invasion

of determined
87

tures.
over-

attested.

himself,

from

childhood

compel

before, in Round

straight

is made

binger,
Har-

but,

this

In

have

discourse

A
,

expositor in

in exact

this

be-

These

prefixed these

also Introduction

circles; Art

him

they

almost

processes

you

The

denouement

artificial

more

mental

wearying

in

such

the

motif.

feet, denaturalized

man's

floors, carry

The

See

wanders,

snow

that

footprints

other

prefaced

moves

It

years

snow

their

exhausted,

111.

is

man

of

(page 224).

Report

Two

in the

lost

Men

of

the

straight line is Art.

*'The

has

Henry

City,

enable

ground.

stories

Eye-Opener

central

O.

fond

was

reviewed,

and

to

what

vember
No-

Voice

narrator,

keynote

World,

Dougherty's

possible.

was

story

he

The

twenty-five

our

anticipate

to

pure

starting-point."

emotions

and

the

written:

Yorker,

Netv

the

the

on

Circle, he

they

of

plan

or

than

The

and

other

no

But

Municipal

reader

in

with

Dogman,

reached

that

of

one

overture,

Door,

the

denouement

the

him

and

enable

not

the

Green

Venturers,

do

openings
with

The

in Rubbery

Comedy

first

published

chorus."

and

Ulysses

see

is the

by the

CIRCLE

First

City.

philosophical

"recitative

the

This

1904.

27,
that

of

THE

the

of art.

cunning;

who

rowed
nar-

The
has

FROM

STORIES

98

Nature's

read

not

most

HENRY

spontaneous

lyricin lipsrounded

kiss?

for the candid

in

is Nature

Beauty

O.

circularityis
perfection;

full

its chief attribute.

the

enchanting golf ball,

of splendidtemples, the huckleberry pie,the wedding
domes
ring, the circus ring, the ring for the waiter, and the
Behold

the

hand, straightlines show

other

the

deflected.

been

moon,

of drinks.

"round"
On

the

Venus

Imagine

"straightfront*'!
When
we
begin

's

that

Nature

girdletransformed

has
into

straightlines and turn sharp

is
natures
begin to change. The consequence
our
corners
that Nature, being more
adaptive than Art, tries to conform
ous
to its sterner
regulations. The result is often a rather curiwood
product for instance: A prize chrysanthemum,
alcohol whiskey, a Republican Missouri, cauliflower au gratiriy
to

in

move

"

and

Yorker.

New

is geometbig city. The cause

rical,
tecture,
The straightlines of its streets and archinot moral.
social customs,
the rectangularityof its laws and
compromising
undeviating pavements, the hard, severe, depressing,unis lost

Nature

the

quickestin

of its recreations
rules of all its ways
even
coldly exhibit a sneering defiance of the curved
"

and

sports

"

line of Nature.
it may

be

said

that

the

big city has

strated
demon-

problem

of

squaring

the

circle.

it may

Wherefore,
the

the

The

Folwell

and

the

homespun
The

Harkness.

laying out

introduction

precedes an
of a Kentucky feud that was
imported
habit
of
its
form
a
making
importations con-

city that has

to its angles.
feud began in

the

the

Cumberland

the Harkness

vendetta

was

Harkness

families.

Mountains
The

between

first victim

of

'possum dog belonging to Bill

family evened up this dire loss by
a

the chief of the Folwell

clan.

The

Folwells

were

oiled up their squirrelrifles and

to follow his dog to a land,
it feasible for Bill Harkness

prompt
made

fate

of the

account
to

this mathematical

that

added

be

And

at

repartee.

They

STORIES

100

FROM

O.

great city waiting in the dark

of his heart
of

whirl,

Sam

as

himself

to his boots

the

thrust

leather

cabby picked
often picked a nut
and

him

haft

last of the
the
and

form

"

that Cal Harkness

And

as

he

and

stepped

from

expected

to

away

bed

of

hotel

made

his

last Harkness.

his

drove

the

upon

into his eye and the feud-hate

The clamor
of the central avenues
half

of the

out

Folwells

that he, Sam

came

had

of its millions

him

secured

below

inch

an

rotundity

carpet-sack.

his coat

in that town,

kill him.

He

to the

sheltered

beneath

the

this much

somewhere
to

him

the

by

belt; the hunting-knifehung between

blades, with
knew

mould

the

morning
city that

next

sortie into the

was

had

close about

to

leaves,and whisked

autumn

commensurate

Colt

and

victims.

reshaped

wind-tossed

On

brain

and

HENRY

narrow

his shouldercollar.

coat
an

The

express

wagon

Folwell, had
sidewalk

He

come

the

red

into his heart.

drew

him

thitherward.

Cal

coming down the street in

his shirt-sleeves,
with a jug and a whip in his hand, just as
he would
have seen
him in Frankfort
Laurel
or
City. But
hour went
an
by and Cal did not appear.
Perhaps he was
waiting in ambush, to shoot him from a door or a window.
Sam
for a while.
kept a sharp eye on doors and windows
the city tired of playing with its mouse
About
anr^.
noon
suddenly squeezed him with its straightlines.
Sam
Folwell stood where
two
great, rectangular arteries
of the city cross.
He looked four ways,
and saw
the world
hurled from its orbit and reduced
by spiritlevel and tape to
tracks, in
an
on
edged and cornered plane. All life moved
according to system, within boundaries, by rote.
grooves,
The

of life was

root

to

see

the cube

root; the

measure

of existence

People streamed
by in straightrows;
the horrible din and crash stupefiedhim.
leaned against the sharp corner
Sam
of a stone
building.
Those
faces passed him by thousands, and none
of them were

was

square

turned
and
And

measure.

toward

was

then

him.

sudden

foolish fear that he had

and that they could not see him,

spirit,
him with loneliness.
the city smote

died

seized him.

A fat

dropped
distant, waiting for
man

shouted

in

the mast
what

than

roasted

street

man

moved

chestnuts

to

eliminated

and
of
and

familiar

ourn
a

whole

passel,

fine chance

better

bought

circle.
over

Sam's

hand

found

sat

knob
door-

rectangular brass plate and

so
largeas a pin'shead upon

upon

no

step.

away

from

locust club tickled

in the ribs.

him

*'Take

walk

for

loafingaround

been
At
He

and

and

ear:

heartbroken, he walked

reddened,
door

side

Across the
dew.
drop of mountain
Brief
out through swinging doors.
a
glisteningbar and its bedeckings.
essayed to enter.
Again had Art

polishedoak with nothing even

which his fingersmight close.
the bootless

feet

his alarm.

it slid,in vain,

Abashed,

his

to

crept

few

unostentatiously,and

away

be had

the

stood

"

of

crossed

feudist

"

Sam

into his

cover

passed in

men

glimpses could
The

car.

101

and

hogs weighed more'n

thar neighborhood was

felt the need

Sam

his

down

it was

fat

The

of the stream

Rankinses'

"The
but

out

the tumult

above

CIRCLE

THE

SQUARING

the next

wheeled

yourself,"said the policeman.

here long enough."

corner

around

and

shrill whistle
saw

sounded

black-browed

"You've

in Sam's
villain

ear.

scowling

He
steaming machine.
out
started across
An immense
the street.
engine,running withmules, with the voice of a bull and the smell of a smoky
A cab-driver bumped
lamp, whizzed past, grazing his knee.
him with a hub and explained to him that kind words
were

at

him

invented

over

to

peanuts

be

used

heaped

on

other

on

occasions.

motorman

in his life,corroborated
wildly and, for once
A largelady in a changeable silk waist dug an
a cab-driver.
elbow into his back, and a newsy
pensivelypelted him with
banana
I hates to do it but if anybody
rinds,murmuring,
let it pass!"
me
seen
and his express
Cal Harkness, his day's work
over
wagon
stabled, turned the sharp edge of the building that, by the
cheek
of architects, is modeled
Out
a
safety razor.
upon

clanged his

bell

"

"

of

the

of

mass

the

away,

O.

FROM

STORIES

102

his

people

hurrying

picked

eye

up,

three

yards
his

of

foe

implacable

and

bloody

surviving

HENRY

kith

kin.

and
He

and

There

the

"Howdy,
And

third

in
Street

the

sudden

of

Cal!

I'm

the

him

picked

Sam's

of

Cumberland

Broadway,

mountaineer's

keen

out.

the

in

ripple

voice

durned

being

moment,

the

But

spring,

sound

angles

for

wavered

surprised.
had

Folwell
was

and

by,

and

sharply

Sam

of

eye

short

stopped

of

stream

passers-

crying:

glad

to

Fifth
feudists

see

ye."
and

Avenue,
shook

hands.

Twenty

armed
un-

The

From

"The

with

Foe,

from

within,

of O.

Henry's

the

genius

writer

in

in

we

without.

The

taking the

merest

of

appeahng.

The

But

On

whifif

Spectator (London,

inverted

an

proverb,
it in

clothe

soon

incident?

former;

plot

or

abstract

the

first detail
the narrative
course

to

blend

development

the

motif

same

original.

and
thmk

When

than

the

call

the

with

short

story

there

The

short

incarnation

say

If

two

complementary

detail

the

first

in

quirements
re-

difficult to think

of

skeleton,

to

the

increasingly

from

laid

upon

refer of

distmctively

more

not

novel

or

Crainquehille, develops

story,

our

the

to

irony of fate is
of the

story

any

appropriate

original, we

but

Hemy

would

in

theme

Is

O.

place

flesh

interest

development

and

France's

But

the

to

very

contrast,

Was

exigent requirement

most

theme.

to

but

The

opulence would

give

It is not

story;
hold

to

we

of theme

idea; Anatole

origmal

short

this is the

"

artist.

the

to

fillingin.

concrete,

last

to

for

thesis

or

in

has

the

racial

latter.

should

"he

of

often

ix)

page

thing
some-

ingenuity.

his inventive

critic, the

distinguished,

be

resourcefulness

O.Henry's
make

English

of it

April 7, 1917),

(see Introduction,

anonymous

our

plan

stories

idea"

an

side of his craft,"

appropriate incident."
in clothing them
or

of

Firkins

Mr.

must

start

wealth

designing

in

greater

to

of

making

in

with, and

or,

operated

unp

whimsy

or

surpassed either
fertilityor
probably never
his
which
stories are
he wove
original themes
on
but
slightest description;
give him a mannerism,
been

story,

perfect illustration

technical

the

this

Foe's

is

story

December

World,

reading

thought, and

a
"

in The

on

say

perverse!"

gossamer

or

solid, durable,
says

the

from

never

wraith

merest

of

imp

ANTHEM

published

irony of fate!"

"The

4,1904.

First

Million.

Four

THE

AND

COP

THE

Soapy
in

twenty-five

falls below

which

excellence

the

is novel
you

of

the

design.?
On

When

his

bench

wild

sealskin

geese
coats

in

Madison

honk
grow

high

Square
of

kind

nights,
to

A03

Soapy
and

their

moved

when

husbands,

uneasily.
out
with-

women

and

when

STORIES

104

Soapy

that winter

know

is

HENRY
in the

his bench

uneasily on

moves

O.

FROM

near

Soapy 's lap. That

Jack is kind to the regulardenizens
card.
call.
and gives fair w^arningof his annual
he hands
his pasteboard to
four streets
of the mansion

footman

thereof

Soapy
had

's mind

of

rigor.
The

Means

he moved

therefore

hibernatorial

highest.

In them

to

ambitions
there

were

Bay.

soul craved.

Three

Three

may

months

months

of Madison

so

At

the

into

Square
corners

North

the

Frost's

of

Wind,

that the inhabitants

the time

mittee
singular Comprovide against the coming
uneasilyon his bench.
of Soapy were
of the
not
a

considerations

no

Southern
cruises,of soporific
Vesuvian

Jack

was

the fact that

himself

resolve

to

and

Ways

And

ready.
cognizant of

became

for him

come

of All Outdoors,

make

may

you

at hand.

leaf fell in

dead

park,

skies,or
the

Island

of assured

board

on

of Mediterranean

driftingin
was

and

what
bed

the
his
and

safe from Boreas

and bluecoats, seemed
congenialcompany,
of things desirable.
to Soapy the essence
the hospitableBlackwell's
For years
had been his winter

quarters.
had

Just

as

his

more

fortunate

fellow

New

Yorkers

bought their tickets to Palm Beach and the Riviera each

his humble
winter, so Soapy had made
arrangements for his
annual
And
the time was
now
hegira to the Island.
come.
On the previousnight three Sabbath
distributed
new^spapers,
beneath his coat, about his ankles, and over
his lap,had failed
his bench near
the spurting
to repulsethe cold as he slepton
fountain
in the ancient
So the Island loomed
big
square.
and
He
scorned
the provisions
timely in Soapy 's mind.
in the name
made
of charity for the city'sdependents. In
Soapy 's opinion the Law was more
benign than Philanthropy.
There
endless round
of institutions, municipal and
was
an
eleemosynary, on which he might set out and receive lodging
and
food accordant
with
the simple life. But
of
to one
Soapy 's proud spiritthe giftsof charity are encumbered.
If not in coin you must
in humiliation
of spirit
for every
pay
benefit received at the hands
of philanthropy. As Csesar

COP

THE
had

his Brutus,

bath,

bed

every

loaf of bread

every

ANTHEM

THE

AND
of
its

charity must
compensation

105

have
of

its toll of

private and

it is better to be a guest of
personalinquisition.Wherefore
the law which, though conducted
by rules, does not meddle
unduly with a gentleman's private affairs.
Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about
of
accomplishing his desire. There were
many
easy
ways
doing this. The pleasantestwas to dine luxuriouslyat some
expensive restaurant; and then, after declaringinsolvency,
be handed
to a policeman.
over
quietlyand without uproar
do the rest.
An accommodating magistrate would
Soapy left his bench and strolled out of the square and
the level sea of asphalt,where
across
Broadway and Fifth
flow together. Up Broadway he turned, and halted
Avenue
at a glittering
cafe, where are gathered togethernightly the
choicest products of the grape, the silkworm, and the protoplasm.

Soapy

had

upward.

of his vest
and

him

If he could

by

reach

would

the

shaven, and his

was

lady missionary

on

table in the restaurant

his.

be

The

table would

the

above

He

from

lowest

coat

black, ready-tied four-in-hand

his neat
to

in himself

confidence

portion

raise

decent

was

had

been

sented
pre-

Thanksgiving Day.
unsuspected,success

of him

doubt

no

button

would

show

waiter's

mind.

that

in the

roasted mallard

thing
"

^with

demi-tasse

enough.

duck, thought Soapy, would be about the

bottle of Chablis, and
then
Camembert,
a

and
The

cigar.

total would

manifestation

supreme

One
not

of

dollar for the

be

so

high

and

would
leave him
yet the meat
the journey to his winter refuge.
But

as

Soapy

waiter's eye
Strong and

set

fell upon

ready

in silence and

fate of the menaced

Soapy

turned

off

cafe

the

filled and

foot inside the restaurant

his

hands

haste

to call forth

as

from

revenge

cigar would

to

frayed trousers
turned

him

the sidewalk

about
and

and

door

be
any

ment;
manage-

happy

for

the head

decadent

shoes.

conveyed him
averted the ignoble
and

mallard.

Broadway.

It seemed

that his route

to

FROM

STORIES

106

island

O.
be

HENRY

Some
epicurean one.
be thought of.
of enteringHmbo
must
other way
electric lightsand cunningly
of Sixth Avenue
At a corner
behind plate-glass
made
a
spicuous.
conshop window
displayedwares
Soapy took a cobblestone and dashed it through
the glass. People came
man
running around the corner, a policewith his hands
in his
in the lead.
Soapy stood still,
pockets, and smiled at the sightof brass buttons.
that done
that.^" inquired the officer
"WTiere's
the man
excitedly.
"Don't
figureout that I might have had something
you
but friendly,
to do with it.^ said Soapy, not without
sarcasm,
one
as
greets good fortune.
The
as
a
policeman's mind refused to accept Soapy even
windows
do
smash
remain
who
Men
not
to parley
clue.
the law's minions.
with
They take to their heels. The
half way
down
the block running to
man
a
policeman saw
club he joined in the pursuit.
drawn
With
catch
a
car.
successful.
Soapy, with disgust in his heart, loafed along, twice un-

the

coveted

was

not

to

an

"

of nc
a restaurant
opposite side of the street was
great pretensions. It catered to largeappetitesand modest
Its crockery and atmosphere were
thick; its soup
purses.
Into this place Soapy took his accusive
thin.
and napery
without
telltale trousers
shoes and
challenge. At a table
beefsteak, flapjacks,doughnuts, and
he sat and consumed
pie. And then to the waiter he betrayed the fact that the
On

the

coin and

minutest

get busy and

"Now,

keep

"No
butter

himself

call

gentleman waiting."
for youse," said
cop
cakes

cocktail.

and

"Hey,

an

eye

strangers.

were

"And

cop," said Soapy.

waiter, with

the

like the

cherry

in

a
a

don't

voice

like

Manhattan

Con!"

his left
Neatly upon
waiters pitched Soapy.

the

ear

on

He

arose,

callous

two

pavement

jointby joint,as

rule opens, and beat the dust from his clothes.

The Island seemed
but a rosy dream.
seemed
very

penter's
car-

rest
Arfar

STORIES

108

I'd have

of suds

FROM

spoke

O.

to

HENRY

sooner,

you

but

the

cop

was

watching.'*
playing the clingingivy to his oak
with gloom. He
policeman overcome
Soapy
seemed
doomed
to liberty.
he shook
off his companion and ran.
At the next
corner
He halted in the district where
by night are found the lightest
With

the young
woman
walked
past the

men

fear seized

that

Soapy

him

the

gailyin

wintry

dreadful

some

in furs and

Women
air.

enchantment

sudden
had

dered
ren-

thought brought a little

another policeman
of panic upon
it,and when he came
upon
lounginggrandly in front of a transplendenttheatre he caught
of "disorderlyconduct."
straw
at the immediate
On
the sidewalk
Soapy began to yell drunken
gibberish
at the

disturbed

policeman

The

*'

to

top of his harsh

otherwise

and

immune

librettos.

and

streets, hearts, vows,

in greatcoats moved

remarked
'Tis

one

to

of them

give to the Hartford

instructions

voice.

to lave

He

his club, turned

seemed

Yale

lads celebratin'

College. Noisy;
them

to

Soapy

unattainable

the goose
but no harm.

egg

they

We've

be."

policeman lay hands

an

his back

citizen:

Disconsolate, Soapy ceased

never

danced, howled, raved, and

the welkin.

twirled
a

The

arrest.

on

his

Would
unavailingracket.
him.'^ In his fancy the Island

Arcadia.

He

buttoned

his

thin

wind.
against the chilling
In a cigar store he saw
a well-dressed
man
lightinga cigar
he had set by the door
at a swinging light. His silk umbrella
on
entering. Soapy stepped inside, secured the umbrella,
off with it slowly. The man
and sauntered
at the cigarlight
followed hastily.
"My umbrella," he said,sternly.
"Oh, is it.^" sneered Soapy, adding insult to petitlarceny.
"Well, why don't you call a policeman? I took it. Your
umbrella!
Why don't you call a cop. ^ There stands one on
coat

the corner."
The

umbrella

owner

slowed

his steps.

Soapy

did

likewise,!

with

ex-umbrella

assist

to

is

well, you

"

if it's your
umbrella
it up
this morning in
yours,

why

"

hope

street

Soapy walked

man

car

He

excavation.

in
that

muttered
Because

clutches, they seemed

to

opera

cloak

the

across

street

approaching two blocks away.

provemen
through a street damaged by imthe umbrella
wrathfully into an
who wear
helmets
againstthe men

hurled

clubs.

an
was

eastward
He

carry

Soapy, viciously.
retreated.
The
policeman hurried

tall blonde

in front of

and

"

"

"that

"

it's mine," said

course

The

"

against him.

"

you'll
"Of

me

if you

"

occur

man

picked
recognize it as

hope you'll excuse

restaurant

the two

at

mistakes

these

how

know

109

again run
curiously.

course," said the umbrella

"Of

looked

ANTHEM

THE

luck would

presentimentthat

policeman

The

AND

COP

THE

he

regard

wanted
him

as

to
a

fall into

king who

their

could

do

wrong.

no

length Soapy reached

the glitter
and turmoil

At
where

this toward

one
was

of the
but

to

avenues

faint.

He

the

east

set his face

Madison

Square, for the homing instinct

when
the home
is a park bench.
survives even
But on an unusually quiet corner
still.
to a standSoapy came
Here
old church, quaint and
an
was
rambling and
violet-stained
window
soft light
a
gabled. Through one
glowed, where, no doubt, the organistloitered over the keys,
anthem.
making sure of his mastery of the coming Sabbath
For there drifted out to Soapy 's ears
music that caught
sweet
and held him transfixed against the convolutions of the iron

down

fence.

vehicles and
above, lustrous and serene;
in the eaves
pedestrianswere few; sparrows twittered sleepily
for a little while the scene
might have been a country
the anthem
that
the organist played
churchyard. And
cemented
it well
Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known
his life contained
in the days when
such things as mothers
and roses
and ambitions and friends and immaculate
thoughts
The

moon

"

and

collars.

was

STORIES

110

old

change

in

his

soul.

which

he

had

into

dead

desires,
made

in

him

moved

of

again;

he

would
A

fur

would

Soapy
around

felt

"What

broad

you

months
Court

the

He

his

on

face

of

here.'^"

and

but

sweet

To-morrow
and

place
the

he

find

work.

driver.

as

He
He

position.

would
He

arm.

looked

quickly

policeman.
asked

the

oflBcer.

Soapy.
said

along,"

come

world.

the

taken

ambitions

him.

for

self
him-

comparatively

was

district

ask

had

solemn

to

pull

of

man

eager

in

him

would

that

Those

and

doin'

old

downtown

laid

hand

said

"Three
Police

in

evil
he

revolution

to-morrow

"Nothin',"
"Then

his

offered

once

He

make

time;

was

up

had

the

are

that

impulse

strong

fate.

the

faltering.

somebody

into

unworthy

thrillingly

and

conquer

roaring

the

him

find
be

the

motives

responded

would

resurrect

set

importer

would

base

derful
won-

horror

days,

and

desperate

he

mire;

would

into

heart

his

There

had

go

and

swift

degraded

instantaneous

without

notes

organ

his

would

them

pursue

the

he

yet;

young

the

faculties,

with

him.

of

possession

with

the

and

sudden

viewed

tumbled,

An

battle

to

out

himself

He

moment

mood.

novel

this

wrought

mind

of

state

existence.

also

And

HENRY

receptive

church

wTccked

hopes,

his

up

's

Soapy

the

about

influences

pit

of

conjunction

The

O.

FROM

on

next

the

the

Island,"

morning.

policeman.
said

the

Magistrate

in

the

MAKING

THE

Trimmed

The

From

that

O.

is

rising
can't

"had

tone,

imhesitatingly,

Orleans
Louis

"

York

hundred

New

York,

place in

take

locale

but

London

was

Victor

Hugo,
O.

'ince.

that

notable
It

is not

aid

This

indifferent
beneath

the

the

he

hospital.
with.

first

to

same

But

but

etc.,

he

his

and

that

phrase

the

with

hurt

are

for

New

to

service

side

w^U.

as

the

now

in

of

and

good

aloofness
he

fractured

York

of

is down.

Haggles

on

charity of

has

Raggles

New

York

Squaring

an

helpful

it is

institutional

and

as

is cold

then

when

more

of mterpre-

that

the

embody

characteristic

city recorded

Ill

forth
entiate
differ-

sympathetic,

to

organized

97.

differ-

body

ally

to

was

only its

not

an

as

Raggles's

this

What

plot.

excels; it is description

seemed

shown

ary
station-

with

its distinctive

till you

reach

New

stories

the

to

St.

do';

Paris

endeavor

New

Now,

characteristics,

warm-hearted,

defames

Compare

Henry.

appraise

solicitude

passes

the

to

what

Levite

types

Whoever

of

but

It is

very

the

are

so

Dickens,

Raggles's experience,

runs

surface

mdividual

pavement,

achievement
page

The

York

reckon

to

last

if I

the

Chicago

merely

developing

O.

It

man,

Henry's

O.

in

should';

up.'

not

characterization

and

surface.

Samaritan.

From

to

of

'Old

care

in

its central

find

cities,

city,

the

on

the

this

the

to

parks, places,

is

'Smoke

to

description in which

mere

tation.

York

to

characterization,

to

New

York,
other

Lamb,

to

persisted

streets,

says,

city being

great

New

was

New

it from

the

Johnson,

Henry

'Don't

thirty-eight

and

cooperative agent

to

spiritof

\he

One

says,

says,

me'; Pittsburgh

'Excuse

says,

to'; Louisville

out,"

way.

'I

voices.

say:

in that

acts

thing
any-

I continued,

York,"

city

find

have

cigar and

ary
Janu-

except

we

and

go

cities

Philadelphia

'I will';

used

says,

me

other

No

must

New

it.

hand

not

perhaps,

Other

city.

have

publication.'

talk for

says,

of this

better

"I

of the City:

I must

assignment.

an

Voice

Voice

is the

said, "what

unless,

wrote

ever

The

from

published in The World,

paragraph is as autobiographical as

second

Henry

YORKER

NEW

First

Lamp.

The

1, 1905.

paragraph

OF

the

to

the
Circle.

Besides
called

that he
and

FROM

STORIES

112

life he

things,Raggles was a poet. He was

of saying
only an elliptical
tramp; but that was
way
artist,a traveler,a naturalist,
was
a philosopher,an

never

Odyssey
But,

to

HENRY

other

many

discoverer.

O.

But

wrote

would

Hnger

have
with

of all he

most

was

poet.

In all his

line of verse;
he lived his poetry.
His
been a Limerick, had it been written.
the

primary proposition,Raggles

was

poet.

Raggles's specialty,had
would

have

been

sonnets

he been
to

driven

the cities.

to

He

ink and
studied

paper,

cities

as

study their reflections in mirrors; as children study

the glue and sawdust
of a dislocated
who
doll; as the men
write about wild animals
A city
study the cages in the zoo.
to
not
Raggles was
merely a pile of bricks and mortar,
of inhabitants; it was
peopled by a certain number
a
thing
with a soul characteristic and distinct;an individual conglomeration
with its own
of life,
ing.
flavor,and feelpeculiaressence,
women

Two

thousand

Raggles

miles

wandered

the north

to

and

south,

east

and

in

poetic fervor, taking the cities

He footed it on dusty roads, or sped magnifito his breast.
cently
in freightcars, counting time as of no
And
account.
the heart of a city and listened to its
when
he had found
secret confession, he strayed on, restless,to another.
Fickle
Raggles! but perhaps he had not met the civic corporation
that could engage
and hold his critical fancy.
Through the ancient poets we have learned that the cities
feminine.
So they were
to poet Raggles; and his mind
are
carried a concrete
and clear conception of the figurethat symbolized
and typifiedeach one
that he had wooed.
down
to swoop
him with a breezy
Chicago seemed
upon
suggestionof Mrs. Partington,plumes and patchouli,and to
disturb his rest with a soaring and beautiful song of future
of shivering
promise. But Raggles would awake to a sense
cold and a haunting impression of ideals lost in a depressing
west,

"

of potato salad and fish.

Thus
Chicago affected him.

aura

and

inaccuracy in

the

Perhaps there is a vagueness

description;but that is Raggles's

MAKING

THE

recorded

should have

He

fault.

YORKER

NEW

OF

113

his sensations

in

magazine

poems.

Pittsburgh impressed him as the play of "Othello" performed

in
railroad
station
Dockin the Russian
a
by
language
minstrels.
A
stader's
royal and generous lady this Pittsburgh,
though ^homely, hearty, with flushed face, washing the
dishes in a silk dress and white kid slippers,and
bidding
and drink champagne
Raggles sit before the roaringfireplace
with his pigs'feet and fried potatoes.
him
from
Orleans
had
New
a
simply gazed down
upon
balcony. He could see her pensive, starry eyes and catch
all. Only once
he came
the flutter of her fan, and that was
she was
face to face with her.
It was
at dawn, when
flushing
She
the red bricks of the banquette with a pail of water.
filled Raggles's
and
chansonette
a
laughed and hummed
"

with

shoes

Boston
and

herself to the

construed

that

the

city was

but

mental

tremendous

shovel

for

snow

tightened its

knots

effort.

could

and

him

to spur

unknown

some

to

came

removed.

ideas, you will say; but

unintelligible
disapprobation should be tempered with gratitude,for
had come
and
are
poets' fancies
upon
you
suppose
Indefinite

been

cloth, becoming wet,

the
be

not

to

cold

drunk

after all, he

And,

livelihood;and

that he had

erratic

an

white, cold cloth that had

his brow

tightlyaround

bound

in

poeticRaggles

to him

It seemed

singularway.
and

tea

Allons !

ice-cold water.

and

"

your

these
them

in verse!
One

and

day Raggles came

great city of Manhattan.
he wanted
and
other

She

to learn her note

classifyand

solve and

cities that had

And

here

cease

the

was

label her and

up

to be

of the

greatest of all;and

in the scale ; to taste

given him

we

laid siege to the heart

and

her with

arrange

the secret

appraise
the

uality.
of their individ-

Raggles'stranslator

and

come
be-

his chronicler.

Raggles landed
into the
He

was

core

from

of the town

dressed with

care

ferry-boatone
with
to

morning

the blase air of

play the

role of

an

and

walked

cosmopolite.
"unidentified

STORIES

114

FROM

O.

HENRY

class,clique,union, party clan, or

His clothing,
bowling association could have claimed him.
which
had been
donated
to him
piece-meal by citizens of
number
of inches around
the heart,
different height,but same
those specinot
to his figure as
was
mens
yet as uncomfortable
railroaded to you
of raiment, self-measured, that are
tailors with a suit case, suspenders,silk
by transcontinental
Without
handkerchief, and pearl studs as a bonus.
money
man."

as

"

No

country,

poet should

discoveringa
who

man

has

be

race,

"

star

new

ink

seen

but

with

the ardor

in the chorus

suddenly

of

of the

flow from

an

astronomer

milky

his fountain

into the great city.

Raggles
he drew out of the
Late in the afternoon

or

way,

pen,

wandered

with

look

of dumb

terror

on

roar

and

tion
commo-

his countenance.

He

defeated, puzzled, discomfited,frightened. Other cities

been to him as long primer to read; as country maidens

was

had

quicklyto fathom;

send-price-of-subscription-with-answer
rebuses to solve; as oyster cocktails to swallow; but here was
cold, glittering,
as
impossible as a four-carat
one
serene,
diamond
in a window
to a lover outside
fingeringdamply
in his pocket his ribbon-counter
salary.
their
The
greetings of the other cities he had known
homespun kindliness, their human
gamut of rough charity,
friendly curses,
garrulous curiosity,and easily estimated
him
This city of Manhattan
credulityor indifference.
gave
walled againsthim.
Like a river of adamant
clue; it was
no
as

"

Never
past him in the streets.
His
him; no voice spoke to him.

it flowed

an

eye

was

turned

yearned for
his shoulder; for
the clap of Pittsburgh's sooty hand
on
in his ear; for the pale
Chicago's menacing but social yawp
and eleemosynary stare
eyeglass
through the Bostonian
Louisville
of
for the precipitate
but unmalicious boot-toe
even
upon

heart

"

^r

St. Louis.

cities,
Broadway Raggles, successful suitor of many
For the first time he
stood, bashful, like any country swain.
of being ignored.
experienced the poignant humiliation
And when he tried to reduce this brilliant,
swiftlychanging,
On

FROM

STORIES

116
heart?

housewives

doors, the

back

at

provincialfree-lunch

behind

of rural
chances

scolding of vinegar-faced
kindly spleen of bartenders

the

woodpile,

the

Better

HENRY

O.

the amiable

counters,

truculence

kicks, arrests, and happy-go-lucky

ing
of the other vulgar,loud, crude cities than this freezconstables, the

heartlessness.
and sought alms
his courage
Raggles summoned
populace. Unheeding, regardless,they passed on
of an
the wink
eyelash to testifythat they were
And

of his existence.

Manhattan

pitilesscity of

but

inhabitants
he

that

manikins

were

alone

was

in

hurled

over

he

As
and

and

over

coming

was

him

to

And

then

Bending
of

odor

an

"

over

old, with

sympathy.
furs.

With

pinker

than

hand
him

blue
Under

reckless

without

conscious

that

this fair

There

was

something struck
yards from where he

like the stick of

turned

to

as

the

was

fallingpetal
woman

his head
hat

the pavement
in his hand
and
on

vehement

the earth

of Paradise.
his brow.

like the

humid

been.

itself known

touched

clothed

soft and

now

eyes,

had

and

dream.

First an odor made

his eyes.
of the earliest spring flowers
soft

him

rocket

fractured

blast,a

as

six

down

from

without

soul; that its

by wires and springs,and

the street.

crash

Raggles's
ever

moved

cross

all the cities thereof

Raggles opened

was

the

great wilderness.

Raggles started to
a
hissing and
roar,
him

he said to himself

then

from

princess

with
were

with

human
silks and
his face

of oratory against
the elderlygentleman who personified
a

burst

driving,stood
the city'swealth and ripeness. From
a nearby cafe hurried
the by-product with the vast
jowl and baby complexion,
ful
bearing a glassfull of a crimson fluid that suggested delightpossibilities.
"Drink
dis, sport,"said the by-product,holding the glass
to Raggles'slips.
Hundreds
faces

of

people

huddled

around

in

moment,

their

and gorgeTwo
flattering
wearing the deepestconcern.
ous
plus
policemen got into the circle and pressed back the overold lady in a black shawl
of Samaritans.
An
spoke

loudly

of

camphor;

brisk

with

man

young

of

one

lay

it

where

elbow,

YORKER

NEW

slipped

newsboy

Raggles's

OF

MAKING

THE

the

on

notebook

117

his

neath
be-

papers

muddy

ment.
pave-

asking

was

for

names.

bell

A
lane
midst
"How

red

do

drop
*'Me.^"

said

Raggles,

found

the

He

had

In

three

days

ward

in

the

brother

heart

found

"What's
"He
"What
"Noo

had
all

was

York,"

to

about.^"

this

down

runnin'
town?"

in

sent

asked
said

be

the

Raggles.

nurse.

for

cot

in

the
there

conflict.

fine."

and

up.

the
said

head

cent
convales-

an

nurse.

Raggles.

hour
tigation
inves-

Upon

whom

transient

patched

town,"

feel

*'I

assaulted

had

inquired
me

been
of

glowering

fragrant

cobweb.

city.

had

Raggles

wiped

smile,

his

sounds

that

convalescent

collision

leave

satins

and

with

new

He

heard

"

train

the

stooping

surgeon,

silks

seraphic

his

him

hospital.

the

the

brow

of

let

they

of

princess

wath

attendants

they
a

into

slipped

surgeon

asked

Raggles's

from

two

man?"

The

task.

or

old

feel,

you

his

to

when

cool

cleaned

affairs.

of

easily

crowd.

the

through

ambulance

the

and

importantly,

clanged

damaged
a

freight

From

The

Four

but

Coglan,

more

is

not

Seller, that

of his

later

lines

is

he

proved

lines

since

But

Ordained

greatly

E.

to

all earth

men

hearts

our

for

Beloved

of

not

the

the

Rush-

E.

that

he

hero

in Best-

man

be.

to

the

To

with

out

named

was

does

as

January

was?

is

He

an

emplar
ex-

City of Bombay

but

all

gave

he

last

at

stand

kind

firmly believes,

Sussex

on

God

It is

forget

only of Kipling's quoted

not

here

the

World,

in The

forget that

ever

He

is what

he

CAFE

character

may

j'ou

published

leading

You
shall

hypocrite.

First

the

not

distinctness?

utmost

IN

Million.

Does

22, 1905.

He

COSMOPOLITE

each

small.

are

should

spot

one

love,

to

prove

all.

over

Rushmore

credit

Coglan's

he is self-deceived.

that

Says Tennyson:
That

man's

Who

O.

But
so

well

as

the

is

at

Masie

Of

ability

or

more

among

the

dead,
more

readers

O.

clear

the

so

novelists.
confined

characters
than

Henry's

O.

and

the

Madame

yet
O.

against

Can

made

or

Shark

Dodson

Has

with

of characters)

names

done?
a

118

thousand

The

name

may

failed

he

short

of the
not

story

writer,

story

in the

be

in

failed?

he

other

any

or

then,

short

other

strictly to the

Tildy

Why,
that

Henry

plan

Coglan

Valentine

appear.

mention

you

himself

Rushmore

or

to

his part
the

much

so

characters?

be

must

than

E.

Beaumont

characters

Henrys has
more

not

Jimmy

or

plays

character

Yet

plan.

Hargraves

(not

best.

remember

is to

unforgettable

comparison
who

country

brought

portray

with

not

yet lodged

or

of

sometimes

the

course

living

Perkins
dozen

to

his native

story

than

Cosmopohte

best

illustrates

portrayed
half

is

the

that

John

charge

writers,

of

read

to

or

least

loves

purpose

character

is the
the

that

better

no

or

Henry's

the

and

memory

ter
charac-

recalled.

COSMOPOLITE

IN

CAFE

119

But ifthe character of the character, his reaction to his environment,

that
nature
what he or she did or said, the distinctive trait of human
motive

each illustrated,the obscure

At

cafe

the

midnight

the littletable at which

and

crowded.

was

chance

escaped

the eye

of incomers,

at

it extended

their

By

world

existed.

has

labels

theory

much

on

that
We

since Adam

and

of them,

hear

luggage,but

glad,

was

foreign

see

we

travelers instead

find

we

citizen of the

true

no

with

arms

to the influx of patrons.

venal hospitality
And then a cosmopolitesat in one of them, and

for I held

if these

some

I sat had

chairs

vacant

two

illumined"

each

the author's art vmdicated?

back, is not

come

that

of

cosmopolites.
I invoke

topped tables,
the

consideration of the

your

the

range

speaking in

exquisitevisible

an

"

marble-

the

wall
leather-upholstered

of

ladies dressed

the

company,

gay

scene

opulence or art; the sedulons

music wisely catering to all

in demi-state

seats,

toilets,

of taste, economy,

chorus

largess-loving
gargons,

and
with

its raids

the

upon

the

posers;
com-

melange of talk and laughter" and, if you will,

that bend to your lips
the WUrzburger in the tall glasscones
its branch
to the beak of a robber
as
a ripe cherry sways
on
the

jay.

scene

was

My

told

was

by

sculptorfrom

truly Parisian.
cosmopolite was named

will be heard
establish

from

new

next

summer

"attraction"

kingly diversion.

And

then

Chunk

Mauch

Coney

Island.

there, he informed
his

the

Coglan, and

E. Rushmore
at

that

conversation

He

he

is to

offering
along
rang

me,

longitude. He took the great, round

world in his hand, so to speak, familiarly,
contemptuously,
and it seemed
no
cherry
largerthan the seed of a Maraschino
in a table d'hote grape fruit. He spoke disrespectfully
of the
equator, he skipped from continent to continent, he derided
with his napkin.
the zones,
he mopped
the high seas
up
With
of his hand he would speak of a certain bazaar
a wave
of
parallels

in

latitude and

Hyderabad.

Whiff

He

would

have

you

on

skis in Lap-

STORIES

120

land.

Zip!

Now

Presto!

Arkansas

O.

the

rode

you

Kealaikahiki.

at

FROM

HENRY

breakers

with

the Kanakas

He

dragged you
through an
let you
the
on
dry for a moment
ranch, then whirled you into the

post-oak swamp,
alkali plains of his Idaho
archdukes.
he would
Anon
be telling
society of Viennese
of a cold he acquired in a Chicago lake breeze and how
you
old Escamila
cured it in Buenos
Ayres with a hot infusion
of the

chuchula

weed.

the Universe," and

be delivered
I

was

sure

since Adam,

lest I should

have

addressed

Coglan, Esq., the Earth,

mailed
it,feelingconfident

'*E. Rushmore

to

would

You

Solar

letter

System,

that it would

to him.

that I had
and

at last the

true

one

I listened to his world-wide

discover

But

found

his

in it the local note

opinionsnever

discourse
of the

fluttered

cosmopolite

or

fearful

trotter.
globe-

mere

drooped; he

was

impartialto cities,countries, and continents as the winds

or
gravitation.
E. Rushmore
And
as
Coglan prattledof this littleplanet
I thought with glee of a great almost-cosmopolitewho
wrote
for the whole world and dedicated
himseK
to Bombay.
In a
he has to say that there is pride and rivalrybetween
the
poem
as

cities of the earth, and

that "the

that breed

men

from

them,

they

traflSc up and down, but clingto their cities' hem

as
a
child to the mother's
whenever
gown." And
they walk

*'by roaring streets unknown"

they remember
city "most faithful,foolish,fond; making her
name

their bond
I had

because
found

boasts

of

would

man

upon

their bond."

caught
not

made

Mr.
from

And

their native
mere-breathed

gleewas
Kipling napping. Here
dust;

one

my

who

had

no

roused
I had
narrow

birthplaceor country, one who, if he bragged

brag of his whole round globe againstthe Martians

the inhabitants

at

all,
and

of the Moon.

Expression on these subjects was

precipitatedfrom E.
Rushmore
table.
While
to our
Coglan by the third corner
the topography along the Siberian
Coglan was
describingto me
Railway the orchestra glided into a medley. The
notes
concluding air was
"Dixie," and as the exliilarating

COSMOPOLITE

forth

tumbled

clappingof

they

hands

It is worth

of New

York.

almost

were

almost

from

every

have

of brew

Tons

Some

CAFfi

121

overpowered by

paragraph to say
evening in
every

be witnessed

can

IN

great

table.

that

this remarkable

scene

cafes in the

numerous

been

consumed

City

ies
theor-

over

have

conjecturedhastilythat all
hie themselves
in town
to cafes at nightfall.
Southerners
rebel"
air in a Northern
This applause of the
city does
The war
with Spain,
puzzle a little;but it is not insolvable.
watermelon
mint
and
few
a
years' generous
crops,
many
Orleans
track, and the
race
long-shot winners at the New
and Kansas
citizens
brilliant banquets given by the Indiana
Carolina
the
the North
who
Society have made
compose
for it.

to account

*'

rather

South

*'fad"

in Manhattan.

Your

will

manicure

lispsoftlythat your left forefingerreminds her so much of a

Va.
Oh, certainly;but many
a
gentleman's in Richmond,
the war, you know.
lady has to work now
"Dixie"
When
was
being played a dark-haired young man
with a Mosby
from somewhere
guerrillayelland
up
sprang
hat.
Then
he strayed
waved
franticallyhis soft-brimmed
chair at our
through the smoke, dropped into the vacant
table, and pulled out cigarettes.
is thawed.
The
at the period when
reserve
evening was
three Wurzburgers to the waiter; the
One
of us mentioned
dark-haired
man
acknowledged his inclusion in the
young
I hastened
to ask him a question
order by a smile and a nod.
I wanted
because
to try out a theory I had.
mind
"Would
tellingme," I began, "whether
you are
you
"

"

from

fistof E. Rushmore

The

jarredinto
"Excuse
to hear

me,"

asked.

said he, "but

What
a

does

weren't

descended

written

who

from

novel, Mexicans

that's

it matter

by

man

Kentuckians

seen

the table and

was

silence.

Is it fair to judge
I've

Coglan banged

question I

where

never

like

is from?

man

address?
WTiy,
post-office
hated
whiskey, Virginians who
his

Pocahontas,
who

Indianians

didn't

wear

who

velvet

hadn't
trousers

STORIES

122

FROM

silver dollars sewed

with

Westerners, and

stop for

hour

an

clerk do
and

up

don't

handicap
me,"
idle

an

New

him

I know

busy

one-armed

South, and
I have

narrow-

too

were

formed

to

grocer's
be

man

man

section."

curiositywas

my

the

'Dixie' I like to observe.

plays

who

in paper
bags. Let
with the label of any

I said, "but

one.

Southerners,

watch

to

funny Englishmen,

seams,

Yorkers

the street

on

cranberries

"Pardon

the

along the

HENRY

cold-blooded

spendthrift Yankees,
minded

O.

not

gether
alto-

the

band

when

the belief that

who

applauds that air with specialviolence and ostensible

sectional loyalty is invariablya native of either SeN. J., or the district between
Murray Hill Lyceum
caucus,
the Harlem
and
about
River, this city. I was
to put my
opinion to the test by inquiring of this gentleman when
own
interrupted with your
larger theory, I must
you
man

"

confess."
And

the dark-haired

now

became

evident

of grooves.
"I should

that

young

his mind

like to be

also

spoke to
moved
along

man

and

me,

its

own

it
set

periwinkle,"said he, mysteriously,

"on the top of a valley,and sing too-ralloo-ralloo."
This was
clearlytoo obscure, so I turned again to Coglan.
"I've

know

been

around

Esquimau

the

world

twelve

times," said he.

"I

in

IJpernavik who sends to Cincinnati for

his neckties, and I saw
a
goatherder in Uruguay who won
a
prizein a Battle Creek breakfast food puzzle competition. I
in Cairo, Egypt, and
rent
another
in Yokohama
on
a
room
pay
all the year
around.
I've got slipperswaiting for me
in a tea-house
in Shanghai, and I don't have to tell 'em how
to cook my
It's a mighty little
eggs in Rio Janeiro or Seattle.
old world.
What's
the use of bragging about being from the
an

North,
Euclid

Va.,
when
acres

or

the

house in the dale, or

South, or the old manor
Avenue, Cleveland, or Pike's Peak, or Fairfax County,
or

Hooligan's Flats or any place? It'llbe a

mildewed
we
quit being fools about some
of swampland
just because we happened

there."

better world
town
to

or

be

ten

born

STORIES

124

how

ing

the

discovery
that

breed

their
Not

child

as

Rushmore

E.

so

they

him.

How

traffic
the

to

HENRY

miss

to

him.

in

them

hem

O.

managed

beheved

from

cities*

had

poet

and

FROM

was

my

"The
but

down,

mother's

Coglan.

it.^

was

and

up

He

men

cHng

to

gown."
the

With

whole

world

for

his

My

meditations
conflict

and

heads

in

to

stranger

their

like

hats

and

My

cosmopolite

the

Earth

with

their
still

him

said

McCarthy,

with

"got

sidewalks
other

and

hot

tween
be-

fought

crashed,

and

and

men

brunette

in

both

on

formation

reputation

and

pride

combatants

bore

and

them

side,
out-

the

French

and

gargons,

asked

conflict.
the

on

red

tie"

account

supply

water

"

I, bewildered,

said
a

cosmopolite.

"Orginally

from

McCarthy,
the

of

(that

was

of

things

the

place

cosmopolite),

my

said
he

about

the
from

come

bum

by

the

of

the

guy."

"Why,"
world

and

"Teasing."

the

closed

of

one

the

of

man

he,

They

down,

the

above

saw

resisting.

cause

"The

waiters

flying wedge

famous

sing

noise

Coglan

glasses

knocked
to

battle.

sustaining

the

cafe.

and

began

was

when

called
the

blonde

terrific

were

tremendous

Rushmore

E.

Titans,
and

up

screamed,

of

in

by

the

patrons

engaged

tables

of

part

seated

me

the

caught

another

the

of

interrupted

were

place."

"that

Mattawamkeag,
"and

is

citizen

"

He

he

man

wouldn't

Maine,
stand

he
for

said,"
no

tinued
con-

knockin'

MAMMON

From

The

complete

one

cross

spinal

sense,"

says

of his

the
for.

go

as

result

happy

ring

The

the

technical

the
in

button

device

of

it.

mole
A

It exhibits

by

is

victor;

left

the

Municipal
(6)

The

here.
.

blending of
unprepared'

not

elemental,
but

that

sure

we

know

eyebrow

tagious.
con-

do

you

Equally

at

last that

of the

not

hurt.

ring

the

won;

the

(5)

two.

Furnished

in The

illustrate

Report

is

gives what

feelings will be

cooperation

the

trasted
con-

(3)

the

others

to

that

Ellen

by

but

kindly,

but

fear

are

aloud

story

the

about

end

unlooked-for

Aunt

author.

the

is the

Ellen,

truth,"

for

touch.

for

was

brought

in this story,

and

Room,

audience

mammon

was

the

the

tan."
all Manhat-

cover

should

well

irresistible

read

to

Why?

his sister. Aunt

of the

Henry

is

spiritin

thinks

Rockwall

O.

your

class

no

the

want

choose

is

There

bottom

humor

You
to

the

only

and

"Broadway

branches

story

inevitable, the

but

unexpected
(4) The

have

to

known

popularly

"The

following

Street

is not

It

the

but

Hackett,

and

vast

Thirty-fourth

story

nerve

means

no

"the

spiritpeculiarly O. Henryesque.

and

story

must

we

the

Rockwall

manner

the

Francis

art, and

Anthony

the

of

of

by

Land.

Henry

O.

but

setting,

or

and

Avenue,

preeminently
action

column

tentative

background

The
Sixth

main

in

But

(1)

one

is

Following

Why?

the

(2)

part

called

another,"

"In

How?

19.
published in The Worlds March
Henriest
of all O.
the
O.
"perhaps

is

of

ARCHER

THE

First

Broadway,

Where?

the

"

summary:

where

space

been

has

stories.

Henry's

Million.

Four

This

1905.

AND

favorite

characteristic

are

the

piquancy, originality, and picturesqueness of the style. "O. Henry

noiselessness
that
introduce
critic, "with
felicity," says
a
a
a
can
the sovereigns of English."
him
for a flying second
numbers
among
Do

you

that

find

in this

story?

will find

You

them

the

story

follows.

Old

Anthony
of

mndow

examples

of

Rockwall,

Rockwall's
his

Fifth

retired

Eureka

Soap,

Avenue

mansion
125

and

manufacturer
looked

and

out

the

prietor
pro-

library

grinned.

His

STORIES

126

neighbor

the

FROM
the

HENRY

aristocratic

clubman, G. Van
out
to his waiting motor*
came
Schuylight Siiffolk-Jones
nostril,as usual, at the Italian
car, wrinkling a contumelious
renaissance
sculpture of the soap palace'sfront elevation.
of nothing doing!" commented
"Stuck-up old statuette
"The
Musee'll
the ex-Soap King.
Eden
get that old frozen
to

right

O.

"

"

Nesselrode

yet if he don't w^atch

painted red, white, and blue next
his Dutch

make
And

then

of his

the door

to

same

voice that had

the Kansas

**to

up

once

and

summer

this house
see

if that'll

higher."

any

Rockw^all, who

Anthony

went

"Tell

turn

nose

I'll have

out.

cared

never

for bells,

in
libraryand shouted "Mike!"
chipped off piecesof the welkin

the
on

prairies.
Anthony

son," said

my

the

to

answering menial,

in here before he leaves the house."

come

Rockwall

library the old man

looked at him with a kindly grimlaid aside his newspaper,
his big,smooth, ruddy countenance,
on
rumpled his mop
ness
of white hair with one
hand, and rattled the keys in his pocket
When

with

young

entered

the

the other.
said

"Richard,"

Anthony

"what

Rockwall,

do

you

pay

for the soap

that you
use?"
home
Richard, only six months

little.
who

had

He

was

as

"And

the

your

was
college,

unexpectednessesas
dozen, I think, dad."

startled

of this sire of his,

measure

full of

dollars

"Six

yet taken

not

from

girlat

her firstparty.

clothes?"

sixty dollars,as a rule."

"You're
a
gentleman," said Anthony, decidedly. "I've
heard of these young
bloods spending $24 a dozen for soap,
You've
and going over
the hundred
mark
for clothes.
got as
"I

suppose

much

money

what's
not

decent

to

waste

and

as

any

moderate.

of 'em, and
Now

pay

perfumes

young

man

more

and

use

yet you

"

ever
Whenyou

buy

is doing very w^ellfor

As
generation,position, and condition.

labels.

in your

stick to

the old Eureka

but it'sthe purest soap made.

cake for soap
than 10 cents
a

only for sentiment,

you

bad

about

But

50 cents

AND

MAMMON

THE

I said, you're a gentleman.

make

to

It's made

grease.

soap

made

of

one

ill-mannered

each

side of

that can't

me

"There

Money'll
By hokey! it's almost
impolite and disagreeable
Knickerbocker

gents

sleepof nights because

on

bought

bet my

don't
on

money

money

in

week.

I'm

money

won't

buy

"Oho!

buy."
thing," answered
it.''"thundered

won't

tell

"You

the first Astor

where

me

hadn't

had

"I

through
can't

you

the

buy

the

appendix next
field. Tell me
something
up

"it
Richard, rankling a little,

into the exclusive

one

take

to

against the

for money

one

accomplish,"

I've been

lookingfor something

I expect to have

it;and

can't

money

time.

every

to Y

encyclopaediadown

"For

that

Rockwall, rather gloomily.

say that," said old Anthony, shocked.

young

"Now,

evil.

three tions
generado it as sHck as

it takes

say

old

two

things

some

are

remarked

won't

as

127

'em."

between

with

one.

nearly

these

as

off.

you

I'm

me.

and

They

They're

one.

ARCHER

circles of
the

your

society."
champion of the

exclusive

the money

to

root

circles would
pay

of

be if

for his steerage

over?"

passage

Richard

sighed.

coming to," said the old man, less

in. There's
boisterously. That's why I asked you to come
something going wrong with you, boy. I've been noticingit
Out with it. I guess I could lay my
hands
for two weeks.
eleven millions within twenty-four hours, besides the real
on
that's what

"And

was

"

If it's your
down
liver,there's the Rambler
bay, coaled, and ready to steam down to the Bahamas
estate.

in the
in two

days."
"Not

"Ah,"
Richard
There

was

bad

guess,

dad;

haven't

missed

it far."

said

Anthony, keenly; "what's her name.^^"

the library floor.
began to walk up and down
enough comradeship and sympathy in this crude

old father of his to draw

"Why
jump at

you

don't you
you.

his confidence.

ask her.^

You've

"

demanded

got the

money

old Anthony.
and

the

"She'll

looks, and

STORIES

128

FROM

you're a decent boy.

Eureka

on

soap

overlook

"Make
or

been

had

don't
that

stream

this town
it

"Take
home

the social

know
it.

turns

Every

hour

is

and

her

walk

from

She's

minute

she'll

in the
church.

part of the

of her time

have

that

forevermore.

blackjack swamp

said the old

"I've

put it off
after

day

her alone

"Do

man.

allowed

to

can't get

is

girl,dad,

And

I can't

for

her
her

meet

for

aunt's.
with

evening at

Wallack's

an

to

hour

tell
or

that

me

two

of

going to sail for Europe

two
years' stay. I'm

evening

at

now

mean

you

She's

to-morrow

to-morrow

Broadway

late.

too

to-morrow

Larchmont

Station

with

I must

all the money

I've got you
time for yourself.'^"
girl's

I'm

her for

mill, dad.

with

at

no

I can't do that."

"

"Tut!"

s"3

got

college,but

to

chance," said Richard.

arranged for days in advance.

noon

You've

Pshaw!"

"You

write

clean.

are

You've

one," said Anthony.

straw
ride, or walk

Chance!

or

HENRY

that."

**I haven't

park,

hands

Your

'em.

0.

few

I can't
cab

the 8.30

at

the

train.

minutes.
go

We

at
to

She's

there.

Grand

But

Central

drive down

gallop,where her mother

box party will be w^aiting
for us in the lobby. Do you
she would
listen to a declaration
from me
during that
No.
And
eight minutes under those circumstances?

and

chance

None.

to

would

I have

No, dad, this is

We

can't

buy

one

one

at

in the

theatre

tangle that

minute

of time

or

afterward?

your

money

with

cash; if

can't
we

think
six

or

what

unravel.

could, rich

people would live longer. There's no hope of getting a talk

with Miss Lantry before she sails."
"All right,Richard, my
boy," said old Anthony, cheerfully.
"You
I'm glad it
run
along do\\Ti to your club now.
may
ain't your liver. But don't forget to burn a few punk sticks
in the josshouse to the great god Mazuma
from time to time.
You
won't buy time?
can't
Well, of course,
say money
you
order eternitywrapped up and delivered
residence
at your
for a price,but I've seen
Father
Time
get pretty bad stone

AND

MAMMON

bruises

1^9

through

walked

he

his heels when

on

ARCHER

THE

the

gold diggings."

Aunt
Ellen, gentle,sentimental,wrinkled,
night came
sighing,oppressed by wealth, in to Brother Anthony at his
evening paper, and began discourse on the subject of lovers'
That

woes.

told

"He

**I told him

he

my

bank

to knock

began

the rules of

it,"said brother Anthony, yawning.

all about

me

account

Said

money.

societycouldn't

ten-millionaires.

at his service.

was

couldn't

money

be bucked

for

And

then

help.

Said

yard by

team

of

' '

Ellen, "I wish you

"Oh, Anthony," sighed Aunt

would

not

is nothing where
true
Wealth
of money.
a
Love is all-powerful.If he only had
affection is concerned.

think

much

so

earlier!

spoken
But

She

could

late.

I fear it is too

now

to address

her.

All your

refused

have

not

will have

He

our

Richard.

opportunity
bring happiness to your

gold cannot

no

son."

eight o'clock the next evening Aunt Ellen took a quaint

and gave it to Richard.
old gold ring from a moth-eaten
case
mother
it to-night,nephew," she begged. "Your
"Wear
luck in love she said it brought. She
Good
gave it to me.
the one
asked me
to give it to you when
you
you had found
At

loved."

ring reverently and tried it on

his smallest finger. It slippedas far as the second jointand
stopped. He took it off and stuffed it into his vest pocket,
of man.
And
then he 'phoned for his cab.
after the manner
At the station he captured Miss Lantry out of the gadding
mob
at eightthirty-two.
and the others waiting," said
"We
mustn't
keep mamma
took

Rockwall

Young

the

she.
"To

Richard

They
the

as

fast

as

you

can

drive!"

said

loyally.
whirled

white-starred

sunset

Theatre

Wallack's

to the

up

Forty-second to Broadway,
lane

rocky

that

hills of

leads

from

morning.

the

and

then

soft meadows

down

of

130

STORIES

At

Thirty-tourth Street

the trap and ordered

"I've dropped a
**It

FROM

was

you a minute
In less than
But

"

the cabman

within

where

saw

that

hea\y

right,and

had

back

crosstown

business

to be

reins and
mess

He

and

of those

street

tie up

commerce

don't

"Why

"We'll
Richard
a

stood

and

movement

you

drive

up

streets

they

converging point at
into the strugglingmass,
drivers' imprecations to
seemed

to

"but

it looks

loosened

up

dropped

the

"Let
can't

me

be

anyway.

an

and

looked

where
cross

see

no

dropped his
in a tangled

that sometimes

the

around.

another

inch

and

vans,

Sixth

Broadway,
one

He

as

saw

street

Avenue,

twenty-six

girdle. And

still from

hurrying and rattlingtoward

full speed, and
hurling themselves
locking wheels and adding their
were

clamor.

The

jammed

among

had

not

the

entire

itself around

thousands

witnessed

traffic of
them.

of spectators
blockade
street

one.

hour.

It

was

my

he

his seat,

resumed

won't

get this jumble

fault.

I hadn't

"Now

that

"

ring we

helped, I
"

occurred

sorry," said Richard, as

if we
stuck.
as
are
They
in

out, but

trucks, cabs,

have

proportions of this
very

that had

quitesuddenly in the big city.

on?"
said Miss
Lantry, impatiently.

the

Yorker

that lined the sidewalks

"I'm

ring.

rectly
stopped di-

van

blockaded

had

wagons,

the

of the

furniture

fillsher twenty-two

oldest New

the

tried to pass to the

him off. He
tried the

was

in the cab

maiden

Manhattan

detain

be late."

inch

The

from

blockades

and

cross

had

car

tried to back

the vast
filling
space
Thirty-fourth Street

all the

out.

horses.

congested flood of

cars

I won't

in the cab with

cut

dutifully. He

swore

chmbed

cabman

wagon

there.

of vehicles

One

The

away

to lose it.

was

minute

to back

he

it fell."

he

express

up

stop.

I'd hate

in front of the cab.

left,but

to

quickly thrust

ring," he apologized,as

minute

HENRY

Richard

young

mother's, and

my

O.

ring," said
don't

care.

Miss

Lantry.

I think

theatres

are

it

stupid,

to

go

little

cabs

and

raised
the

of

some

$50

loaded

paid

wasn't
wouldn't
And

never

fraction

of

below

get

Wilham

want

rehearsal,

second.

was

there

"Me?"

despise

said

heart

you

are,

was

it

Brady
I

scene.

with

jealousy,
time

on

before

the

to

snake

"I

Kelly.

lick

can

the

and

do

money,

said

Kelly,"

thousand,

"Your

check.
don't

You

out.

hours

A.

mob

boys

two

didn't

could

statue.

hundred

off

his
The

"

tearing

vehicle

break

either!

But

William

glad

hardest

me

$25.

and

"

Greeley's

"Thirteen

I'm

to

It

and

outdoor

teams

$10,

struck

cops

$20

rest

little

that

two-horse
wanted

The

Rockwall.^

Mr.

onto

the

and

wagons

express

and

motormen

$20.

teams

two,

beautiful,

work

The

$10.

the

got

trucks

the

but

$5;

to

me

estimate.

the
for

mostly

mostly

"

above

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

132

Anthony,

$300

were

you

Kelly?"

you,

the

that

man

invented

poverty."
called

Anthony
"You
a

didn't

kind

of
with

around

"Why,
like

you

"I

no,"
say,

thought

Anthony.

boy

did

bow,
said

little

"Good-by,

any

the

door.
in

"anywhere
clothes

on

the

tie-up,

shooting

arrows

"

you?

Kelly,
the

maybe
the

without

at

was

he,

said

notice,"

fat

he

when

Kelly

"I

mystified.

cops

rascal

Kelly."

pinched
wouldn't

him
be

didn't.
before
on

If
I

hand,"

got

he

was

there."

chuckled

The

Million.

First

published in McClure's Magazine,

A.ugust,1905. Two months later O. Henrj^ built another indictment.
The GuiltyParty, on
of An UnfinishedStory;but the
the framework
its supremacy.
In the plebiscite
man,
latter maintains
held by The Bookthe
voted independently on
June, 1914, in which ten persons
ten best stories by O. Henry, An
Unfinished Story led with seven
with
six votes.
Then
votes, A Municipal Report coming next
The
and
Furnished
The Gift of
followed A Lickpenny Lover,
Room,
the Magi, each with four votes; Mammon
and the Archer
and Let Me
From

Feel

Your

in the

Four

STORY

UNFINISHED

AN

Pulse, each

with

story is the sudden

Kitchener.

O.

two

votes.

One

of the

finest touches

and

unexpected

emergence

of General

Henry's tribute

the time

of Lord

his eyes was

Kitchener's
death.
to

recalled

by

London

"They strike you,"

Begbie in Kitchener: Organizerof Victory,"with a kind of
says Harold
clutchingterror; you look at them, try to say something, look away,
and then, trying to speak, find your
eyes returning to that dreadful

paper

at

gaze,

and

once

is held to her

or

the other
for

more
own

choke

with

until General

way." It is not
anybody. It is worth

often

silence."
Kitchener
that O.

Dulcie

holds

her

own

"

happens to be looking
loathing
Henry expresses

noting, however, that the three most

loathsome
characters in our
twenty-five stories are pilloriedby O.
of women.
offence, their treatment
Henry for the same
Compare
Mrs. Purdy in TJie Furnished
and
Room, Piggy in this story,
Major
Caswell
in A Municipal Report. Piggy, the "connoisseur
in starvation,"
finds his prey only because there are men
who
hire workingIt is for these employers that O.
girlsfor five or six dollars a week.
his terminal
Henry reserves
as
lightning. If satire is to humor
corporalpunishment is to moral suasion, this story hints the gallows.

We

longer groan and heap ashes upon our heads when

the flames of Tophet are mentioned.
the preachers
For, even
have begun to tell us that God
is radium, or ether or some
no

133

STORIES

134

There
with

chemical

controverted.
tell what

bird

is

may

two

You

talk of your

may

heard

parrot say.
incompetent witnesses; and
you

are

ones

pleasinghypothesis;
doxy.
old, goodly terror of ortho-

of the

some

wicked

we

discourse
subjects upon which one may
of being
imagination,and without the possibility
but

are

free

This

reaction.

lingersyet

HENRY

that the worst

and

scientificcompound,

expect is
but there

O.

FROM

recital.

baseless

The

and

dreams;
Both

Morpheus

you

may

and

the

listener dare

your

fabric

of

not

vision, then,
chosen
with apologies and regrets
theme
shall furnish my
limited field of pretty Polly'ssmall talk.
instead of the more
far removed
from
the higher
that was
I had a dream
so
and
criticism that it had to do with the ancient, respectable,
bar-of- judgment theory.
lamented
Gabriel had played his trump; and those of us who could
I noticed
not follow suit were
arraigned for examination.
in solemn
side a gathering of professionalbondsmen
at one
attack

your

"

black
was

not

collars that

and

trouble

some

behind; but it seemed

buttoned

about

their real estate

they

did

gettingany of us out.
and took
to me
A flycop
an
angel policeman flew over
by the left wing. Near at hand was a group of very prosperous-look
spiritsarraigned for judgment.
the policeman asked.
"Do
belong with that bunch?"
you
"Who
are
they?" was my answer.
"Why," said he, "they are
But this irrelevant stuff is taking up space that the story
to be

appear

"

"

me

titles;and

there

"

should

occupy.

Dulcie

edging,
trinkets
she

worked
or

stuffed

such

as

account
say,

Primal

peppers,

received

credited

in the
Reverend

Energy.

department

they keep

earned, Dulcie
was

you

in

to

department

six dollars

her and

ledger kept by
Doctor

automobiles,

or

in

She

store.

Well

or

Hamburg

other

stores.

week.

Of
The

little
what
mainder
re-

somebody else's
Oh, primal energy,
then, in the Ledger of

debited
G

per

sold

to

STORY

UNFINISHED

AN

135

During her

first year
in the store, Dulcie
was
week.
It would
be instructive to know

dollars per
lived on
that

interested

are

you

largeramounts.

in

I will tell you

amount.

care?

Don't

amount.

how

she

paid

five

how

she

Very well; probably

Six dollars is a larger

lived

six dollars

on

per

week.
One

afternoon

Dulcie was
pin
six, when
stickingher hatan
eighth of an inch of her medulla oblongata,
her chum, Sadie
the girl that waits on
you

within
she

said

to

at

"

her left side:

with

I made

"Say, Sade,
Piggy."
"You

did!"

never

ain't you
the
always takes
the

Hoffman

music, and

date

this evening with

for dinner

exclaimed

Sadie

admiringly. "Well,
awful
swell; and he

lucky one.^^ Piggy's an

a
girlto swell places. He took Blanche
House
one
evening, where
they have
lot of swells.

see

you

You'll

have

to

up

swell

swell time,

Dulcie."
Dulcie

hurried

her cheeks

homeward.

showed

the

dawn.

It

approaching

left of her last week's

The

Her

shining, and

were

eyes

delicate

pink of life's real life's

Friday; and she had fiftycents

was

"

"

wages.

filled w^ith the rush-hour

floods of

people.
The electric lightsof Broadway were
glowing callingmoths
from
of leagues out of
miles, from leagues,from hundreds
darkness
around
in and attend the singeingschool.
to come
Men
in accurate
clothes, with faces like those carved on
cherry stones by the old salts in sailors' homes, turned and
stared at Dulcie as she sped, unheeding, past them.
hattan,
Manthe night-blooming cereus,
was
beginning to unfold
its dead-white, heavy-odored petals.
Dulcie
stopped in a store where goods were
cheap and
That
bought an imitation lace collar with her fiftycents.
streets

were

"

money

was

supper,

ten

dime
cents

was
was

to

have

cents
to

be

spent otherwise

for breakfast,ten

be added

to

been

to her

small

squandered

for

cents
store

"

fifteen cents

for lunch.
of

licorice

Another

savings;and
drops the
"

for

five
kind

STORIES

136

made

that

The

long.

Dulcie

licorice

lived in

between
furnished

"

almost

There

room.

and

room

other

room,

toothache, and

the

last

as

carouse

"

pleasures?

furnished

furnished

Hke

HENRY

extravagance

an

was

is life without

what

but

look

cheek

your

0.

FROM

In

boarding-house.

do

people

is this difference

not

know

it when

you

go

hungry.
Dulcie

went

up

to her

Side

broT\Tistone-front.

that

the

Landladies

the diamond

is

chair

and

and

bruised.

lit the

hardest

know

of

tell

knowTi.

us

Their

beside

compound

West

Scientists

gas.

substance
a

in

which

putty.

it in the

They pack
on

as

the third floor back

"

She

is the

diamond

mistake.

room

tipsof gas-burners;and

dig at it in vain
A hairpin w411 not

until one's

one

fingersare

it;therefore

remove

stand

may

pink
let

us

call it immovable.
So

lit the

Dulcie

glow

we

will observe

landlady

dresser

the

its

one-fourth-candle-power

room.

dressf^r,table, washstand, chair

Couch-bed,
the

In

gas.

was

guilty.

The

rest

was

"

of this mud^

Dulcie's.

On

the

giltchina vase presented to her

by Sadie, a calendar issued by a pickleworks, a book on the
divination
of dreams, some
rice powder in a glassdish, and
a cluster of artificial cherries tied with
a pink ribbon.
Against the wrinkly mirror stood pictures of General
of Marlborough,
Kitchener, William
Muldoon, the Duchess
Cellini.
and
Benvenuto
a
Against one wall was
plasterof
O'Callahan
Paris plaque of an
helmet.
Near
in a Roman
child asit was
violent oleograph of a
lemon-colored
saulting
a
Dulcie's
an
inflammatory butterfly. This was
final judgment in art; but it had never
Her rest
been upset.
had
been disturbed
never
by whispers of stolen copes; no
critic had elevated his eyebrows at her infantile entomologist.
While
she swiftly
to call for her
at seven.
Piggy was
makes
ready, let us discreetlyface the other way and gossip,
On
For
the room,
Dulcie
paid two dollars per week.
coffee
week-days her breakfast cost ten cents; she made
were

her treasures

"

AN
and

cooked

UNFINISHED

STORY

137

the

gaslightwhile she was

dressing.
On Sunday mornings she feasted royally on
veal chops and
pineapplefritters at "Billy's"restaurant, at a cost of twentyfive cents
and tipped the waitress ten cents.
New
York
into exto
presents so
temptations for one
run
travagance.
many
She had
her lunches
in the department-store
restaurant
for the week; dinners were
at a cost of sixtycents
show
$1.05. The evening papers
Yorker
me
a New
going
without
his dailypaper!
to six cents; and two
came
Sunday
for the personal column
and the other to read
one
papers
an

over

egg

"

"

"

"

"

ten

were

has

The

cents.

total

amounts

$4.76.

to

Now,

one

buy clothes, and

I give it up.
I hear of wonderful
bargains in fabrics,and
of miracles performed with needle and thread; but I am
in
doubt.
I hold my
poised in vain when I would add to
pen
Dulcie's life some
of those joys that belong to woman
by
to

virtue

all

of

ordinances

Coney
weary

the

of the

Island

thing

unwritten,

equity of
had

and
to

count

sacred,

heaven.

ridden
your

by hours.
Piggy needs but a word.
undeserving stigma was cast

natural, inactive

Twice

she had

been

the

hobby-horses.
pleasures by summers

to

'Tis

instead

of

The

words-of-three-letters

book

begins

the soul of
of

cat.

with

He

...

in

and

to

tell you

an

hour

anything more
He hung about
the
in department stores
who
escort
dogs upon
down

upon

longer; my

wore

starvation.

eaten

him.
pen

the

upon

the

lesson

in

Piggy's biography.

rat, the habits

connoisseur

When

of

him, an
girlsnamed
noble family of swine.
the old blue spelling
He

was

fat; he had

bat, and

the

magnanimity

expensive clothes;
He

could

look

at

and
a

was

shop-girl

how

long it had been since she had

and tea.
nourishingthan marshmallows
shopping districts,and prowled around

He
is not

with

his invitations

the streets
is

at

type; I

the kind

the end
can

intended

dinner.

to

of

dwell

Men

stringlook

upon

for him; I

him

no

am

no

carpenter.
At

ten

minutes

to

seven

Dulcie

was

ready.

She

looked

FROM

STORIES

138

in the

herseK

at

wrinkly

HENRY

O.

mirror.

reflection

The

satis*

was

WTinkle,
a
dress, fittingwithout
the hat with its jaunty black feather, the but-slightly-soiled
of food
itself
gloves all representing self-denial, even
The

factory.

blue

dark

"

"

vastly becoming.
forgoteverything else

were

Dulcie

beautiful,and

was

mysterious
had

man

that

veil for her

asked

ever

for

life was

about

her

of its

corner

No
she

Now

before.

out

lift a

to

its wonders.

observe

to

except that she

moment

gentle^
going

was

and exalted show.

glitter
The girlssaid that Piggy was
a
"spender." There would
be a grand dinner, and music, and splendidlydressed ladies
to look
at, and
things to eat that strangely twisted the
No
doubt
girl'sjaws when they tried to tell about them.
be asked out again.
she would

for

into the

brief moment

There

was

by saving twenty
Oh, it would

cents

But

years!

Avenue

window

instead

week

into

run

in Seventh

store

suit in

blue pongee

that she knew

of ten, in
there

was

let's

"

"

see

hand
second-

where

Dulcie opened it. The

at the door.
Somebody knocked
for cook
landlady stood there with a spurious smile, sniflfing
ing by stolen gas.
"Name
"A gentleman's do^Tistairs to see you," she said.
is Mr. Wiggins."
ones
Piggy knoTvm to unfortunate
By such epithet was
had to take him
who
seriously.
Dulcie
and

then

turned
she

to

the

dresser

and
stopped still,

get her

to

handkerchief;

While
under-liphard.
fairyland and herself,
She had
long slumber.

bit her

looking in her mirror she had seen

a
princess,just awakening from a
that was
watching her with sad, beautiful,
forgotten one
condemn
there was
to approve
or
the only one
stern
eyes
she did.
what
Straight and slender and tall, with a look
melancholy face.
of sorrowful
reproach on his handsome,
"

General
his

fixed

Kitchener

giltphotograph

Dulcie

turned

frame

like

an

his wonderful
on

eyes

on

her

out

of

the dresser.

automatic

doll to

the

landlady.

STORIES

140

downward

with

she

and

did

the

It's

awful

an

General

with

the

at

pictures
into

skipped

look

good-night

the

bed.

Duchess

of

at

borough,
Marl-

anj^here

get
when

she

is

happens

asks

Piggy

be

The

rest

Dulcie

lonelier

than

looking

the

feeling
to

all.

at

again

usual,

and

other

way;

then
As

me

said

crowd

the

by

wing

of

"Not

on

set

for

the

that

his

asked
I

to

if

standing

was

and

belonged

near

took

policeman
them.

with

asked.

"they
five

angels,

or

are

six

the

who

men

dollars

week

hired
live

to

workingAre

on.

bunch?"

immortality,"

your

fire

he,
'em

paid

one

you

that

said

and

and

they.^"

are

"\Miy,"
girls,

dreamed

before,

prosperous-looking

of

"Who

man

VHI,

Cellini.

and

Kitchener

Henry

was

and

Muldoon,

sometime

him,

cusable;
inex-

not

was

look

with

"

General
and

light,
bed

to

doesn't

later

he

last

the

William

really

comes

dine

go

Benvenuto

story

it

to

to

Kitchener,

This

took

out

thing

and

of

Dulcie

turned

that

But

him.

of

nine

HENRY

thought

always

approve

dresser,

O.

gesture.

severe

had

not

half-past

At
on

she

for

FROM

an

pennies."

orphan

said

asylum,

"I'm

I.
and

only
murdered

the

fellow

blind

First publishedin The World, October

Lamp.
In Bruno's
11, 1915, "edited by
Weeklij for December
in his Garret on Washington Square," the editor says:

Trimmed

The

From
15, 1905.
Guido

Bruno

"There

is one

Greenwich
hesitated

and

themselves
Last

The

show

to

are

letters,the late O. Henry, who

in American

man

Village,who

newspapers

LEAF

LAST

THE

it

knew

the most

magazines and
trying to make

Leaf is

the

very

best

it

as

humorous

that

way

of the

some

even

is, and

and

was

story that

he

ever

who

it is

never

not

people down

believe that it is.

you

knew

wrote

and

what
there

And
is the

literarystyle." The
in which
O.
story is at least a good illustration of the originalway
He is reported to have said,as he looked at
Henry used his sources.
is a story
leaf-covered brick wall in Greenwich
Village:"There
a
de Boheme,
there, a story that suggests an episode in Murger's Vw
alive.
the flowers to keep them
the grisetteat night waters
where
characteristic of his

most

personalityand

of his

lifetime of the flowers, you remember,

to be the lifetime of
was
the incident in Chapter VI:
that transient love."
Murger narrates
The

the
to Marcel, "until
you," Musette
says
shall fade."
Unobserved
have just given me
flowers that you
by
the flowers so that the
Marcel
she slipsout every
night and waters
liaison is prolonged fifteen days instead of the expected two
days.
than
here
in the
resemblance
in motif there is hardly more
But
the lover secretlyfeeds
Slavic and Hungarian folk-songs in which
that he may
wheat
to Chanticleer
delay his crowing, that being the
signalfor leave-taking.O. Henry, at any rate, has so improved the
hardly
settingand so elevated the motif as to make the resemblance
WendeU
Hohnes's
that
Oliver
it
also
Is
not
possible
recognizable.
fun in
the mere
than
title of the story? "The
furnished
more
poem
28), "is
Hohnes," says F. H. Underwood
(m Good Words, volume
The
pathos of The Last
always jostling the pathos.
with
the queer
surprising in connection
Leaf is all the more
*T

will

remam

with

humor

in the

descriptionof

the old

poem."
141

man

who

is the

subjectof the

In
have

run

called

of

little district west

"places."
One

curves.

*'

These

street

Washington Square
themselves

broken

and

crazy

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

142

places" make
itself

crosses

time

into

the streets

small

strips
strange angles and
or

two.

An

artist

in this street.
Suppose
possibility
and canvas
should,
collector with a bill for paints,paper,
a
himseK
coming back,
in traversingthis route, suddenly meet
without
a cent
having been paid on account!
Village the art people soon
So, to quaint old Greenwich
and eighteenthcame
prowling, hunting for north windows
Then
attics and low rents.
they
century gables and Dutch
from
and a chafing dish or two
pewter mugs
imported some
''colony."
a
Sixth Avenue, and became
At the top of a squatty, three-story brick Sue and Johnsy
One
familiar for Joanna.
had their studio.
"Johnsy" was
They had met
from INIaine;the other from California.
was
Eighth Street "Delmonico's," and
at the table dliote of an
found their tastes in art, chicory salad, and bishop sleeves so
congenialthat the jointstudio resulted.
cold, unseen
In November
a
in May.
stranger,
That was
the doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony,
whom
touching one here and there with his icy fingers. Over on
strode boldly,smiting his victims
the East Side this ravager
of the
by scores, but his feet trod slowly through the maze
and moss-grown
"places."
narrow
discovered

once

Pneumonia

Mr.

valuable

was

not

what

you

ould call a chivalric old

with blood thinned by

gentleman. A mite of a little woman
for the red-fisted,
California zephyrs was
hardly fair game
old duffer. But Johnsy he smote
short-breathed
; and she lay,
her painted iron bedstead, looking
scarcely moving, on
through the small Dutch window-panes at the blank side of
the next
One
with

"She
shook

brick house.

morning the busy cioctor invited

shaggy, gray eyebrow.
has
down

that chance

one

chance

in

"

let

as

say,

Sue

into the

hallway

ten," he said, as

he

"And
in his clinical thermometer.
the mercury
This way
people have
is for her to want
to live.

the entire

makes
has

silly. Your little lady

going to get well. Has

look

she's not

that

mind

143

undertaker

side of the

the

lining-upon
pharmacopeia
of

LEAF

LAST

THE

made

she

her

up

anything

on

her mind?"
"She

she wanted

"

to

paint the Bay

Naples

of

day,"

some

said Sue.
"Paint?

bosh!

"

twice

thinkingabout
"Is

worth

man

"

anything

but,

"

her

on

doctor; there

no,

in her voice.

jew's-harptwang

worth

mind

"

for instance?

man,

said Sue, with

man?"

"A

she

Has

is

of the

nothing

kind."
it is the

"Well,

do all that
can

the

ask

filter through my
it may
efforts,
whenever
patient begins to count
my

far

science, so

as

accomplish. But
carriagesin her funeral processionI
the curative

from

one

I will

"I will

weakness, then," said the doctor.

power

of medicines.
winter

question about the new

promise you a one-in-five

chance

subtract

50 per

cent,

will get her to

stylesin cloak sleeves
If you

for her, instead

of

one

in ten."
After

the

had

doctor

gone

Sue

went

into

the

workroom

Japanese napkin to a pulp. Then she swaggered

with
her
into Johnsy's room
drawing board, whistling
ragtime.
Johnsy lay,scarcelymaking a rippleunder the bedclothes,
Sue stopped whisthng,
the window.
dth her face toward
asleep.
thinking she was
She arranged her board and began a pen-and-ink drawing
to illustrate a magazine story.
Young artists must pave their
to Art
by drawing pictures for magazine stories that
way
and

cried

authors

young

As

Sue

trousers

write to pave

sketching a

was

and

monocle

cowboy, she heard

low

on

their way
to Literature.
pair of elegant horse-show
the

figureof

the

hero,

an

riding
Idaho

sound, several times repeated. She

quickly to the bedside.

She was
wide.
looking out the
Johnsy's eyes were
open
window
and counting counting backward.
"Twelve," she said, and a Httle later "eleven'*;and then
went

"

STORIES

144

"ten," and

"nine"; and

FROM

O.

then

"eight"

HENRY

"seven," almost

and

together.
Sue looked
to

out
solicitously
.'^ There
was
only

count

the blank

and

of the window.

bare, dreary yard

the brick wall.

up

its leaves

clung, almost
"AVhat

from

bare,

the

to the

is it,dear?"

There

my

The

cold breath

vine

until its skeleton

crumbling

be

seen,

head

ache

branches

bricks.

almost

were

them.

count

There

one.

had

whisper. "They're falling

there

ago

to

of autumn

Sue.

asked

days

another

goes

"Five
"

Three

now.

It made

to

there

An
twenty feet away.
decayed at the roots, climbed

"Six," said Johnsy, in almost

faster

was

side of the brick house

old, old ivy vine, gnarled and

half way
stricken

What

are

But

only

hundred.

it's easy.
five left now."

Tell your
Sudie."
the ivy vine.
WTien the last

now

what, dear.

Leaves.

On

I've known

go, too.

that for three

falls I must

one

Didn't

days.

the doctor

tell you?"

"Oh,
wdth
with
you

told
soon
were

have

heard

never

of such

complained Sue,
i\'yleaves to do

nonsense,"

"TVTiat have
old
magnificent scorn.
And
used to love that vine so,
gettingwell?
your
you
naughty girl. Don't be a goosey.
\Miy, the doctor
this morning that your
chances
for getting well real
me
let's see exactlywhat he said
he said the chances
were
! WTiy, that's almost
ten to one
as
good a chance as we
"

in New

"

York

when

we

ride

on

the

street

walk

or

cars

and let
broth now,
building. Try to take some
Sudie go back to her drawing, so she can
sell the editor man
with it,and buy port wine for her sick child, and pork chops
for her greedy self."
"You
needn't
wine," said Johnsy, keeping
get any more

past

new

her eyes fixed out the window.

I don't want
broth.
That
any
see

the last

one

fall before

"There
leaves

goes

Then

you

look out

hand

to

I'll go, too."

her, "will
not

No,

I want

just four.

it gets dark.

"Johnsy, dear," said Sue, bending over

to keep your
me
closed, and
eyes
until I am
done working?
I must

another.

those

ise
prom-

the window

drawings

LAST

THE

by

in

shade

the

I need

to-morrow.

LEAF

145

light,or

I would

draw

the

down.'*

"Couldn't

in the

draw

you

other

room?"

asked

Johnsy

coldly.
"I'd

be here

rather

by you," said Sue.

"Besides, I don't
want
ivy leaves."
you to keep looking at those silly
"Tell me
have finished,"said Johnsy, closing
as
soon
as
you
her eyes, and lying white and stillas a fallen statue, "because
I want
the last one
fall. I'm tired of waiting.
to see
I'm tired of thinking. I want
hold on everyto turn loose my
thing,
and go sailingdown, down, just like one
of those poor,
tired leaves."

"Try
model

my

Don't
Old

sleep,"said

to

Sue.

for the old hermit

try

to

tillI

move

Behrman

call Behrman

"I must
miner.

I'llnot

to be

up

be gone

minute.

back."

come

painter who lived on the ground floor

beneath
them.
He
had
Michael
was
a
past sixty and
Angelo's Moses beard curlingdown from the head of a satyr
failure in art.
along the body of an imp. Behrman
was
a
Forty years he had wielded the brush without getting near
He had been
enough to touch the hem of his Mistress's robe.
always about to paint a masterpiece,but had painted nothing
except

was

and

now

He

then
earned

daub

a
a

in the line of

littleby serving as

commerce

model

vertisin
ad-

or

to

those

artists in the

colony who could not pay the price of a

professional. He drank gin to excess, and stilltalked of his
fierce little old
coming masterpiece. For the rest he was
a
who
scoffed terriblyat softness in any
and who
man,
one,
regarded himself as especialmastiff -in-waitingto protect the
young

two

Sue
his

found

Behrman

dimly lightedden
on

an

to

years

him

artists in the studio

young

easel that
receive

the

above.

smellingstrongly of juniper berries

below.
had

been

first line

In

one

corner

there

was

blank

in

vas
can-

for

waiting
twenty-five
of the masterpiece. She toxd

of

Johnsy 's fancy, and how she feared she would, indeed,
lightand fragileas a leaf herself,float away when her slight
hold upon

the world

grew

weaker.

STORIES

146

Old Behrman,

O.

FROM

HENRY

with

his red eyes

derision for such

plainlystreaming,shouteci
his contempt and
idiotic imaginings.
he cried.
mit der
"Vass!"
"Is dere people in de world
foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded
vine?
I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose
model
fool hermit-dunderhead.
low
for your
as
a
Vy do you alin der prain of her?
dot silly
Ach, dot
pusinessto come
poor lettle Miss Johnsy.'*
the fever has
is very illand weak," said Sue, "and
left her mind
morbid
and full of strange fancies.
Very well,
needn't.
if you do not care
Mr. Behrman,
to pose for me,
you
"She

But

I think

"You

are

you

horrid

just like

are

said I vill not

Go

flibbertigibbet."
"WTio
yelled Behrman.

on.

I haf peen
trying to say
dis is not any blace in which one

mit

come

dot I

hour

so

ready

am

goot

For

you.

Miss

as

the

down

to

into the other

window-sill, and

the

motioned

an

Gottl
shall

Yohnsy

Some

shade

half

to bose.

day I vill baint a masterpiece,and

Gott! yes."
away.
Johnsy was sleepingwhen they went upstairs.

lie sick.
go

old

"

woman!"

bose?

old

shall al)

ve

Sue

pulled

Behrman

In there

they peered out the window

fearfullyat the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other for
without
moment
a
speaking. A persistent,cold rain was
Behrman, in his old blue shirt,
mingled with snow.
falling,
took his seat as the hermit-miner
on
an
upturned kettle for a
room.

rock.
Sue

When
she

found

drawn
"

with

Johnsy

sleep the next morning

dull, wide-open eyes staring at the
an

hour's

shade.

green

Pull it up;

Wearily

from

awoke

I want

to

see," she ordered, in

whisper.

Sue

obeyed.
But, lo ! after the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind
had endured
through the livelongnight, there yet stood
the last on
against the brick wall one ivy leaf. It was
vine.

Still dark

edges tinted

with

bravely from

green

the
branch

near

its stem,

yellow of
some

but

dissolution

twenty

feet

with

that
out

the

its serrated

decay, it hung
the ground.
above
and

STORIES

148

him;

for

hope

he

but

O.

the

to

goes

HENRY

hospital

to-day

be

to

made

comfortable."

more

The

that

scarf,
have

*'Mr.

of

the

His

ladder

that

and

mixed

it, and

on

leaf

on

the

moved

masterpiece
feU."

look
Didn't
the

he
"

with

palette
the

out

him

still

its

from

place,

helpless

with

and

cold,

and

dear,

window,

the

on

icy

dreadful

lighted,

and

green

hospital.

the

such

on

said.

and

some

tered
scat-

yellow

colors

at

the

last

ivy

"

wall.
when

in

through
been

all.

she

found

lantern,

dragged

been

had

brushes,

found

had

and

mouse,"

wet

lay,
woolen

pillows

doTvTistairs

room

he

useless

her,

janitor

were

where

they

then

his

in

Johnsy

very

to-day

The

danger.

all."

where

white

you,

clothing

and

imagine

And

night.

day

bed

around

pneumonia

days.

first

couldn't

They

of

two

shoes

tell

to

that's

and

arm

of

out

"

the

to

She's

now

blue

one

died

only

morning
pain.

put

something

ill

care

very

"

Sue

to

came

and

Behrman
was

Sue

knitting

shoulder

said
and

afternoon

contentedly

*'I

doctor

Nutrition

won.

And

He

the

day

next

You've

or

FROM

wind

painted

wonder

you

blew?
it

there

why

it

Ah,

darling,

the

night

fluttered

never

it's
that

Behrman's
the

last

leaf

THE

The Four

GIFT

MAGI

THE

published in The World, December

"And
into the house,
when
come
10, 1905.
they [the magi] were
they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and
worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they
him
gifts:gold, and frankincense, and myrrh"
presented unto
the giftsof the magi but their gift
{Matthew, 11, 11). These were
love; and love is the theme of this perfectlittleChristmas
was
story.
of gold or
infant Christ could make
The
frankincense
no
use
or
and
could Delia and Jim make
of the combs
the
use
myrrh, nor
chain. But the love that prompted the givingshines all the brighter
in a utilitarian sense,
because
the gifts were,
egregious misfits.
*'That the gold at least," says a learned commentator,
"would
be
highly serviceable to the parents in their unexpected journey to
thus much
of no
at least admits
Egypt and during their stay there
But
the
read
famous
dispute." Perhaps so.
once
more
passage
and
O.
WTiich
turn
again to
Henry's story.
interpretationgoes
into
incident?
is
the
heart
of
the
Which
in accord with
deeper
more
From

Million.

OF

First

"

Notice

leaves you
more
in this story is not
the real surprise

that

It is in what

do.

Which

the text?

of
spirit

the

in love with
m

what

love?

the lovers

O.

Henry says about what they do. He congratulates

them.
They acted wisely. But all this is told us at the
author
end.
The
has thus combined
in a single paragraph his
terminal surpriseand the explanatory remarks
that usuallycome
first. See Sqimring the Circle,page 97.

One

dollar and

sixtycents
at

and

time

all. And
That was
eighty-seven cents.
of it was
in pennies. Pennies
saved one
and two
by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man

the butcher
of

times
And

until one's cheeks

parsimony

Delia
the next

counted

that such

it.

day would

One

burned

close

dollar

the silent imputation

dealingimplied. Three
and eighty-seven cents.

be Christmas.
149

with

FROM

STORIES

150

There

clearlynothing

was

little couch

shabby

and

moral

the
and
snifiles,

^yhile the mistress

$8

but

week.

would

go,

and

below

did

it.

life is made

is

the

on

Wliich

stigate
in-

of sobs,

up

graduallysubsidingfrom

look at the home.

that

was

word

the

on

lookout

into which

which

from

A furnished

exactly beggar

not

letter-box

electric button

an

Delia

It did

it

In the vestibule

flop down

sniffles predominating.

certainlyhad
mendicancy squad.

the

but

that

of the home

per

do
So

the first stage to the second, take

flat at

HENRY

to

howl.

reflection

smiles, with

O.

no

no

mortal

scriptio
defor

letter

finger

card
a
appertaining thereunto was
"Mr.
James
Dillingham Young."
bearing the name
had
been
The
"Dillingham"
flung to the breeze during a
former period of prosperitywhen
its possessor
was
being paid
could

coax

ring.

Also

shrunk
the income
to $20,
$30 per week.
Now, when
was
the letters of "Dillingham" looked blurred, as though they

thinking seriouslyof contractingto

were

But

D.
home

came

and

reached

greatlyhugged by

and

introduced
Delia

powder
at

cat

you

with which

to

Mrs.

week

Defla.

as

and

attended

by

the window

gray

she could for months,

penny

James

assuming
un-

Dillingham Young

James
he

his flat above

and

was

called "Jim"

Dillingham Young,

ready
al-

is all very good.

to her cheeks with the

Which

and

looked

dully

out

morrow
backyard. Tobe Christmas
Day, and she had only $1.87
buy Jim a present. She had been saving every

walking

would

to

finished her cry

She stood
rag.

gray

Mr.

whenever

modest

doesn't

go

far.

fence in

gray

with this result.

Expenses had

been

Twenty

dollars

greater than

she

Only $1.87 to buy a

always are.
Her Jim.
Many a happy hour she had spent
present for Jim.
Something fine and
planning for something nice for him.
to being
and sterling something just a little bit near
rare
worthy of the honor of being owned by Jim.
of the room.
the windows
between
There
was
a
pier-glass
in an $8 flat. A very thin
Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass
and very
agileperson may, by observing his reflection in a

had

They

calculated.

"

THE

rapid sequence
conception of

of
his

GIFT

OF

MAGI

THE

151

longitudinalstrips,obtain a fairlyaccurate
looks.
Delia, being slender, had mastered

the art.

Suddenly
the glass.

whirled

she

from

the

window

stood

and

before

but her face

shining brilliantly,
had lost its color within twenty seconds.
Rapidly she pulled
her hair and let it fall to its full length.
down
two
Now, there were
possessionsof the James Dillingham
Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was
that had been his father's and his grandJim's gold watch
father's.
Her

The

eyes

other

were

lived in the flat

Sheba

Delia's

was

Had

hair.

the

the airshaft, Delia

across

of

Queen

would

have

preciate
some
day to dry just to dehang out the window
Her Majesty's jewelsand gifts. Had
King Solomon
ment,
with all his treasures
been the janitor,
piled up in the basehave
Jim would
pulled out his watch every time he
passed,justto see him pluck at his beard from envy.
Delia's beautiful hair fell about her, ripplingand
So now
below
It reached
shining like a cascade of bro^Ti waters.
let her hair

her

and

knee

then

she

faltered

With

her eyes,

for her.

garment

And

it up again nervously and quickly. Once

stood still while a tear or
and
for a minute
the

worn

whirl

she
two

red carpet.

her old brown

went
a

itself almost

did

splashedon
On

made

jacket;on
with

of skirts and

she fluttered out

went

the

the door

her old brown

brilliant

and

down

hat.

sparkle still in

the stairs to the

street.

she

Where
Hair

hardly looked
"Will

the

sign

read:

you

of All Kinds."

One

the "Sofronie."

buy

my

hair?"

asked

Delia.

"Take
buy hair," said Madame.
yer hat
have a sightat the looks of it."
Down
rippledthe brown cascade.
liftingthe
"Twenty dollars," said Madame,
practisedhand.
"I

Sofronie.

"Mme.

flightup Delia ran, and

herself,panting. Madame,
large,too w^hite,chilly,

Goods

collected

stopped

off and

mass

let's

with

STORIES

152

it to

"Give

quick," said Delia.

hours trippedby on rosy wings. Forget
next two
metaphor. She was
ransacking the stores for

the hashed

present.
found

She
no

it at last.

else.

one

she had

and

HENRY

me

Oh, and the

Jim's

O.

FROM

fob chain
its value

There

surelyhad

It

was

and

like it in any of the stores,

It was
inside out.
a platinum

other

no

all of them

turned

for Jim

made

been

simple and chaste in design,properly proclaiming

mentation
by substance alone and not by meretricious ornabe.
It was
all good things should
even
as
"

of The

it must

be Jim's.

the

It

from

the time

about

sometimes

like him.
both.

to

his watch

on

in any
company.
looked at it on the

leather strap that he used in

home
Delia reached
WTien

prudence and reason.

lightedthe gas and went
by generosityadded to

little to
and
made

task, dear friends

Within

fortyminutes

be

properly anxious

Grand

as

sly on

account

the 87 cents.

the

watch

was,

of the

old

chain.

intoxication

gave

way

curlmg irons
to work
repairingthe ravages
WTiich is always a trelove.
mendous

"

with

home

place of
her

that
"

might

Jim

it she knew

saw

Quietness and value

Twenty-one dollars they

she hurried

her for it,and

that chain

With

she

as

soon

was

descriptionapplied

took

he

As

Watch.

worthy

She

got

out

task.

mammoth

her head

was

her

covered

with

tiny,close-

her look wonderfully like a truant

lying curls that made
schoolboy. She looked at her reflection in the mirror long,
and critically.
carefully,
he
"If Jim doesn't kill me," she said to herself, "before
takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island
oh! what could I do w^ith
chorus girl. But what could I do
a dollar and
eighty-sevencents .^"
and the frying-pan was
made
At 7 o'clock the coffee was
hot and ready to cook the chops.
the back of the stove
on
"

Jim
hand

was

and

always
down

on

never

sat

on

entered.

Delia

late.
the

corner

Then

doubled

of the table

near

fob

chain

the door

in her

that he

his step on the stair away

she turned white for just a mo-

she heard

and
the first flight,

the

THE
She had

ment.

GIFT

MAGI

THE

OF

153

habit of saying Uttle silent prayers

simplesteveryday things,and

about the

she

whispered: "Please
stillpretty."
him think I am
God, make
The
door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He
looked thin and serious.
Poor fellow,he was
only twentywith a family! He needed
and to be burdened
two
a new
and he was
without
overcoat
gloves.
Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable
setter
at
a
as
the scent of quail. His eyes were
fixed upon
Delia, and there
was
an
expression in them that she could not read, and it
terrified her. It was
not anger, nor
nor
surprise,
disapproval,
now

"

horror, nor

nor

for.

He

stared at her

simply

expressionon his face.

Delia wriggled off the table and
"Jim, darling,"she cried, "don't
had

hair cut

my

that she had

of the sentiments

any

off and

fixedlywith

been

pared
pre-

that peculiar

for him.

went

look

sold it because

that way.
I
I couldn't have lived
at

me

without
giving you a present. It'll grow
through Christmas
out
again ^you won't mind, will you.^^ I just had to do it.
Jim,
My hair grows awfully fast. Say Merry Christmas!'
don't know
what
nice
You
and let's be happy.
what a
a
beautiful,nice giftI've got for you."
"You've
hair.^^ asked Jim, laboriously,
if he
cut off your
as
"

"

"

had

not

mental
"Cut

just as
Jim
"You
of

arrived

at that

patent fact yet

after the hardest

even

labor.
it off and

sold it,"said Delia.

well, anyhow .^^ I'm

looked
say

about

the

without

me

you

like

me

hair, ain't I?"

my

ciu*iously.
gone.^" he said, with

room

hair is

your

"Don't

air almost

an

idiocy.
"You

you

needn't
sold and

"

to me,

"but
the

nobody
chops on,

Out

she

for it," said Delia.

It's Christmas

too.

gone,

for it went

numbered,"

look

for you.
went

could

ever

on

Maybe
with
coimt

my

"It's sold, I tell

Eve, boy.

the hairs of my
serious
sudden
love for you.

Be

head

good
were

sweetness,
Shall I put

Jim?"

of his trance

Jim

seemed

quickly to

wake.

He

enfolded

STORIES

154

his Delia.

let

seconds

ten

dollars

week

or

mathematician
The

or

wit

dark

This

the other direction.

year

what

"

would

will be

assertion

scrut*

Eight

is the difference.?

give you
gifts,but

valuable

magi brought

them.

among

million

HENRY

regard with discreet

us

inconsequentialobjectin

iny some
A

For

O.

FROM

the

'WTong

that

swer.
an-

not

was

illuminated

later

on.

Jim

drew

package

from

his overcoat

pocket

and

threw

it

the table.

upon

I
mistake, Dell," he said, "about
me.
don't think there's anything in the way
of a haircut or a shave
that could make
like my
me
or
a shampoo
girlany less. But
that package you may
if you'llun^^Tap
see
why you had me
going awhile at first."
nimble
at the string and paper.
AVhite fingersand
tore
of joy; and then, alas! a quick
And
then an ecstatic scream
feminine
change to hystericaltears and wails, necessitating
the immediate
of
employment of all the comforting powers
make

"Don't

any

the lord of the flat.

For

there

lay The Combs

had worshipped

"

side and

the set of combs,

Broadway window.
tortoise shell, with
Beautiful
combs, pure
jeweled rims
hair.
in the beautiful vanished
Thej"
just the shade to wear
were
expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply
the least hope of
them
without
craved
and
yearned over
hers, but the tresses that
they were
possession. And now,
that

Delia

for

long

in

back,

"

should
But

she

the coveted

adorned

have

hugged

able to look
hair grows
then
And

up

so

to her bossom,

them

with

adornments

dim

eyes

and

and

were

gone.

length she was

and say:
"My

at

smile

fast,Jim!"

Delia

leaped up

like

little singed cat and

cried,

"Oh, oh!"
Jim
to him

had

not

yet

seen

his beautiful

present.

She held it out

her open
palm. The dull preciousmetal
flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent

eagerlyupon

seemed

to

spirit.
"Isn't

it

dandy,

Jim?

I hunted

all

over

town

to

find it.

HANDBOOK

THE
From

Heart

of the

First

West.

Twice
before
July, 1906.
staged a courtship in which
methods,
four

and

strategicsuitors instead of

rivals is better
in either
Rule.
and

published in Munsey's Magazine,

written
this story was
O. Henry had
rival suitors adopt opposed
the two

before his death

year

Psyche

The

and

based
and

the

he returned
But

two.

is between

in this

the

between

roaring farce

Telemachus, Friend
the

with

to the contest

the contrast

enacted

better

Pskyscraper or

here

contrast

HYMEN

OF

or

ultra-matter-of-fact

than
Poor
man

the statistical and

between
the
ultra-imaginativeman,
In its two
poetic mind.
leading characters the story is a sort of
miniature
Don
Panza, is the
Pratt, like Sancho
Quixote: Sanderson
factualist;Idaho
is the roGreen, like the Knight de la Mancha,
manticist.
The factualist wins out, though O. Henry's heart was
with Omar,
with Herkimer.
not
to
Perhaps, however, he meant
us
in the character of Mrs. Sampson a victorious defeat for the upsee
holder
the

of Omar.

'Tis the opinion of myself, Sanderson

down,

that

should

be

the

in the

educational
hands

of

system

of the

Pratt, who

weather

the

sets

United

bureau.

expect.

But

going

to

this

States

give
for it;and you can't tell me
why our college
you good reasons
partment
professorsshouldn't be transferred to the meteorologicaldeThey have been learned to read; and they could
and then wire in to
easilyglance at the morning papers
very
the main

office what

kind

the other

side of the

proposition.

how

the weather

furnished

of weather

me

and

to

am

Idaho

Green

on

can

with

there's
tell you
an

gant
ele-

education.
We

was

up

in Bitter

Root

Mountains

over

the

Montana

line prospecting for gold. A chin-whiskered

in Wallaman
Walla, carrying a line of hope as excess
baggage, had grub156

THE

staked
with

HANDBOOK

and

us;

there

enough grub

we

OF

on

in the

was

hand

HYMEN

to

last

157

foothills

an

pecking away,
through a peace

army

conference.

Along

day

one

comes

Carlos,and stops
a

of the

premonitions

of green-gages,
and leave
This paper
printsa system
the

weather, and
the bottom

card

it dealt

of the deck

lightwesterly breezes."
evening it began to snow, with

That

Me

east.

us

of

Bitter

"warmer

was

and

Idaho

moved

the wind

into

camp

higher up the mountain, thinking it

flurry. But after fallingthree foot on
in earnest; and
of firewood

thought

want

men

Human

in

up

When

makes

won't

other's

stand

called bread.
of

of the

fell me

conversation.

of

the

At

milk

sour

but

spears

The

kind

day puts me
lady enough to keep hers
Green,"
I have
my

grub enough for

and cut up all they

rage

some

says

Idaho

stuff

end

me.

tin pan,

every

once,

got in plenty

had

we

and

Green

laughed

turned

we

of three

Says he :
dropping

I have

compared to
asphyxiated thought that emanates

"Mr.

We

to work

it.

edict to

exactlyheard

never

the bottom

emit

in.

jokes and praised the

this kind

music

level it went

instigatethe art of manslaughter just shut

eighteen by twenty -foot cabin for a month.

the first snowflakes

skillet and

"I

to

nature

at each

old empty
cabin
only a November

an

was

snowed

was

it got deep, and

let the elements

we

so

we

strong in the

proper.

If you
two

knew

we

before

months,

two

had

from

fair,with

and

on

the mountains

over

cans

date.

from

Mountains

mail-rider

three

to eat

of modern

newspaper

Root

out

weeks

of

out

of

Idaho

balloon

idea

it would

be

this attenuated

stream

of

an

of
of your
organs
of half -masticated
noises that you
in mind
of a cow's cud, only she's
to

out

herself,and

I, "you having been

hesitations

in

choice for societybetween

ain't."

you
a

friend

confessingto
you

and

you

common

of mine
that

if I

yellow,

three-leggedcur pup, one of the inmates of this here cabin

would be wagging a tail just at present."
This way
for two
three days, and then we
we
or
goes on

FROM

STORIES

158

another.

quits speaking to one

implements, and Idaho
and
and

me

have

we

You

see

doing

slate.

and

me

reading and
on

keep

to

We

we'd

had

had

snowbound

Mc

saddle

Williams'
miles for

ten

that

But
One
of

one

morning

over

had

to the floor.

eye.

He

speaks

Homer

of information,

them

the West,
a

on

collegefellows

Eastern
and

drawback
Snake

never

to

'em

noticed
than

River, when
sent

claimed

you

Andrew

buckboard

to be

nist.
bota-

poking around with a stick on top

books fell
Two
too high to reach.
was
I started toward
'em, but caught Idaho's

Idaho

down

studied

Bitter

in the line of meditation

of these strangers that

horse died.

little shelf that

in

use

in the

higher branches

got the botts, he

horse

five"

university

could

we

that if we

less of

WTiy, once

that

beyond

gence
intrinsic intelli-

cabin

resources

was

windows,

James

for

in that

the

and

some

education

w^ould think.

apples and

world

the

around

privatethought. I've seen

all through
working in camps
what

to the

education

any

three

and

but

is up

snow

cooking

side of the fireplace,

one

specialneed
acquired a speciesof

had

had

have

on

the

up

felt any

never

fractions

and

grub

never

"if John

divides

day.

felt for the first time

we

Greek

or

his

fire all

HENRY

We

The

Idaho

degree,though we
in knocking
emergencies. But
Roots,

cooks

the other.

on

O.

was

for the first time

in

week.

fingers,"says he. "In spiteof the fact

that you're only fit to be the companion of a sleepingmudthan
deal.
And
that's more
turtle,I'll give you a square
they turned you loose in the world
parents did when
your
of
of a rattlesnake and the bedside manner
with the sociability
the winner
a frozen
turnip. I'llplay you a game of seven-up,
to pick up his choice of the book, the loser to take the other."
He picked up his book; and 1
We played; and Idaho won.
burn

"Don't

took

mine.

went

to

never

book.
of

your

Then

each

reading.
as
glad to
was
And

candy.

Idaho

of

see

looked

got

us

at

on

his side of the house

nugget

ten-ounce

his like

kid

as

looks

was

at

and

that

stick

HANDBOOK

THE
Mine

was

littlebook

Handbook

of

OF

HYMEN

159

kimer's
by six inches called "HerI may
Indispensable Information."
about

five

be wrong,
the greatest book that ever
but I think that was
written.
I've got it to-day; and I can
was
stump you or any
in it.
man
fiftytimes in five minutes with the information
Talk
had

both

on

cases

years

and

There

was

tell

Solomon

about

New

of 'em.

traveled
the

the

or

That

million

York

to

Herkimer

have

must

man

miles

Tribune!

find out

put in fifty

all that

stuff.

all cities in it, and

population of

the way
camel
has.

to

of teeth a
It
girl's
age, and the number
told you
the longest tunnel in the world, the number
of the
stars, how long it takes for chicken pox to break out, what
a
the veto powers
of Governors,
lady'sneck ought to measure,
the dates of the Roman
aqueducts, how many
pounds of rice
going without three beers a day would buy, the average
nual
antemperature of Augusta, Maine, the quantity of seed required
of
in
to plant an
antidotes for poicarrots
acre
drills,
sons,
the number
of hairs on a blonde lady'shead, how to preserve
the
all
of
the
mountains
in
the
height
world, and
eggs,
a

the dates

of all wars

persons,

and

and

how

to make

do

before

the

miss

I sat and

dynamite

doctor

read

still on
and

how

the number

and

"

of tacks

times

anything Herkimer

was

pound,

as

to

many

didn't know

of the book.

that

and

book

for four hours.

old Idaho

in it.
was

I
on

All the wonders

forgot the

snow,

the outs.

He

stool

with a kind
reading away
partly mysterious look shining through
a

in

beds, and what

hundred

drowned

to restore

flowers and

and

compressed

was
me

comes

If there

it out

of education

forgotthat

battles, and

sunstroke, and

thingsbesides.
I didn't

and

of

and
was

ting
sit-

partly soft

his

tan-bark

whiskers.

"Idaho,"
Idaho
without

have

must

any

"Why,"

I, "what

says

slander
says

kind of

forgot,too, for
or
malignity.

he, "this here

seems

KM."
"Homer

K. M.

book

what.?"

I asked.

he

to be

is

yours?"

answered

volume

moderate,

by

Homer

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

160

K. M.," says he.

liar,"says I, a little riled that

"WTiy, justHomer
"You're
to

try

put

me

his initials.

with

books

K.

Homer

or

M.

"No

tree.

up

is

man

If it's Homer

McSweeney,

going
K.

Homer

or

Idaho

M.
K.

should

'round

signing
Spoopendyke,
M. Jones, why

instead of bitingoff the end of it

don't you say so like a man
like a calf chewing off the tail of a shirt on a clothes-line?"
"

Sandy,"
straight,

I put it to you

book,"

poem

he, "by Homer

first,but there's

color out

of it at

I wouldn't

have

welcome

"You're

me

kind

of

wine

he

with
to

booze

splita quart.
of

sensations

K.

instinct
M.

chest

has

kicks sound

it's poetry," says

for that

in feet and

sense

the

scorn

He

like

and

of yours
that tries to convey
When
it comes
to explaining

inches.

philosophy through the art of nature, old

beat by drills,rows,
paragraphs,
got your man
and

average

annual

snow

melted, if you

said: "Sanderson

had

rainfall."

stepped

Pratt, what

you

know

Howmany

night all

and

That

storm
snow-

apiece. By
up

would

to

me

it cost

denly
sudper

by twenty -eighttin at
I'd have told you
as

foot to

second.

I have

truck

lay a roof with twenty

nine dollars and fiftycents per box?"
quick as lightcould travel the length of a spade
thousand
and ninety-two
hundred
the rate of one

square

invitation

an

Idaho, "and

and Idaho had it. Day

So that's the way
me
the excitement
studying our books.
we
got was
fixed us with a fine lot of attainments
sure
the

be

of

measurement,

the time

to

seems

regular toast is 'nothingdoing,'

cated
grouch, but he keeps it so well lubri-

that his worst

But

mind.

His

agent.
to have

seems

that's

They'llpoison your

system of surmises.

M.'s

old K.

Give

and

that exists.

of information

grade

and

w;orkon,

to

the lowest
Idaho, "is statistics,

you've got," says

"^Vhat

is a disinterested

I've drawTi."

fiind in the book

to

seem

I want

"What

of facts for the mind

statement

what

I.

it," says

to

get

vein if you follow it up.

for a pair of red blankets.'*

this book

missed

It's

I couldn't

M.

K.

says

"

Idaho, quiet.

says

cando

in the middle

it?

of the

You

wake

night, and

up

ask

'most
him

handle
miles
any

at

per
man

quick

to

HANDBOOK

THE
the number

tell you

of the teeth,

or

OF

of bones

what

HYMEN

in the human

percentage of the

Legislatureoverrules

161

skeleton

of the Nebraska

vote

Will he tell you

veto.

exclusive

Try

and

him

see.

what

About

Idaho

benefit

out

got

didn't

Idaho
boosted
exactly know.
he opened his mouth; but I wasn't

time

This

Homer

through Idaho,
life like it

at

himself
looks

the

Besides

Turkish
That
of

was

to

tin

and

can

well, since

filled at the

Persia

seemed

to be

me

spring me

all have
he

Maltese
and

shake

can't

we

was

producing anything
and

of his libretto

out

kind of

dog who

looked

After

running

hangs

his tongue out, and

says:

that, it seems

rugs

sure.

tied to his tail.

can

and

corner,

so

leaked

what

half to death, he sits down,

at

"Oh,

M., from

K.

of his poetry book

I
the wine-agent every

the
drink

growler, let's get

on

Persian; and

worth

it

me."
I

mentioning

never

hear

unless

it

of

was

cats.

Idaho

struck

pay

ore.

It

was

habit

to sell out

quick and keep moving. We unloaded

on
dollars apiece; and then
our
grubstaker for eight thousand
drifted down
of Rosa, on the Salmon
to this little town
we
human
River, to rest up, and get some
grub, and have our
ours

whiskers
Rosa
as

the

harvested.
was

no

free of uproar

mining-camp. It laid
and pestilenceas one
There

of them

valley,and
rural towns

was

in

trolleyline champing
its bit in the environs; and me
and Idaho spent a week riding
of the cars, dropping off of nights at the Sunset View
on
one
Hotel.
well read as well as
Being now
traveled, we
was
with the best society in Rosa, and was
vited
insoon
pro re nata
out
to the most
ments.
dressed-up and high-toned entertainIt was
in
at a piano recital and quail-eating
contest
the cityhall,for the benefit of the fire company,
and
that me
Idaho first met Mrs. De Ormond
Sampson, the queen of Rosa
society.
Mrs. Sampson was
owned
the only two-story
a widow, and
house in town.
It was
painted yellow, and whichever way
country.

was

three-mile

in the

from,

looked

you

of

O'

an

Grady
and

me

could

you

see

Idaho

HENRY

plain as egg
Twenty-two men
it

Friday.
was
trying to

on

O.

FROM

STORIES

162

stake

claim

the chin

on

as

in Rosa
that

on

sides
be-

yellow

house.
There
had

raked

been

after the

dance

was

and

quail bones
of the bunch

Twenty-three

of the Hall.

out

books

song

to Mrs.
Sampson and asked for a
galloped over
side-steppedthe two-step, and asked permission to

I made

where

That's

home.

home
the way
"Ain't the stars

On

dance.
escort

I
her

hit.

she:

says

lovely and bright to-night,Mr. Pratt?"

the chance
"For
they've got," says I, "they're humping
The
in a mighty creditable way.
themselves
big one
you
It
took
miles
distant.
of
billions
is sixty-six
thirty-six
see
scope
With
an
for its lightto reach us.
eighteen-footteleyears
see
forty-threemillions of 'em, includingthem
can
you
to go out now,
was
of the thirteenth magnitude, which, if one
it for twenty-seven hundred
years."
you w^ould keep on seeing
that before.
knew
"I never
"My!" says Mrs. Sampson.
be from dancing so
it is ! I'm as damp as I can
How
warm
much."

happen
million sweat-glands working
that you've got two
to know
of your
If every
perspiratoryducts, which
all at once.
one
placed end to end, they
a
are
quarter of an inch long, was
"That's

reach

would

"Lawsy!"
ditch
all this
"From

to

easy

distance

seven

knowledge

you

miles."
like

"It sounds

Sampson.
describing,Mr.

was

you

of

Mrs.

says

I, "when

for," says

account

Pratt.

How

eyes

of
plug-uglies
with

"I

I tells her.

Sampson,"

observation, Mrs.
open

do you

get

of information.^"

I go about the world."

"Mr.
Pratt," says she, "I always did admire
the
few scholars among
There are
education.
so
my

tion
irriga-

an

keep

when

this town

gentleman

house
call at my
And that was

that

of culture.

whenever
the way

you

it is

man

of

sap-headed

real

I'd be
feel

I got the

so

pleasure to converse
gratifiedto have you

inclined."

goodwillof

the

lady

in the

FROM

STORIES

164

HENRY

O.

he has been

rhymes by some
recitingto me a lot of irreligious
better than
is no
he calls Ruby
she
Ott, and who
person
should be, if you
judge by her poetry."
"Then
Idaho has struck a new
book," says I, "for the one
he had was
de phwie of
who
writes under the nom
by a man
K.

M."
"He'd
it

better have

to

to-day he

And

was.

stuck

him, and

of flowers

from

Mr.

Pratt,

you

and

down

under

'em

is

ever
"what-

Sampson,

the vortex.

caps

on

Mrs.

it,"says

pinned

I get

bunch

Now,

note.

lady when you see her; and you know

how
I stand in Rosa
society. Do you think for a moment
that I'd skip out to the woods
with a man
along with a jug
of wine and a loaf of bread, and go singingand cavorting up
know

the

trees

with

him.'^

little claret

packing a jug of
such styleas that.
it into the brush and raisingCain in any
he'd bring his book
of verses
He
And
of course
along, too.
his scandalous
Or
Let him
said so.
picnics alone!
go on
she wouldn't
let him take his Ruby Ott with him.
I reckon
bread
kick unless it was
of there being too much
account
on
along. And what do you think of your gentleman friend
with

my

meals, but I'm

now,

IVIr. Pratt?"

"Well, 'm,"
a

says

in the habit

I take

not

I, "it may

of

be that Idaho's

invitation

was

harm.
of poetry, and meant
no
May be it belonged
the class of rhymes they call figurative. They offend

kind

to

law

they get sent through the mails on the

I'd
something that they don't say.
grounds that they mean
be glad on Idaho's account
if you'd overlook it," says I, "and
let us extricate our
from the low regions of poetry to
minds
the higher planes of fact and fancy. On a beautiful afternoon
like this, Mrs.
Sampson," I goes on, "we should let our
here, we
thoughts dwell accordingly. Though it is warm
should
remember
that at the equator the line of perpetual
frost
the
from

and

order, but

is at

an

latitudes

altitude
of

of fifteen thousand

four thousand

forty degrees
to

nine

and

thousand

"Oh, jVIt. Pratt," says Mrs.

feet.

Between

forty-ninedegrees

it is

feet."

Sampson,

"it's such

comfort

to hear

165

beautiful facts after gettingsuch

them

say

you

HYMEN

OF

HANDBOOK

THE

jar

Ruby's poetry!"
"Let us sit on this log at the roadside," says I, "and
forget
It is in the glorithe inhumanity and ribaldryof the poets.
ous
facts and legalized
that
of ascertained
columns
measures
sit upon,
Mrs.
In this very log we
beauty is to be found.
wonderful
than
Sampson," says I, "is statistics more
any
The ringsshow it was
sixtyyears old. At the depth
poem.
of

that minx

from

feet it would

thousand

of two

deepest coal

The

years.

near

Newcastle.

two

feet

eight

inches

artery is cut,

an

in the world

mine

four feet

box

coal in three thousand

become

long, three

will hold

deep

The

legcontains thirtybones.

Killingworth,
feet w^de, and

ton

of coal.

wound.

one

the

it above

compress

is at

of London

Tower

If

man's

burned

was

in 1841."
"Go

Mr.

on,

Pratt,"

originaland
lovely as they can
is

soothing.

so

But

coming

to

night I was
around.
I jumped
to enjoy the scene.
One

forth

house, I gave
minutes.
The
and

I think

statistics

later that

weeks

every

just

are

I got all that

waked
and

up

dressed

When

kind

by

up

of

folks

as

was

and

went

it

seen

hollering"Fire!"

yell,and

Mrs.

was

Sampson's
there

was

all

of the hotel

out

story of the yellow house was

masculine, feminine, and canine in Rosa

whole

ideas

of Herkimer.

out

me

"Them

Sampson.

be."

till two

it wasn't

Mrs.

says

lower

in two

in flames,
was

there,

screechingand barking and gettingin the way of the firemen.

Idaho
from six firemen who
I saw
were
trying to get away
on
They was
tellinghim the whole place was
holding him.
fire downstairs, and
"Where's
"She

Mrs.

sleepsupstairs.
company

hasn't

around

runs

Handbook

out

man

could

Sampson?"

been

hasn't

no

seen,"

go in it and

come

out

alive.

I asks.
says

one

of the

firemen.

"She

We've

tried to get in, but we can't, and our

got any ladders yet."
to the lightof the big blaze, and
pullsthe

of my

inside

pocket.

I kind

of

laughed

when

FROM

STORIES

166

hands
I felt it in my
of excitement.
old

"Herky,
"you ain't

doTVTi at

me

what!"

I turned
I

yet.

"\Miat

to

daffy with

some

was

Tell

ain't

you

the

sation
sen-

the pages,
thro wed

it,as I flippedover

yet, and

me

scratch

to

run

my

Suffocation

do

ever

what, old boy, tell

me

me

Place

better than flaxseed.

"

few seed in the outer

in my

back

the Handbook

I shoved

Gas.

or

page

on

it.

struck

Good

It said:

anything!

Smoke

Inhaling

from

Accidents,"
and

page,

overlooked

never

of

in Case
the

fingerdown

Herkimer, he

old

to

HENRY

I.

says

117.

I says

lied to

I reckon

"

boy,"

ever

O.

There

is

comer

of the eye.

pocket, and

nothing

grabbed

running by.
"run to the drug
"Here," says I, giving him some
money,
of flaxseed.
and
store
Hurry, and
bring a dollar's worth
I sings out to
for yourself. Now,"
you'llget another one
And
I throws away
the crowd, "we'll have Mrs. Sampson!"
that

boy

hat.

and

coat

my

was

of the

Four

death, they

sure

beginning to

to

say,

singsout,

feelinglike it, "do you

the eye?"
without
I jabbed each elbow
off of
hold.

you

than

yet.
and

It's

me.

was

in

me

laughing yet, but

put flaxseed

to

face, kicked

fireman's

tripped the
into the

I busted

of

other

house.

in

eye

bark

the
with

one

not

side

If I die first I'll

there
down
if it's any
worse
the inside of that yellow house was
; but don't believe it

write

of

then

And

kind

expect

citizen's shin, and

one

of

house, for the floors

in the

go

hold

grabs

fall through.

in blazes," I

"How

citizens

and

firemen

was

broiled
smoke

letter and

heap

chicken
had

me

tell you

cooked

more

that
down

you
on

than

get in

the

hurry-up

The

restaurants.

the floor twice, and

orders

was

about

fire
to

helped me with their little

She'd
of water, and I got to Mrs. Sampson's room.
stream
lost conscientiousness from the smoke, so I wrapped her in
shame

Herkimer,

but

the firemen

THE
the bedclothes
wasn't

by

not

no

OF

and

bad

as

HANDBOOK
got her on
they said, or

as

HYMEN

shoulder.

my

could

never

fiftyyards from

have

the house

the grass.

one

two

crowded

Then, of course, every

to the lady's hand
plaintiffs

dippers of

ready

water

done

it
"

to

save

her.

from

Mrs.

laid her

and

on

of them

other twentyaround
with tin

And

runs

up

the

boy

the flaxseed.

unwrapped
opened her eyes

the

covers

and
Mr.

Pratt.?"

"S-s-sh,"

I.

"Don't

runs

and

my

breaks

around

arm

the

I could

as

easy

says

in the outer

bag

Sampson's head.

She

says:

"Is that you,

I

Well, the floors

means.

I carried her out

with

167

talk tillyou've had the

her neck

of flaxseed

I bends

and

over

and

with

remedy."
head, gentle,

raises her
the other

slipsthree

hand; and

as

four of the seeds

or

of her eye.
gallopsthe villagedoc by this time, and
corner

Up
snorts
around,
and grabs at Mrs. Sampson's pulse,and wants
what
to know
I mean
by any such sandblasted nonsense.
"Well, old Jalap and Jerusalem
oakseed," says I, "I'm
no
regular practitioner,but I'll show you my
authority,
anyway."
They fetched my coat, and I gets out the Handbook.
"Look
117," says I, "at the remedy for suffocation
on
page
of the
by smoke or gas. Flaxseed in the outer corner
it says.

eye,

or

whether

the

there's
Old
specs

first.

case

doc
and

takes
a

and

after all

want

it, and

says
to

make

book

and

looks

at

sumer
smoke-con-

it

he
a

called

was

consultation,

Pratt," says

readingyour
a

and
"

it

by

means

of his

lantern.

he, "you evidently got

diagnosis. The

'Get the patient into fresh air

place in

for *Dust

the

fireman's

line in
says

as

compound gastro-hippopotamus

Herkimer

If you

it works

objection."

no

"Well, Mr.
wrong

whether

it hikes the

into action, but

nerve

to

I don't know

as

on

the

tion
recipefor suffocaquicklyas possible,

rechning position.' The flaxseed remedy is

Cinders in the Eye,' on the line above.
But,

STORIES

168

here,"

"See

something

raises

"Put

says:

And
other
that
if

if

so

you'd

day,

^Irs.

was

you

table

to

was

in

the

wisdom.

step

parlor

any

inside

embellishing
you'd

see

subject

and
the

on

red

pertaining

human

any

Pratt,
And

it.

adorning
marble-top

and

morocco,

to

and

or

Mrs.

with

of

Handbook
in

she

again,

arm

to-morrow,

house

yellow

done

dear."

Rosa

at

got

then

And

my

Sandy

off

new

on

I've

flaxseed

tried."

back

it

"Herkimer's
rebound

That

ever

eye,

stop

fine

Sampson,

all
on

other

to

see

Information,"
consulted

the

was

you

lays

and
in

some

reckon

"I

Sampson,

anything

head

HENRY

consultation.

this

than

her

up

in

say

good

more

me

Mrs.

interrupts

to

O.

FROM

centre

Indispensable
ready
happiness

to

be

and

Trimmed

The

From

s^ine,August,

Unlike

published in McClure's Magaof O. Henry's shop-girl stories

but
itselfwith possiblepitfalls

First

Lamp.

1906.

LAMP

TRIMMED

THE

most

Lamp does not concern

with
self-improvement. It is a classic of self-culture
means
Its text might well have been these words
through the vocation.
the meanest
of the historian Froude:
"Every occupation, even
but
the chimney-sweep's
the scavenger's or
I don't
every
say
the
of
which
to
adds
kind,
mancapital
anything
productive occupation
if followed assiduouslywith a desire to understand
everything
summit
is nowhere,
with
connected
it,is an ascending stair whose
the horizon of knowledge
the successive steps of which
and from
Trimmed

The

of

"

"

sketched:
the three types of character
in
Lear
Horatio
Hamlet, is the good,
or

perpetuallyenlarges."Notice
in

like Kent

Dan,

King

ascending type; Lou is the

Lamp," said O. Henry, "is the
descending type. ''The Trimmed
other side of An
Unfinished Story.'''It is the other side because
is seK-impelledupward,
or
Nancy, the leading character, moves
is the

steady, stationary type; Nancy

while Dulcie

Of

look

such

No

They

persons

the

to

an

and

to go

Both

were

to

on

go

The

often

hear

exist.

There

are

live

Nancy

find work

homes

We

question. Let us
"shop-girls" spoken of.
girlswho work in shops.
But why turn their occupation

to

the

be

fair.

sides

livingthat way.
adjective? Let us

girlswho

Lou

two

their

make
into

to

are

other.

the

at

drawn

or

there

course

downward.

was

moved

on

were

because

around.

Fifth

Nancy

do

not

refer

"marriage-girls."
to the big city
They came
not
enough to eat at their

Avenue

chums.
there

We

was

as

nineteen; Lou

was

pretty, active, country

girlswho

had

twenty.

was
no

ambition

the stage.

little cherub

that sits up
169

aloft

guided them

to

cheap

O.

FROM

STORIES

170

HENRY

respectableboarding-house. Both
became
They remained
wage-earners.
that I would
end of six months
beg you

found

and

introduced

be

please take notice

cautiously;for they are
hands

in

box

Lou

the horse

at

is

clothed

in

four inches

the

before

blue eyes

Nancy
habit.

step forward

to

Reader:

My

and

Lady
shaking

Lou.

Yes,

"

"

quick

as

resent

to

stare

lady

as

is.

show

piece-work ironer in a hand laundry. She is

a
badly fittingpurple dress, and her hat plume is
too
long; but her ermine muff and scarf cost $25,
will be ticketed

its fellow beasts

and

It is at the

TMiile you
are
their
attire.
cautiously of

Miss

and

Nancy

friends, Miss

chums.

Meddlesome

them.

to

positionsand

would

There

is no

call

type

shop-girl

"

but

from

$7.98

at

her

light

have

the

pink, and

are

radiates

Contentment

bright.
you

cheeks

Her

is over.

season

in the windows

her.

because

you

generationis always

perverse

seeking a type; so this is what the type should be. She has
the exaggerated straightthe high-ratted pompadour, and
flare. No
skirt is shoddy, but has the correct
front.
Her
furs protect her against the bitter spring air, but she wears
her short broadcloth
jacket as jauntily as though it were
lamb

Persian

remorseless

in her eyes,

her face and

! On

type-

typical shop-girlexpression. It is a look of

revolt against cheated
but contemptuous
womanhood;
\^Tien she laughs
to come.
prophecy of the vengeance

seeker, is the
silent
of sad
her

loudest

the

look

is still there.

The

look

same

in the eyes of Russian

peasants; and those
it some
day on Gabriel's face when he comes

seen
see

It is

up.

has been

that

look

should

to smirk

known

wither

at it and

of

abash

and

offer flowers

us

left will

to

blow
but

man;

with

"

be

can

us

he

string

tied to them.
lift your

Now

cheery
Nancy
like

hat and

"See

you

that

seems,

white

moth

two

waited

The

steady

company.

come

again,"

and

somehow,
up
on

over

the

the
corner

Faithful.^

while you

away,

the
to

sardonic,

miss

housetops

to

for Dan.

Well, he

was

smile

sweet

and

you

Lou's

receive

go

of

fluttering

the stars.
Dan

was

Lou's

on

hand

when

O.

HENRY

year

was

FROM

STORIES

172

girlssay her bill in the store last

It cost me
mine, myself
$1.50.

feet away

Ten

tell it from

and

starve

good

couldn't

you

hers."

good-naturedly, "if

well," said Lou,

"Oh,

I made

$12,000.

put
and

wages;

attractive

to

airs, go ahead.

on

after hours

w^ear

as

But

give me
able to

am

want

you

I'll take

my

something
buy."

as

to

job
fancy

and
and

with a
serious young
a
man
came
just then Dan
ready-made necktie, who had escaped the city'sbrand of
frivolity an electrician earning $30 per week who looked
and thought her emLou with the sad eyes of Romeo,
broidered
upon
waist a web in which
fly should delightto be
any
caught.
But

"

"

Owens

friend, Mr.

*'My

"

shake

with

hands

Miss

Dan-

forth," said Lou.

*'

I'm

with

mighty glad to

outstretched

know

hand.

you.

"I've

Miss
heard

Danforth," said Dan,

Lou

speak

of you

so

often."
said

"Thanks,"

Nancy, touching his fingerswith

of her cool ones, "I've

Lou giggled.
"Did

heard

get that

you

Fisher, Nance?"

her mention

handshake

from

you

"

Mrs.

the

tips

few times."

Van

Alstyne

she asked.

"If I did, you

feel safe in copying it,"said Nancy.
can
It's
"Oh, I couldn't use it at all. It's too stylishfor me.
intended
tillI get
"Learn

to

few

off diamond

set

and

then

it first,"said

likelyto get

rings,that high

shake

is.

Wait

I'll try it."

Nancy

wisely,"and

you'llbe

more

the

rings."
"Now,
argument," said Dan, with his ready,
cheerful smile, "let me
make
I can't take
a proposition. As
both of you
do
up to Tiffany'sand do the rightthing,what
to settle this

you

about

say

to

little vaudeville.'^

How
I've got the tickets.
since we
can't shake hands

looking at stage diamonds

with the real sparklers
.f^"
The
faithful squire took his place close to the curb; Lou
next, a littlepeacocky in her brightand pretty clothes;Nancy

TRIMMED

THE

LAMP

173

soberly clothed
Alstyne Fisher walk

the inside,slender, and

on

but

with

the

out

for their

suppose

an

as

surrounded
refinement.

people

The

set

great department
the

in which

one

your

she

money

served

for it,or

pays

mostly

were

another's.
whose

women

dress,

quoted as
position in the social world were
them
From
Nancy began to take toll the best
according to her view.

and

manners,

criterions.
each

from

they

was

whether

is yours

sparrow,

thus

something like that to her. She was

of taste and
by beautiful things that breathed
live in an
If you
atmosphere of luxury, luxury

worked

Nancy

"

diversion.

evening'smoderate

look upon
that many
But
educational institution.

I do not
store

true

Van

the

as

From

"

she would

one
an

of

copy

practicea gesture, from

and

other
an-

of an eyebrow, from others, a manner

eloquent lifting
walking, of carrying a purse, of smiling,of greeting

From
her best
friend, of addressing "inferiors in station."
Van
beloved
model, Mrs.
Alstyne Fisher, she made
sition
requifor that excellent thing, a soft, low voice as clear

silver and

as

as

in the

Suffused

perfectin

articulation

of this

aura

high

as

the notes

social refinement

of

thrush.

and

good

a deeper effect
impossible for her to escape
breeding, it was
said to be better than good prinof it. As good habits are
ciples,
better than good habits.
are
so, perhaps,good manners
New
not keep alive your
The teachings of your
parents may
England conscience; but if you sit on a straight-backchair
and repeat the words
"prisms and pilgrims"forty times, the
when
And
devil will flee from
Nancy spoke in the
you.
Van
Alstyne Fisher tones she felt the thrill of noblesse oblige

her

to

bones.

very

There

was

another

school.

gather
think
way

in

that
Ethel

source

Whenever

of

learning in
see

you

three

the great departmental

four shop-girls
or

companiment
jingletheir wire bracelets as an acto apparently frivolous
conversation, do not
the
of criticizing
they are there for the purpose
lack the digThe meeting may
does her back hair.
nity

bunch

and

of the deliberative

bodies

of

man;

but

it has

all the in?-

FROM

STORIES

174

portance of the occasion

first put their heads

place

proper

O.

which

on

and

Eve
make

together to
household.

in the

HENRY
her first daughter

Adam

understand

It is Woman's

his

Conference

Exchange of StrategicalTheories
and against the World, which
and Repulse upon
of Attack
who
Persists in Throwing
its audience
is a stage, and Man,
the most
helpless of the
Bouquets Thereupon. Woman,
and

Defense

for Common

animal
with the fawn's
of any
fleetness; with the bird's beauty but

young

its

without

of

some

"

us

without

its

its power
of
but without

of sweetness

honey-bee's burden
Oh, let's drop that simile
the

with
flight;

but

grace

"

have

may

been

stung.
this council

During
and

of

they

war

that

exchange stratagems

formulated

pass

each

to

one

weapons

has

devised

other,
an-

and

of the tactics of life.

out

*'I says to 'im," says

Sadie, "ain't you the fresh thing!
I am,
Who
do you
to be addressing such a remark
suppose
think he says back to me?"
And
what
do you
to me?

together;the
decided

upon,

at-arms

with

means

curriculum

Perhaps

other

no

her life's ambition

Her
room

with
the

the art of

"

defense; and

victory.
of a department
collegecould have
the drawing of a

in the

station

the thrust

store

was

near

enough

the

works

of the

was

for her
best

is

in passages-

man.

enemy,

common

learned

defense
The

be

to

Nancy

Thus

given; and the parry to

used by each thereafter

is

answer

the

yellow, bob

black, flaxen, red, and

brown,

heads,

The

to

store

is

wide

one.

and
"

at

one.

well

as

matrimonial

hear

cessful
suc-

woman

fitted her

favored

composers

to

for

prize.
music

The

become

familiar

least to

acquire

passed for appreciation in the social

was
vaguely trying to set a tentative and
absorbed
the educating influence of art

familiaritythat

world

in which

she

aspiringfoot. She
of costly and
wares,
almost
The
"Here

culture

to

dainty fabrics, of adornments

that

are

women.

Nancy's ambition.
millionaire,Nancy," they would call to her

other

girlssoon

comes

your

became

aware

of

whenever

any

It got to be
while their women

handkerchief

folk

before her.
were

Nancy

learned to discriminate.

certainly no

of the handkerchief

end

of vehicles

waiting for

looked and
their

thus

the

their

There

displaytheir

window

she could

the

at

the

see

rows

the street below.

shoppers in

differ

perceived that automobiles

as

well

apes!

sedulous
a

was

and

counter;

squares.

been millionau-es

have

may

more

to

came

than

others

the

to

over

genuine dainty beauty

and

of them

Some

stroll

the cambric

over

high-bred air
attracted.
Many men

what

graces

dawdle

ter.
coun-

hanging about

were

shopping,to

were

and

counter

who

men,

imitation

Nancy's
was

of

habit

175

looked the role approached her

who

man

LAMP

TRIMMED

THE

She
as

do

owners.

Once

gentleman bought
fascinating
and

Cophetua

air.

her

wooed

he

When

the

across

had

gone

four

counter

with

King
girlssaid:

of the

one

kerchiefs,
hand-

dozen
a

Nance, that you didn't warm

up to that
He looks the swell article,
all right,to me."
!?^.^
her coolest, sweetest, most
said Nancy, with
"Him.?"
I
Alstyne Fisher smile; "not for mine.
impersonal, Van
"What's

him

saw

wrong,

drive

Irish chauffeur!
he

bought"

the real
Two

And

silk!

thing or

outside.

up

saw

you

he's got
nothing, if you

of the most

And

"refined"

H.

12

P.

an

kind of handkerchiefs

what

dactylison
please."

him.

in the store"

women

and

machine

Give

me

forelady

gentlemen friends" with

whom
Once they included Nancy
and then dined.
they now
invitation. The dinner took place in a spectacular
m
an
cafe whose tables are engaged for New
Year's Eve a year in
out
advance.
There were
two
"gentlemen friends"" one withit;and we can
high livingungrew
any hair on his head"
and sophistiwhose
worth
It" the other young
man
cation
prove
he impressed upon
in two
convincing waysyou
he swore
that all the wme
diamond
was
corked; and he wore
and

cashier"

cuff

buttons.

ceUencies
was

one

in

had

This

Nancy.

that added

few

young

His

"swell

perceived irresistibleex-

man

taste

the voice and

ran

to

manners

shop-girls;and
of his

here

high social

FROM

STORIES

176

world

of her

charms

franker

the

to

HENRY

O.

So,

caste.

own

the

on

her a
following day, he appeared in the store and made
of hemstitched.,
box
serious proposal of marriage over
a
declined.
brown
A
grass-bleached Irish linens. Nancy
had been using her eyes and ears.
pompadour ten feet away
she heaped carboys of upTVTien the rejectedsuitor had gone
Nancy's head.
braidings and horror upon
*'^Miat
millionaire
he

he's

"

Skittles himself.
Have

level, too.

the

fellow's

That

are!

you

of old Van

nephew

talking on

was

little fool

terrible

And
crazy,

gone

you

Nance?"
isn't

said

I?"

*'Have

millionaire

family only

His

allows

didn't

that

him

could

you

$20,000

about

nearer

and

The

spend.

to

year

him

guying

was

He
him, did I?
notice it,anyhow.

take

it the other

night

supper."

at

for lack of

and

Dowie
Ain't $20,000

"It
"His

and

Mormon,

King of Spain and

good enough for you?

Do

you?
and

stone
Gladbunch?

"

of the

black,

eyes.

altogetherthe

wasn't
friend

caught

about

was

some

him

in

girlhe

with.

Well, I can't stand

I don't

like

going to

be

him; and
on

any

lie the other

rank

Carrie," she explained.

money,

liar.

Put

that settles it.

make

walking away.
high ideas, if

These
on

$8 per week.

to the theater

everything together
"

I sell out

When

it'snot

something
Yes, I'm looking
something more

toy bank."

physiopathicward

"The

dinner.

I've got to have

bargain day.

noise like

night at

been

said he hadn't

that sits up in a chair like a man,

anyhow.
out for a catch; but it's got to be able to do
than

for

whole

the

level gaze

the

little under

her eyes.
voice hoarse

Rockefeller

marry

the

year

flushed

Nancy
shallow

narrowed

inquired,in
that enough

she

"Ain't

chewing-gum.
to be

want

came

want?"

do you

what

"Say,
you

pompadour

browTi

The

It

hard

so

fellow

bald-headed

"I

Nancy.

not

for

yours!"

ideals
She

"

said the brown

^Nancy continued

bivouacked

on

padour,
pom-

to

tivate
cul-

the trail of the

On

her belt

deep unerring
of the

woman

instinct

"

"

perhaps

her

made

she raised her

and

hold

tightening

the faint,soldierly,

face

times

many

broad-antlered

seemed

that

her

and

was
day by day.
grim smile of the preordained man-hunter.

her forest; and

was

177

"catch," eatingher dry bread

great unknown
sweet,

LAMP

TRIMMED

THE

big;
of

her

the

The

store

rifle at game

but

always some
huntress, perhaps

fire and

take

the

trail

again.
Lou
she

flourished in the laundry.

paid $6

for her

room

and

Out

board.

of her $18.50 per week

The rest went
mainly

opportunitiesfor bettering her taste and

few compared with Nancy 's. In the steaming
were
manners
laundry there was nothing but work, work, and her thoughts
of the evening pleasuresto come.
Many costlyand showy
be that her growing
fabrics passed under her iron; and it may
to her through the
thus transmitted
for dress was
fondness
conducting metal.
awaited her outside,
Dan
the day's work
When
over
was
in whatever
her faithful shadow
lightshe stood.
he cast an honest and troubled glance at Lou's
Sometimes
in style;
in conspicuity rather than
clothes that increased
he deprecatedthe attention they
but this was
disloyalty;
no
for clothes.

Her

called to her in the streets.

less faithful to her chum.
And
Lou
no
was

There

was

outings
Nancy should go with them on whatsoever
burden
bore the extra
Dan
heartilyand
they might take.
It might be said that Lou furnished the color,
in good cheer.
ing
Nancy the tone, and Dan the weight of the distraction-seektrio. The
escort, in his neat but obviously ready-made
suit, his ready-made tie and unfailing,genial,ready-made
cf that good kind
He
startled or clashed.
was
wit, never
that you
likelyto forget while they are present, but
are
after they are
remember
distinctly
gone.
To Nancy's superiortaste the flavor of these ready-made
she was
sometimes
a little bitter: but
pleasureswas
young.'
be a gourmet.
it cannot
and youth is a gourmand, when
him right away,"
"Dan
is always wanting me
to marry
law

that

STORIES

178
told her

Lou
I

do

can

would

what

Nance,

and

half starve
the

that

"I
rather
I've

don't

do you want
and half dress

could
think

live

on

afford

good deal

HENRY

if
a

never

And

you'd

It

come.

little less

get

for,
a

you

to

seems

if you

stuck-up

more

half rations

got the habit.

independent

I could
yourself.'^

money."
stuck-up,Lou,"

I'm

I'm

stick to that old store

to

be

to

I?

I earn;
and he
money
on
working afterward.

laundry right now

you

could make

the

keep

to

me

0.

why should

please with

for

agree

say,

me

"But

once.

as

place in

FROM

stay where

and

It's the

said

chance

Nancy, "but
I

that

I'd

I suppose
I don't

am.

I want.

be

I'm learning somealways behind a counter.

thing
new
day. I'm rightup against refined and rich
every
if I do only wait on them; and I'm
even
people all the time
not missing any
pointersthat I see passing around."
Caught your millionaire yet.^ asked Lou with her teasing
Jaugh.
"I haven't
selected one
yet," answered
Nancy. "I've
been looking them
over."
Goodness
! the idea of picking over
'em ! Don't you ever
let one
if he's a few dollars shy.
even
get by you, Nance
But of course
you're joking millionaires don't think about
working girlslike us."
"It might be better for them
if they did," said Nancy,
to

expect

"

"

"

"

"

"

with

cool wisdom.

take

care

"If
have

of their

one
a

between

us

could

teach

them

how

money."
speak to me," laughed Lou, "I know

because

Don't

you

bright for
looked

"Well,

no,

at

don't know

you

swells and

closer.
Lou

to

of

to

I'd

duck-fit."

"That's

bit too

was

"Some

other

people

think

that

that
the

I don't

is you
red silk

have

only difference
to

watch

liningis just a

'em
little

coat, Lou.^"

plain,dull
"

The

any.

but

it may
got on."

olive
seem

jacket of
so

her

friend.

beside that faded^

lookingthing you've
"This
jacket," said Nancy, complacently, "has exactly
the cut and fitof one that Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher was
wear-

STORIES

180

"honor"

and
make

hkeness

mighty
where
At

and

sees

these

times

the

One
across

Dan
There
"I
from

or

at

the

moose

him

of Nimrod

sometimes

its market

or

and

of rest

himself

Let

elk in

some

embowered,
and

comfort.
blunt.

grows

if Persian

us

lamb

always

was

value

by the hearts that it covered.

Thursday evening Nancy left the store and turned
Sixth Avenue
westward
to the laundry. She was
pected
exand Dan
to go with Lou
to a musical
comedy.
was
justcoming out of the laundry when she arrived.
at

was

strained

queer,

thought

I would

look

drop

his face.

on

around

to

if

see

they had

heard

her," he said.

"Heard
"I

hunts

Httle dell, mossy

spear

So, Nancy wondered

HENRY

just *'bHndness."

rill trickles,babbling to

quoted

who

one

He

O.
then

and

now

of

wood.

FROM

from

thought

who?"

knew,"

you

the house

asked

said Dan.

"She

she lived since

where

"Isn't

Nancy.

Lou

hasn't

Monday.

there?"
been

She

here

moved

all her

She told one

of the girlsin the
things from there.
laundry she might be going to Europe."
"Hasn't
her anyT\^here?"asked Nancy.
anybody seen
Dan
looked at her with his jaws set grimly, and a steely
gleam in his steady gray eyes.
in the laundry," he said, harshly, "that
"They told me
her pass yesterday in an
automobile.
With
they saw
one
"

of the millionaires,I suppose,

busying your brains about."
the first time

For

her hand

"I

no

didn't

fumbled
"I've
a

slightlyon

right to say
anything to do with

I had

such

in his vest

it !

thing

way,"
pocket.

gallantshow of lightness. "If

Nancy admired pluck whenever
you,
went

Dan,"

by

were

forever
laid

She

man.

sleeve.

Dan's

said

got the tickets for the show

"I'll go with
Three
months

Lou

to

me,

Dan

"

if

as

"

it that

mean

and

Na\icy quailed before

that trembled

"You've

that you

Dan,

softening.

to-night,"he said, with

"

you

she

saw

it.

she said.
before

He

Nancy

saw

Lou

again.

THE

At

twilight one

181

shop-girlwas
little quiet park.
She

wheeled

called, and
her

of

LAMP

the

evening

the border

along

TRIMMED

about

in time

to

they

drew

catch

hurrying
heard

her

home
name

rushing

Lou

into

arms.

After

the

first embrace

serpents do, ready

attack

to

charm,

to

or

their

heads

with

back

as

thousand

their
swift
And
then
questions trembling on
tongues.
that prosperity had
noticed
descended
Lou,
Nancy
upon
manifesting itself in costly furs, flashinggems, and creations
of the

tailors' art.
little fool!"

"You
"I

see

ever.
"

"

cried

still working

you

are

And

how

about

that

nothing doing yet,

And

Lou

then

cheeks, and

loosed

from
I'm

leave

to

now

"

it next

the

force

more

store, and

big catch

were

you

that

something better
Nancy
something

saw

upon

than
that

"

in her

danced

week.

and

eyes

like

I've

You

to

of the

corner

young
"

made

won't

married

endurable

affectionately.
as
shabby as
going to make

redder

than

anxious
electricity

rose

be

to

of her

tip

smooth-faced

crop,

and

tongue.
still in the store," said Nancy,

going to be
why, Lou!"

Around

with

that

in the world.

catch
I'm

the

in that

looked, and

in her

loudly

suppose.?^"

descended
prosperity had
shone brighter than gems

"Yes,

Lou,

Dan

catch

my

mind
"

Dan!

park strolled

policemen

at least to

"

the

"

he's

going
biggest
you?
"

are

He

Dan

my

of those

one

that

the eye.

I'm

Lou, will

now,

to

"but

new-

making
saw

the

woman

ing
expensive fur coat and diamond-ringed hands crouchdown
against the iron fence of the park sobbing turbulently,while a slender, plainly dressed working girlleaned
the Gibsonian
close, trying to console her.
But
being
cop,
of the new
order, passed on, pretending not to notice, for he
w^ise enough to know
that these matters
was
are
beyond
he represents is concerned, though
help so far as the power
he rap the pavement
with his night-sticktill the sound
goes
up

an

to

the

furthermost

stars.

CABALLERO'S

THE

From

of the

First

published in Everybody'sMagazine,
For O. Henry's intimate
July, 1907.
knowledge of the life portrayed
in this dramatic
story, see Chapter V of the 0. Henry Biography. The stylealone, however, is proof that he does not write from
It is different from
the New
York style.
hearsay or book sources.
it
is
It
and
is conscious
vivid,
Though equally direct
wider-spaced.
of a sky above
it rather than a roof.
O.
of
Henry's stories
Forty
take place in Texas.
he was
When
a prisonerm
Ohio, a guard asked
him why he was
of the yard. "Are
sittingin a certain corner
you
the
he
"I
sit
shade.^"
Mr.
like
to
"No,
Nolan,"
seeking
replied,
over

Heart

WAY

here because

Jinks him

I feel a littlenearer

This stor3% however.

his birthplace. His schoolmates

Texas."

to Greensboro,
interestingly

how

remember

Negro

West.

song

at

the age

of ten

he used

sing or

to

shout

running,
*Tf you don't stop foolingwith my
I tell you what
I'll do ;
I'll feel around
And

I'llcut

with

heart

your

liver out

your

Lula

razor

too."

slightlydifferent version, from East Tennessee, may be found in

The Journal
Folk-Lore, April-June, 1915, page 184.
of American
Note how
a
fragment of this stanza with its ominous "and so on"
without
is used to foreshadow
revealing the tragicending of the
but without
fragment recurs
story, and how at the close the same
A

"and

so

The
fair

on"

there

"

Cisco

Kid

scrimmages,

Mexicans),

modestly

was

and
forbore

no

had
had
had
to

of it.

need

killed

six

twice

murdered

winged

larger
Therefore

count.

him182

in

men
as

more

many

number
a

woman

or

less

(mostly
whom

he

loved

CABALLERO'S

WAY

twenty-five,looked

twenty;

THE
The

Kid

insurance

was

would

company

have

estimated

of his demise

twenty-six.

between

the Rio

at, say,
the Frio and
he

because

it

of

"

for his

own

w^ould

suflfice. He

shoot

five-sixths of

every

Tonia

Carmen,

in

"

Lone

the

rest, let

in the

us

herded

lizard

ranger

that
from

half
who

always be something
She lived
humming-bird.
can

littleMexican

Frio.

With

to

hundred
from

the
had

settlement

her lived
less than

goats and

a
a

father

oi

thousand

lived in
Back

drinking mescal.
bristlingpear, twenty

at the

tinuous
con-

of the

feet

high
almost
It was
to its door.
along the
this spinous thicket that the speckled
Kid to see his girl. And
clinging
once,
ridge-pole,high up under the peaked

forest of

crowded

roof, he

was

say,

dream

of
bewildering maze
would
bring the
roan

grass

or

lineal Aztec, somewhat

tremendous

its worst,

sheriff

any

could

he

speckledroan horse
mesquite and pear thickets

half Madonna

and

drunken

like

because

"

his mind

"

old, who

jacal a

to

came

arrest

Perez, the girlwho loved the Cisco Kid, was

half Madonna,
and the rest
oh, yes, a woman

grandfather,a

at

he rode

grass-roofedjacalnear
Wolf Crossing of the

years

than

avoid

to

that

sooner

probable time
was
anywhere

killed for the love

He

reason

careful

to Matamoras.

is half Carmen
more

Grande.

escaped capture

second

cow-path

Antonio

San

had

because

in the service,and
knew

any

"

His habitat

"

amusement

and

the

quick-tempered

was

183

heard

Tonia,

with

her

Madonna

face

beauty and humming-bird soul,parley with the

in soft melange
sheriff's posse, denying knowledge of her man
of Spanish and English.
is, ex
One
day the adjutant-general of the State, who
sarcastic
of the ranger forces, wrote
commander
some
officio,
of Company
lines to Captain Duval
X, stationed at Laredo,
existence led by murand undisturbed
relative to the serene
derers
and desperadoes in the said captain'sterritory.
The
captain turned the color of brick dust under his
the letter,after adding a few comments,
tan, and forwarded
and

Carmen

per

ranger

Private

Bill

Adamson,

to

ranger

Lieutenant

FROM

STORIES

184

O.

HENRY

hole on
with a
the Nueces
Sandridge, camped at a water
in preservationof law and order.
squad of five men
Lieutenant
Sandridge turned a beautiful couleur de rose
through his ordinary strawberry complexion, tucked the letter
in his hip pocket, and chewed
off the end of his gamboge
moustache.
The

saddled

he

morning

next

settlement

to the Mexican

and

Wolf

Lone

the

at

miles away.
feet two, blond
as

his horse

alone

rode

Crossing of

the

Frio, twenty
Six

as

machine

gun,

and

than

more

certain

Mexicans

the

law, the
of

vengeance

It had

sought.

"to

been

as

kick":

gerous
deacon, danthe

jacales,

Kid.

lone

dreaded

rider

Kid's

of the

among

Mexicans

the

one

them

see

Cisco

of the

patientlyseeking news
Far

viking, quiet
Sandridge moved
a

if he

that

the
the

pastimes

demanded

cold

ranger

shoot

to

from

them

tained,
Terpsichorean feats,simply that he might be enterwhat
terrible and extreme
penaltieswould be certain
One and all they lounged
to follow should
they anger him!
w^ith upturned palms and shrugging shoulders, filling
the air
with
"quien sabes" and denials of the Kid's acquaintance.
Fink who
But there was
named
a man
kept a store at the
of many
nationalities,tongues, interests,
Crossing a man
of thinking.
and ways
"No
to ask them
use
Mexicans," he said to Sandridge.
"They're afraid to tell. This hombre they call the Kid

moribund

"

"

Goodall

is his

twice.

I have

hundred

would

be

you

to

than

I used

But
he

say,

"

no,

to

be, and

to

comes

the

I don't

in my

might run across

myself. I'm two

this kid's got

yards down

she

Maybe

idea

keer

thinking about.
the Crossing that

he's been

"

an

I guess I don't
in pullinga gun

ain't it?

name,

arroyo

suppose

once

at

seconds

half-Mexican
lives in

"

or

but
later

is worth

girlat
that jacal

edge of the pear.

she would, but that jacal
at

the

good place to watch, anyway."

Sandridge rode down to the jacal of Perez.

low, and

him

the difference

She

see.

store

the

broad

shade

of the

great pear

The
thicket

sun

was

already

CABALLERO'S

THE

WAY

185

The
enclosed
grass-thatched hut.
goats were
for the night in a brush corral near
by. A few kids walked
The
old Mexithe top of it,nibbling the chaparral leaves.
can
blanket
the grass, already in a stupor
a
on
lay upon
from his mescal^ and dreaming, perhaps, of the nights when
he and Pizarro touched
glassesto their New World fortunes
old his wrinkled
face seemed
to proclaim him
And
to be.
so
of the jacal stood
Tonia.
And
in the door
Lieutenant
Sandridge sat in his saddle staring at her like a gannet

covered

the

"

at

agape

sailorman.

Cisco

The

Kid

assassins

had he known
in
abandoned

she

men

that

at

had

would

have

and

been

cessful
suc-

ruffled

He

Tonia

seemed

smiled,
had

known

and

had

the
been

sun

man

blood-red

illuminate

to

though

as

such

seen

of sunshine

to be made

he

his bosom

and

all eminent

as

person,

simple exchange of glances two persons,

whose
minds
he had been looming large,suddenly/
(at least for the time) all thought of him.

weather.
when

vain

are,

before

Never
seemed

was

the

small

tissue and

shadow

were

this.

as

He
clear

of the

pear

risingagain.

The

and

dark.

Even

the

Kid, in spite of his achievements, was

a
striplingno larger
than
herself,with black, straight hair and a cold, marble
face that

chilled the

noonday.
As for Tonia, though she sends descriptionto the poorhouse,
let her make
millionaire of your
a
fancy. Her blue-black
in the middle
close to
and bound
hair, smoothly divided
her head, and her largeeyes full of the Latin melancholy, gave
her the Madonna
touch.
Her motions
and air spoke of the
concealed
from

the

fire and

the desire to charm

gitanas of

the

that she had

Basque province.

As

inherited

for the humming-bird

part of her, that dwelt

perceive it

unless

her

bright

could not
in her heart; you
red skirt and dark blue blouse

hint

of the vagarious bird.

symbolic
The
newly lighted sun-god asked for a drink of water.
Tonia
brought it from the red jar hanging under the brush
shelter.
to dismount
so
Sandridge considered it necessary
gave

as

you

to lessen the

trouble

of her ministrations.

I
any

FROM

STORIES

186

play

no

do

nor

spy;

assume

O.

HENRY

to

master

the

thoughts of

heart; but I assert, by the chronicler's right,that

human

quarter of

hour

had

sped, Sandridge was

teaching
her how
to plaita six-strand rawhide
stake-rope, and Tonia
it not for her little English
had explained to him that were
book that the peripateticpadre had given her and the little
crippledchivo, that she fed from a bottle, she would be very,
very lonely indeed.
leads to a suspicionthat the Kid's fences needed
Which
pairing,
rehad faller*
and that the adjutant-general's
sarcasm
unproductive soil.
upon
In his camp
nounced
Sandridge anby the water hole Lieutenant
of either causing the
and reiterated his intention
Cisco Kid to nibble the black loam of the Frio country prairies
sounded
of haling him before a judge and jury. That
or
before

Twice

business-like.

Crossing

of

lemon-tinted

an

week

directed

Frio, and

the

six-strand

over

to

the Lone

plaitis

hard

to

Wolt

slim, slightly

Tonia's

the intricacies of the

fingersamong

lariata.

he rode

slowly growing

learn

and

easy

Kid

there

at

to

teach.
The
visit.
eye

ranger

He

knew

kept

for the

pear

might bring down

that he

his armament
thicket
the

at

might find the

ready, and
the

kite and

rear

the

of the

had

jacal.

humming-bird

any

frequent
Thus
with

he
one

stone.

pursuing his
sunny-haired ornithologistwas
also attending to his professional
studies the Cisco Kid was
He moodily shot up a saloon in a small cow
duties.
village
marshal
(plugging him
Quintana Creek, killed the town
on
neatly in the center of his tin badge), and then rode away,
ing
No true artist is upliftedby shootand unsatisfied.
morose
an
carryingan old-style.38 bulldog.
aged man
On
his way
the Kid
suddenly experienced the yearning
light.
feel when
that all men
wrong-doing loses its keen edge of dehim
he loved to reassure
He yearned for the woman
her to call his
wanted
his in spite of it. He
that she was
He
his cruelty devotion.
bloodthirstiness
bravery and
While

the

FROM

STORIES

188

Don't

you

so

But
his

The

on.

roan

with

monkey

Or I'lltell you

and

O.

what

my

Lulu

girl

I'lldo

inured

was

HENRY

to

it, and

did

mind

not

the poorest singer will,after a certain time, gain

to refrain from
consent
contributingto the world's

even

own

by the time he was within a mile or two

of Tonia's jacal,had reluctantlyallowed his song to die away
less charming
his vocal performance had become
not because
his laryngeal muscles
but because
to his own
were
ears,
So the Kid,

noises.

"

aweary.

As

he

though

wheeled

and

were

danced

in

ring the speckled roan

labyrinth of pear until at

circus

through the
by certain

landmarks
that the Lone
length his rider knew
close at hand.
Wolf Crossing was
Then, where the pear was
thinner, he caught sight of the grass roof of the jacal,and
A few yards
the hackberry tree in the edge of the arroyo.
and gazed intentlythrough
farther the Kid stopped the roan
he dismounted,
the prickly openings. Then
dropped the
roan's reins, and proceeded on foot, stooping and silent,like
The
Indian.
making
an
knowing his part, stood still,
roan,
"

sound.

no

The

Kid

thicket and

crept noiselesslyto
reconnoitered

between

the

very

of the

edge

the leaves

of

pear

clump

of

cactus.

hiding-place,in the
sat his Tonia
calmly plaitinga rawhide
might surelyescape condemnation; women
Ten

from
But

yards

from

his

shade

of the
So

lariat.
have

been

jacal,

far she

known,

mischievous
in more
time to time, to engage
occupations.
that her head
if all must
be told, there is to be added

chest of a tall
reposed against the broad and comfortable
about her, guiding
and that his arm
was
red-and-yellowman,
lessons at the
her nimble small fingersthat requiredso many
intricate six-strand plait.
of pear when
Sandridge glanced quicklyat the dark mass
not
he heard
altogether
a
slightsqueaking sound that was

unfamiliar.

gun-scabbard will

make

that sound

when

one

THE
the handle

grasps

of

WAY

189

six-shooter suddenly.

repeated; and

not

was

CABALLERO'S

Tonia's

But

fingersneeded

the sound

close attention.

And

of death, they began to talk of

then, in the shadow
their love; and in the still July afternoon
word
they
every
uttered

reached

the

"Remember,
until I send
tienda

to-day

When

ago.

he

finds you

and
must

come

"All

and

more

kill him.

"He

ain't

"It's kill or
Cisco

he

must

not

come

again

he will be here.
him

saw

is that
here

no

Soon

the

on

he

near

A vaquero at the
Guadalupe three days

always

he

will kill you.

until I send you

If he

comes.

So, for my
the word."

"And
right,"said the ranger.
then," said the girl,"you must

"And

then

comes

sake,

you

what.?"

bring your

here

men

If not, he will kill you."

surrender, that's sure," said Sandridge.

be killed for the oflficerthat goes
up against Mr.
a

to

man

Kid."

"He
be

then," said Tonia, "you

for you.

said

of the Kid.

ears

die," said the girl. "Otherwise

must

any

Let

many.

chance

in the world

peace

to

"You

him

so

die.

for thee

Bring

and

your

He

me.

and

men,

there will not

has

killed

give him

no

escape."

used

think

of him," said Sandridge^

right much
Tonia
dropped the lariat, twisted herself around, and
curved a lemon-tinted
the ranger'sshoulder.
arm
over
"But
in liquidSpanish, "I had not
then," she murmured
beheld thee, thou great, red mountain
of a man
! And
thou
art kind and good, as well as strong.
Could one
choose him,

knowing
fear

thee ?

by day

"How
"When
sometimes

to

can

and

Let him

night lest he

I know

he

die

when

comes,"

three.

for then

hurt

thee

he comes?
said

I will not

"

me."

or

asked

Tonia, "he

Gregorio, the

small

be filledwith

son

Sandridge.
remains
two
days,
of old

Luisa, the

lavandera,has a swift pony.

I will write a letter to thee
and send it by him, saying how
it will be best to come
upon
him.
And
By Gregorio will the letter come.
bring many
with thee, and have much
men
oh, dear red one, for the
care,

STORIES

190

FROM

rattlesnake is not

quickerto

call him, to send

"The

Kid's

Sandridge,

when

"but

I'll get him

with

by myself

things to me that
help. You let me

two

any

Chivato,*as they

his

pistola.''
sure
enough," admitted
gun,

his

for him

come

not

or

HENRY

strike than is 'El

ball from

handy

O.

all.

at

make

want

me

when

know

I shall

alone

come

The

Cap

wrote

to do

the

trick without

Mr.

Kid

one

arrives,and

or

I'll

the rest."

do

will send

"I

the

you

the girl. "I knew

who

men

How

for him.f^"

cared
It

were

you

smiles.

never

by the boy Gregorio," said

braver than that small slayerof
could I ever
have
thought I

message

for the ranger

to ride back
to his camp
on
his horse
he raised
he mounted
Before

time

was

hole.

water

the
the

high from the earth for a

slightform of Tonia with one arm
parting salute. The drowsy stillness of the torpid summer
The smoke
the dreaming afternoon.
air still lay thick upon
blubbered
the frijoles
in the
from the fire in the jacal,where
iron pot, rose
straightas a plumb-line above the clay-daubed
disturbed
the serenityof
chimney. No sound or movement
the dense pear thicket ten yards away.
of Sandridge had disappeared, loping his
When
the form
big dun down the steep banks of the Frio crossing,the Kid
crept back

along

his

to

trail he had

the tortuous

But

He

far.

not

horse, mounted

own

stopped

of the pear until half

heard the high, untrue
and

nearer

nearer;

an

she

and

waited

had

in the

passed.

of his unmusical

notes

to

ran

rode

back

come.

and

hour

him, and

the

edge

And

silent depths
then

Tonia

singingcoming

of the pear

to meet

him.

Kid

The
when
his

he
arms.

seldom
her.

saw

The

Kid

He

dismounted,

looked

hair

clung to his head like

brought a slightrippleof some
smooth, dark
mask.

his hat

smiled; but he smiled and waved

face that

was

at
a

her

and

his

fondly.

wrinkled

usually as

His

thick, black
The

mat.

undercurrent

into

girlsprang

of

meeting
feelingto his

motionless

as

clay

CABALLERO'S

THE
**How's

WAY

191

girl?"he asked, holding her close.

"Sick of waiting so long for you, dear one," she answered.
"My eyes are dim with always gazing into that devil's pincushion
And
I can
into it
through which you come.
see
such

little way,

I will not
alma
and

my

scold.

Que
Go

stake him

mal

you

muchacho

are

here, beloved
! not

to

to

come

one,
see

and
your

rest, and let me water your horse

with the long rope.
in the
There is cool water

often.

more

But

too.

in and

jar for you."

Kid

The
"

for

kissed

if the court

Not

me," said he.

her

affectionately.

knows
"But

itselfdo I let
if you'llrun

as

the Mexicans
he

express

it,where

my

horse

in, chica,and throw a pot

the caballo,I'll be a good

together while I attend to

deal obliged."
his marksmanship the Kid had
Besides
himself greatly. He
for which he admired
of coffee

lady stake

another
was

the ladies

muy
were

attribute

cahallero,
concerned.

always gentle words and consideration.

He could not have
He
spoken a harsh word to a woman.
and brothers, but he
might ruthlesslyslay their husbands
laid the weight of a fingerin anger
could not have
a
upon
Wherefore
of that interestingdivision
of
woman.
many
under the spellof his politenessdeclared
humanity who had come
For

them

had

their disbelief in the stories circulated

One

shouldn't

believe

about

Mr,

Kid.

heard, they said.

everything one
When
confronted
folk with proof of
by their indignant men
the caballero's deeds of infamy, they said maybe he had been
driven to it,and that he knew
how to treat a lady,anyhow.
Considering this extremely courteous
idiosyncrasyof the
Kid and the pride that he took in it, one
can
perceive that
the solution of the problem that was
presented to him by
what he saw
and heard from his hiding-placein the pear that
afternoon
have been
(at least as to one of the actors)must
obscured
by difficulties. And yet one could not think of the
Kid overlooking little matters
of that kind.
At the end of the short twilightthey gathered around a supper
offrijolesy
goat steaks, canned peaches, and coffee,by the

FROM

STORIES

192

lightof

lantern

in the

corraled,smoked

gray

blanket.

washed

dried
she

chatted

small world

had

guitar and

last visit;it

sad

sang

love

you

"I must

go

in

de

amor.

sw^ung

canciones

to

over

you

the

Kid

all his other

as

thought

hammock

with

her

asked
girl.^^"

the

Kid,

Tonia, her dark

little one,'* said

eyes

Fink's," said the Kid, rising,"for

I had

another

quarter of an hour."
"Hasten," said Tonia, "and
in

was

grass

old

just the same,

cigarettepapers.
me

hunting for his

"Always the same,
lingeringupon him.

back

while

been.

Tonia

outside

tobacco.

dishes

few

in

mummy

the

since the Kid's

home-comings

*'Do

the

his

ancestor,

Her
shone;
flour-sackingtowel.
eyes
volubly of the inconsequent happenings of her

with

them

Then

HENRY

jacal. Afterward, the

a
cigaretteand became

flock

Tonia

O.

sack

in my

some

I'll be

coat.

Will

this time.^

own

my

tell me
you

"

how

be gone

long shall I call

again to-morrow,
"

grieve,or will you be longerwith your Tonia .^

"Oh, I might stay two or three days this trip,"said the
the dodge for a month, and
"I've been on
Kid, yawning.
I'd like to rest up."
leaving me

He

to

half

gone

was

Tonia

hour

an

he

When

for his tobacco.

turned
re-

still lying in the hammock.

was

I feel. I feel like there

funny," said the Kid, "how
was
somebody lying behind every bush and tree waiting to
before.
had mullygrubs like them
shoot me.
I never
be
Mayof them
it's one
presumptions. I've got half a notion to
try
lightout in the morning before day. The Guadalupe counI plugged down
is burning up about that old Dutchman
"It's

there."
"You

are

not

afraid

"

no

one

could

make

brave

my

little

fear."

one

"Well,
when
me

that

I haven't

it comes
out

when

been

usually regarded
to scrapping;but I don't want
I'm in your
jacal. Somebody

oughtn't to."

as
a

jack-rabbit

posse

smoking

might get

hurt

THE
''Remain

with

CABALLERO'S

WAY

193

Tonia; no one will find you here."

Kid looked
the
keenly into the shadows
up and down
and toward
the dim lightsof the Mexican
village.

The
arroyo

"I'll

your

how

see

it looks

later on,"

his decision.

was

At

into the rangers' camp,

rode
midnight a horseman
blazing his way
by noisy "halloes" to indicate a pacific
mission.
vestiga
Sandridge and one or two others turned out to inthe

Sales, from
for

Senor

the Lone

Sandridge lighted the

These

its words

were

Dear

One:

three

days

He

has

he seemed

more.

without

to

Hardly had

When

about

leave before

lantern

camp

come.

Then

or

walked

he must

thinks that

as

house.

later he

not

To

now

men

are

he says

escape

the blue waist I

wear

the

hidden

me

for your

be.

Tonia.

looked

fox,

he said

stillest. And
He

him

then

at

me

so

that I love him, his

to him

kill him

as

He

true.

am

he rides from

and

big

hat, and

road

he

so

that I must

says

can

dear

my
not

try

to take

the

tell if I

am

thing.

An

my

on

his

on

his

crossingand
true

and

if

hour before

kill this

and

one,

put

ride away

beyond

It is a terrible

Come,
Do

he

goes,

to shoot him.

daybreak this is to
take

the

as

again. This before he

are

and

stay

or

Soon

listening.

prove

he

he will dress in my
clothes, my red skirt
and the brown
mantilla over
the head, and

far

jacal as

to

waiting to

But
ride away.
before that
his
clothes,
pantalones and camisa

horse from

like a wolf

to him.

true

when

away

he said he would
was

it is dark

daylight when

thus

men

letter

the letter.

read

ridden

you

rest, looking and

suspect that I be

even

and

he first talked
it grew

frightened. I swear
strange that I am
Tonia.
Last of all he said I must
own

back

bore

mingo
Do-

of the pear.

out

came

and

He

Crossing.

be

to

fever to ride.

and

Wolf

himself

Sandridge. Old Luisa, the lavandera, had persuaded

to bring it,he said, her son
Gregorio being too ill

him
of

rider announced

The

row.

hold of him

man

and

alive, but

kill him

quickly. Knowing all, you should do that. You must

come
long before the time and hide yourselfin the littleshed near the
and
saddles are
jacal where the wagon
kept. It is dark in there.
He
send

will
you

wear
a

^*"^^g^t-

my

red skirt and

hundred

kisses.

blue waist

Come

and

surely and

mantilla.

brown

shoot

Thine

Own

quickly and
Tonia.

STORIES

194

FROM

O.

Sandridge quickly explained to

of

the

missive.

The

"I'll get him

easy

HENRY

his

the

official part
protested against his going

rangers

men

alone.

enough," said the lieutenant. "The

think he'll get the
trapped. And don't even

girl'sgot him
drop on me."
Sandridge saddled
Crossing. He tied
took

arroyo,

his horse

and

his big dun

in

his Winchester
the Perez

approached
drifted
high moon
The

wagon-shed

over
was

rode

clump

from

Lone

of brush

its scabbard,
There

jacal.
by ragged,

an

the

to

the

on

and

only the

was

Wolf

fully
care-

half of

milk-white

gulf clouds.
excellent place for ambush; and

the ranger
of the
got inside it safely. In the black shadow
brush shelter in front of the jacal he could see a horse tied
and

hear

He

him

waited

impatiently pawing
almost

hour

the

before

hard-trodden

earth.

out of
figurescame
the jacal. One, in man's clothes, quickly mounted
the horse
and galloped past the wagon-shed toward
the crossing and
village. And then the other figure,in skirt,waist, and mantilla
its head, stepped out into the faint moonlight, gazover
ing
after the rider.
he
would
take
his
Sandridge thought
chance then before Tonia
rode back.
He fancied she might
not

to

care

"Throw

your

hands," he ordered

of the

to

wagon-shed with
There
was
a
quick
obey, so the ranger

three
of

"

and

two

it.

see

up

an

then

twice

his Winchester
turn

of the

pumped
more;

loudly,stepping out
at his shoulder.

figure,but

in the bullets

for you never

Kid.
There

no
"

could

movement
one

"

two

be too

"

sure

the Cisco
bringing down
was
no
danger of
in that half moonlight.
missing at ten paces, even
The old ancestor, asleep on his blanket, was
awakened
by
the shots.
Listeningfurther, he heard a great cry from some
in mortal distress or anguish, and rose
man
up grumbling at
the disturbingways
of moderns.
The
burst into the jacal,reaching
tall,red ghost of a man
hand, shaking like a tule reed, for the lantern hanging
one
its nail. The other spread a letter on the table.
on

THE

AND

WORLD

DOOR

THE

Magazine,
Whirligigs. First published in The American
treated a bigger theme
than the
O. Henry never
August, 1907.
subject that gives unity to this story. On a first reading the gist
From

of it would

of taste, of

community
community

guilt;as

the

as

of

be

course

experience,it cannot

feeling,of
soon

love may

engaged

it's all off with

murderers,

not

are

of

while

that

be

to

seem

them.

based

on

be based

on

find that

murderers

this theme,

But

they

touched

Holiday, is not the theme of The

This is proved by the title,by the developWorld and the Door.
ment
O. Henry himself said many
times
of the plot, and by what
in the earlier Blind

upon

about
woman

is that in the normal

the story. The real theme
man
the desire for the largerfellowshipof the world, for

folks, for having friends

with

of Merriam

that

and

of

themselves,

made

close the

door

innocence

there

door.

"The

"

and

Conant

came

the two

to both

whole

will

"

be

out

with

the

consciousness

dream

vision
inspiriting

the

out-of-doors

weaker

being a world
largerworld and

lovers shut
But

the

found

the

supposed guilt,the

they thought.

as

mixmg

"

Mrs.

passion. Community

and

sistible.
neighbors, is innate and irrepitted against it certainlya love like

itself when

Love

to

Man's

is mine

once

of

of

of

slowly opening
is what

more"

pulses,and Mrs. Conant's

thoughts
through Merriam's
reverted instantlyand exultantly to the world that she thought she
had shut out, to domestic
and neighborly things,to the chit-chat of
for the cook, patterns for sleeves,
department stores, to an apron
callers,tea. That italicized paragraph is one of O. Henry's triumphs,
is only realism touched
illustration of how often his romanticism
an
tize
with understanding. This was
the story that he wished to dramato stage for all time the inextinguishabledesire of those
so
as
"O.
down
and
to civilization.
out
to get back
Henry talked for
throbbed

hours
says
were

human

about
Mrs.

this theme,"

Porter, "that

just about

he insisted,than

two

finished.

soul has this

says

Mr.

acts

As

tendency

Oilman

of the

you

toward

love."
196

say,

Hall.

play. The
it

was

"He
World

to

show

It
respectability.

wrote

me,"

and the Door,

that
was

every

greater,

dodge

FAVORITE

Carrero

story read by the publicis

is stranger
then add that Truth

know

if the yarn

anxious

am

for

Spanish purser of the fruit steamer

by the shrine of Santa Guadalupe

me

the U. S. vice-consul at La

the facts from

Paz

"

cognizant of half

been

possiblyhave

could not

who

person

197

get your

not

to

swore

that he had
a

DOOR

THE

is true; but the

to read

you

El

I do

Fiction.

than

to

it is true, and

that

assert

to

AND

WORLD

THE

of them.

ing
adage quoted above, I take pleasurein puncturit by affirmingthat I read in a purely fictional story the
other day the hne : 'Be it so,'said the policeman." Nothing
so
strange has yet cropped out in Truth.
for the

As

**

Ferguson Hedges, millionaire promoter, investor,

his thoughts upon
ters
matturned
man-about-New-York,

When
and

H.

of it went

convivial,and word
took

precautionary turn
china

ironstone

account

As
a

free-lunch

power

the

Hedges spent his money

only a
though he were
fund.
than

He

drivers

crowded

introduction.
in

slice of beef behind

the

cuts

rides to work

after all, the

tables, cab

one-millionaire is of small account

who

man

counter

Indian

all-nightcafes, and careful

charged up a few bottles to his

regularhaunts
by way of preface and
money

line,"bouncers
clubs, waiters put

the

in front of

in his

city where

And,

the

at

his favorite

on

close to the curbstone

cashiers

'*down

your

in his

But

lavishly,loudly,and showily as
clerk squandering a week's
wages.
as

bartender

takes

rather look you

would

automobile.

own

in your
serve
rehis cash register,

interest

no

up

on

in Bradstreet.

evening that the material allegationof facts begins,

of
Hedges was
bidding dull care
begone in the company
five or six good fellows
acquaintances and friends who had
gathered in his wake.
two
Ralph Merriam, a
men
Among them were
younger
On

the

"

"

broker, and

Wade,

his friend.

were
deep-sea cabmen
Circle they hove to long enough

Two

chartered.
to

At

Columbus

revile the statue

of the

STORIES

198

FROM

O.

HENRY

great navigator, unpatrioticallyrebuking him

in search

voyaged
took

of land

the party marooned

instead

of

in the

rear

for

having
Hquids. Midnight ov"erof a cheap cafe far uptown.

Hedges was
arrogant, overriding,and quarrelsome. He
was
burly and tough, iron-gray but vigorous, "good" for
the rest of the night. There
a
was
dispute about nothing
that matters
and the five-fingered
words
were
passed the
words
that represent the glove cast into the lists. Merriam
played the role of the verbal Hotspur.
it once
and
Hedges rose quickly, seized his chair, swung
smashed
head.
Merriam
wildly down at Merriam's
dodged,
small revolver
and shot Hedges in the chest.
drew
The
a
leading roysterer stumbled, fell in a wry heap, and lay still.
"

"

Wade,

commuter,

had

formed

Merriam

out

juggled

He

him

ran

corner,

"

five minutes
the cab.

and

then

Across

the

its hectic
in the

*'Go

take

may

At

"Brace

I did.

just as
one

to

got

skip.

You've

got

Merriam

"

the back
I

never

let

You

make

drink.

small

am

gone

Wade

said.
says
run

me
a

"

"The

no

dismissed
saloon

trayed
be-

"Did

you

Yov

returned.

ambulance

he's dead.

You

got there
may

have

this

chair

of the

"and

more."

You've
thing for you.
is legally
a deadly weapon.

tracks, that's all there is

of his hands?"

could

doctor

I don't believe
to

lightsof

o'clock

one

complained

for another
on

while

chap," he

The

drink.

more

and

corner

rode

They

saloon," said Wade,

doing and let you know.

what's

to

old

up,

dark

hansom.

of that

room

drinks

minutes

ten

habit

hospitality.

back

two

on

the

street

I'll go find out

wait.

caught

out

got

of promptness.
him
door, walked
to the

side

block, and

that

to

it."

cold

querulously,and
notice what
big veins

he asked.

"I

never

could

asked
he had
stand

"

I'll
then come
on.
more," said Wade, "and
see
through."
you
Wade
kept his promise so well that at eleven o'clock the
suit case
full of new
next
morning Merriam, with a new
"Take

one

THE

WORLD

AND

DOOR

THE

199

clothes and

hair-brushes, stepped quietly on board a Httle

fruit steamer
River
East
at an
500-ton
pier. The vessel
had
of limes from
Port
brought the season's first cargo
and

Limon,

homeward

was

bound.

of $2,800 in his

balance

pileup

to

and

York.

New

From

Port

Merriam

he could

as

time

no

was

had

his bank

large bills,and

water

There

Limon

in

pocket

much

as

Merriam

worked

for

brief instructi

between

anything

down

the

self
himmore.

by

coast

the isthmus
to
sloop to Colon, thence across
for Callao and such
Panama, where he caught a tramp bound
intermediate
ports as might tempt the discursive skipper
and

schooner

from

his

It
the

was

course.

at

La

Paz

Beautiful, a little harborless

ribbon

green

Here

that banded

took

captain'sdory
pulse of the cocoanut
case,

and

Kalb,

the

brothers

and

him

of

land

ashore

La

"

in

Paz

living

cloud-piercingmountain.

stopped

market.

to

smothered

town

the foot

little steamer

the

the

suit

decided

Merriam

that

tread

to

that

he

Merriam

while

water

might

feel the

too, with

went

his

remained.

citizen of the
vice-consul,a Grseco -Armenian
United
i"
States, born in Hessen-Darmstadt, and educated
Cincinnati
ward
all Americans
hi*
primaries, considered
bankers.

elbow, introduced
shoes, borrowed
There

was

him

to

himself

attached

little wooden

in La

one

every

dollars,and

ten
a

He

back

went

hotel

in the

Merriam

to

Paz

who

's

wore

to his hammock.

edge

of

banana

facing the sea, that catered to the tastes of the few

foreignersthat had dropped out of the world into the triste
Peruvian
At
Kalb's
town.
hands
introductory: "Shake
with
salutations
," he had obediently exchanged manual
grove,

with

German
and

doctor,

three

or

rubber
gold men,
of livingtissue.
After

dinner

and

smoked

four

men,

Merriam

galeriawith Bibb,

and

one

French

and

Americans

mahogany
sat

Vermonter
drank

in

who
men

"

corner

interested
Scotch

*'

Italian

two

chants,
mer-

spoken
anything but

of

of the

front

were

in

smoke."

broad

as

men

ing,
hydraulic minThe

moonlit

STORIES

200

HENRY

O.

FROM

before him, seemed

to separate him
spreading infinitely
his old life. The
horrid
beyond all apprehension from
tragedy in which he had played such a disastrous part now
began, for the first time since he stole on board the fruiter,a
Distance
wretched
to lose its sharper outlines.
lent
fugitive,
Bibb
had opened the flood-gates
to his view.
assuagement
of long-dammed
of a stream
discourse, overjoyed to have
captured an audience that had not suffered under a hundred
repetitionsof his views and theories.
sea,

"One

Oh, I know

country.

handed

niente

for

made

through
a

Paz

is

good

It's nicer

be

And

drowned.

get dolce far

you

game

wasn't
to

"She's
a

here

around

to

her

house

and

propose.

than
it is to be
rejected by IVIrs. Conant
they say drowning is a delightfulsensation."
asked

Merriam.

foot'

*crow's

from

Comes

year.

talk

can

woman

ask

"

'em

to

*cat's cradle.'

or

well,

"

know

you

*string'and

say

sigh.
range

She's
how

they'llsay

Sometimes

you'd think she

Jacksonville,Florida, and

Oshkosh, and again from

from

and

anywhere," said Bibb, with a comfortable

in La Paz.
The
the only white
rest
woman
dappled dun to the color of a b-flat piano key.

"Not

plug

of baseball

Still,La
policeman cuss you.
a
pipe-dreamy old hole. And IVIrs.
like jumping
any of us feels particularly

like her here?"

"Many

see

God's

to

this country
You've
got to have

then, and

rush

we

sea

to

of

back

chunks, but

have

When

is here.

into the

was

and

sort

here, and

to live in.

man

now

snow

in

you

white

Conant

been

to

I'll go

"and

it's pretty

stiff collar and

wear

from

said Bibb,

more,"

year

day from Cape Cod."

"Mystery.^" ventured Merriam.

the next

"M
But

"

well, she looks it;but her talk's translucent

that's

I suppose
say: 'Goodness

woman.

talkingshe'd merely
for dinner, and nothing
But

you

You'll
To

won't
propose

make

think
to

hard

enough.
to begin
Sphinx were
visitors coming
more

if the

about

to

eat

but

that when

me!

the

sand

you

which

meet

is here.'

her, Merriam

her, too."
story soft,Merriam

did meet

her and

pro

pose to her.
the color of

AND

WORLD

THE

her to be

found

He

DOOR

THE

201

in black

woman

with

hair

bering
turkey'swings, and mysterious, rememwell, that looked as if she might have been
eyes that
Her
Eve
created.
trained
was
nurse
looking on when
a
words
and manner,
translucent, as Bibb had
though, were
She spoke, vaguely, of friends in California and some
said.
The
of the lower parishes in Louisiana.
tropical climate
and indolent life suited her; she had thought of buying an
her.
later on; La Paz, all in all,charmed
grove
orange
Merriam's
courtship of the Sphinx lasted three months,
that he was
courting her. He
although he did not know
until he found, too
was
using her as an antidote for remorse,
late, that he had acquired the habit.
During that time he

bronze

"

received

had
he
was

afraid

rest

as

for

were

had

Mrs.

address, and
let matters

better

while.

Mrs.

trail

as

far

spoke

his

the littlecold river

as

the foothills.

Merriam

ponies and

hired two

Conant

There

they stopped
piece ^he proposed, as
"

prophesied.

Conant

him

gave

her face took

then

and

where

know

exact

he had

thought

he and

drink, and

Bibb

He

write.

did not

of Wade's

sure

along the mountain

tumbling down

came
a

not

was

afternoon

rode out

for

to

they

One

that

he

and

was;

Wade

home.

from

news

no

Merriam

shaken

was

glance of

one

such

on

brilliant tenderness,

strange, haggard look that

of his intoxication

out

back

and

to

his

senses.

"I

beg

I'llhave

hand; "but
ask you
"

to marry

who

man

cowardly
didn't
I'll
and

to

was

I suppose
Mrs. Conant

hanging branch
suppose

Well,

I killed
"

shot

that

ends

plucked
of

I couldn't

I'm

him

Of

I said.

man

down

course,

I can't

in New

York

in

quite a
the drinking
"

resist

having my
here as a fugitive from
our
acquaintance."

littleleaves

lime

said, releasingher

he

part of what

course.

friend

my

it.

mean

"

on

I understand.

it.

excuse

hedge

of

me,

manner,

always

"I

pardon, Florence,"

your

assiduouslyfrom

say;

and

justice,
the low-

tree.

so," she said, in low and

oddly

uneven

tones,

STORIES

202
that

depends upon
poisoned my husband.

"but
I

FROM

love

cannot

looked

She

pale,and
who

took

it

were.

you

widow.
that

face

ends

man

our

turned

quaintance."
ac-

little

deaf-and-dumb

man

all about.

was

swift step toward

look

Don't

at

in acute

were

him, with stiffened

scars

in his brutal

ears

and

night

the end
It

before

Only

was

and

arms

at

when

that

me

to be

and

year

have

day

me,

beaten

.^^ If

back

my

are

that he made

foul and

struck
horrible

repeated in

are

then

she

on

risen and

The

And

sleep.

on

scars

"

would

last

back

your

woman

arms,

than
nun

turn

or

though

his

came

my

blows,

endurance.
I got the poison that afterof my
noon.
his custom
to drink every
night in the library

going
from

my

holy

he hurled

every

cried, as

Yes, I killed him.

fiend down.
that

on

more

rages.

she

me,

Am

"

it has been

and

words

"Curse

that way.
here
you

show

"

like that!"

me

pain.

look

don't

I could

the

what

as

blazing.

eyes

but

I suppose

slow^ly. His
blankly,like a

at her

wondering

honest

as

self-made

am

So

him

at

up

he stared

was

She

*'

murderess.

I'llbe

you.

HENRY

O.

bed

to

my

hot

made

punch
would

fair hands

he

of

receive

and

rum

it

wine.

because

"

h^

That
spiritsalways sickened me.
night
the maid
when
on
an
brought it to me I sent her dowmstairs
little
errand.
Before
to my
taking him his drink I went
than a teaspoonful
private cabinet and poured into it more
I had
of tincture of aconite
so
enough to kill three men,
knew^

of

the fumes

"

learned.
that
any

and
one

I had
a

$6,000 that I had

drawn

things in

few

As

seeing me.

in

satchel

I left the

passed

the

bank, and
house

library I

with

without

heard

him

I took a night train

stagger up and fall heavily on a couch.
for New
Orleans, and from there I sailed to the Bermudas.
I

finallycast anchor
say? Can you open
Merriam

care

what

your

back

came

"Florence,"

in La

he

youVe

said
done.

to

Paz.

And

mouth

.f^"

what

now

have

you

to

life.

earnestly, "I
If the world

want
"

you.

I don't

arrival

the

of

steamer

When
that

the steamer

she

four o'clock

PajarOy

circus,
loop-the-loop,
tea.

wise

enough,

near

was

the

was

HENRY

their

was

and

Emancipation Day,

O.

FROM

STORIES

204

bound

proclaimed

ones

from

up-coast

Callao

to

Panama.
The
came

Pajaro put on brakes

bobbing shoreward.

beach

look

to

the

In

on.

mile off shore.

Soon

strolled

Merriam
shallow

down

the

on

sailors

Carib

the

water

boat

mighty rush to the

firm shingle. Out climbed
the purser,
the captain,and two
ploughing their way
through the deep sand
passengers
toward
the hotel.
Merriam
glanced toward them with the
mild interest due to strangers.
There
iar
was
something familto

and

out

sprang

him

in the walk
his blood

again,and

the

feet away.
When
Then
Glad

Hedges

he
to

shouted

see

this is my

of

of the passengers.

one

you.

seemed

with

He

looked

strawberry ice cream

Burly, arrogant, debonair as ever, H. Ferguson
he had killed,was
man
coming toward him ten

in his veins.

Hedges,

the boat

dragged

turn

Merriam

saw

in his
Didn't

old friend

to

to

his face

old, bluff

flushed

way:

to find you

expect

of New

Merriam,

dark

red.

"Hello, Merriam.
out

York

"

here.

Quinby,

Merriam,

Mr.

Quinby."
Merriam

Hedges and
"Br-r-r-r ! said Hedges.
Man, you're not well.
gave
"

Malarial

thing,and

here.^^

let's take

then

Quinby an ice-cold hand.

"But
you've got a frapped flipper!
You're
man.
as
yellow as a China-

Steer

us

to

bar

if there

is such

prophylactic."

still half comatose,

Orilla del Mar.

Merriam,

led them

toward

the

Hotel

"Quinby and I," explained Hedges, puflSng through the

vestmen
inslipperysand, "are looking out along the coast for some
We've
paraiso
just come
Concepcion and Valup from
and
Lima.
The
captain of this subsidized
ferry
boat told us there was
some
good picking around here in silver
mines.

So

we

got off.

Now,

Oh, in this portable soda-water

where

is that

pavilion?"

cafe, Merriam?

Leaving Quinby

"

this mean?

he said, with

*'Are you sulking about that fool row

Merriam
"I thought," stammered
were

you

me

heard

"I

told Wade
ambulance
fool young
surgeon
I'd got tired and
for a coffin just because
laid up

in

private hospital for

kicking as

hard

couldn't.

Now,

as

was

much

good

me

thank

you

of the

"

forgetit,"boomed
don't join him."

Bibb

was

the

sittingon

but

here

shot

the

am,

reallydid
fit as

hospitalas healthy and

waiting."
brokenly, "I don't

know

how

"

shady

'11die of thirst

"Quinby

Hedges.

"Oh,
if we

and

know

^well,you

"

quit breathing.

drink's

that

on;

candidate

was

"That

I tried to find you, but

and forgetit all. I
hands

were;

you

said Merriam,

man,"

"Old

as

out

came

Come

horse.

cab

to

"

blame

month;

shake

Merriam,

to

told

and

Wade

ever.

as

they

"

not," said Hedges.

I'm

didn't, and

'*Well, you

gruffkindness.

"

I had

that

"

aside.

had?"

we
"

205

Merriam

the bar, Hedges drew

at

does

what

"Now,

DOOR

THE

AND

WORLD

THE

side of the

gallerywaiting

came
Presently Merriam
His eye was
strangelybright.
out and joined him.
boy," said he, slowly waving his hand, "do
"Bibb, my
and that sea and sky and sunshine?
those mountains
see
you

breakfast.

eleven -o'clock

for the

they'remine, Bibbsy

"

"You

go

all mine."

"

take

in," said Bibb, "and

do in this climate

It won't

right away.

eight grainsof quinine,

for

man

to

get

to

thinking he's Rockefeller, or James O'Neill either."

untying a great roll of newspapers,
Inside, the purser was
weeks
of them
old, gathered in the lower ports by the
many
be

distributed

Pajaro

to

do

beneficent

the

among

Tio

the

Pancho,

scatter

voyagers

prisonersof
the

and

sea

hotel
his

rimmed

anteojosupon

number

of smaller rolls.

casual

at

stopping-places. Thus
and

news

mountains.

proprietor, set
nose

entertainment

and

great silver-

into a
the papers
dashed
muchacho
in,

divided

barefooted

of messenger.
venido,"'said Tio Pancho.

his

desiringthe post
"'Bien

"This

to Senora

Conant;

STORIES

206

that to el Doctor
that

Casa

the

And

at three

sails for Panama

send

by the post,
first pass through the
to

IVIrs.Conant
The

boy

was

These

la calle de las Bnenas

en

that

all,Muchacho,

the

Pajaro

If any have letters

quickly,that they may

this afternoon.

let them

come

correo.'*

her roll of newspapers

late in deliveringthem, because

at four o'clock.

he had

been

letters to send.

no

was

Merriam

she and
She

their pasts.

shimmering

closed

coming

was

at the hotel.

palms by

and

chose

paper

at

horizon

of her life.

to her house

would

She

dise
para-

of the wrecks

out

for the

now

that

They

of

of that
had

shut

the door.

put

lace mantilla, and

the cocoanut

created

to be the horizon

sea

Merriam

had

content

was

the w^orld and

colored

flected
de-

duty by an iguana that crossed his path and

But it made
ship,
hardno
immediately gave chase.

he

that

for

two

in the patio of the house

idlingin a hammock
occupied,half awake, half happily dreaming of the

She

out

6,

to say !"

name

received

for she had

she

his

from
to which

them

to

say

Numero

what

Alberto.

for Don

one

Huespedes,

de

Gracias.

"

"

HENRY

Dios!

S-S-Schlegel

Davis

Senor

to

O.

FROM

the

on

white

dress and

would

they
lagoon.

random

after his dinner

at seven,

walk

She

from

roll

the

hour

an

smiled

an

apricotunder

contentedly,
the boy had

brought.
first the words

of

certain

headline

of

Sunday newspaper
meant
nothing to her; they conveyed only a visualized
of familiarity. The
largesttype ran thus: "Lloyd B.
sense
divorce."
And then the subheadings : "WellConant
secures
Saint Louis
wins suit, pleading
known
paint manufacturer
"Her
one
mysterious disappearance
year'sabsence of wife."
recalled."
has
been
heard
of her since."
"Nothing
Mrs.
ConTwisting herself quickly out of the hammock,
At

ant's

eye

It ended

soon

thus:

in much

traversed
"It

will be

the

half-column

remembered

of
that

the

Mrs.

Recall.
Conant

of last year.
It was
freely
evening in March
resulted
that her marriage with Lloyd B. Conant
not wanting to i^e effect^
unhappiness. Stories were

diappeared one
rumored

DOOR

THE

AND

WORLD

THE

207

than once
taken
cruelty toward his wife had more
After her departure a full bottle
the form of physicalabuse.
in a small
found
of tincture of aconite, a deadly poison, was
This might have been an
cabinet in her bedroom.
medicine
suicide.
It is supposed that
that she meditated
indication
if she possessed it,and
intention
such an
she abandoned
his

that

home

left her
Mrs.

instead."

claspingher
"Let

think

me

**I took

the

"

God!

with

bottle

let

"

If

sleep

not

...

but, he is alive,of

"

there

"

that I took

him

I gave
not

only a

I could

full,why

harmless

dose
.

God, don't let this be

by

in fact

murderess

side

when

bottle

the aconite

other
an-

was

two,

were

found

"

am

...

they
I

of valerian

Ralph,

there
.

the valerian

course

of the

it out

and

"

chair,

on

think," she whispered.

me

bottle in the cabinet

the aconite

sat

...

"

and

I threw

me

of the train

window

side

the paper,

slowly dropped
hands
tightly.

Conant

dream!"

into the part of the house that she rented from

and his wife, shut the door, and walked
the old Peruvian
man
She

up

went

and

down

Merriam's

her

swiftlyand feverishlyfor

room

photograph

picked it up, looked

and
dropped four

in

stood

at it with

frame

on

half

an

hour.
She

table.

smile of

exquisitetenderness,
Merriam
it. And
tears
on
only twenty
she stood still for ten minutes, looking
Then
rods away!
She looked into space through a slowly opening
into space.
the buildingmaterial for a
On her side of the door was
door.
castle of Romance
love, an
Arcady of waving palms, a
the shore of a haven of rest, respite,
on
lullabyof waves
peace,
and security a life of poetry
lotus land of dreamy ease
a
tell me
and refuge. Romanticist, will you
and heart's ease
a

"

"

"

what

Mrs.

cannot

She

of silk

Conant

.f^ that
"

saw

is,you

the cook.

''Shall

the other

will not?

side of the door?

You

Very well; then listen.

department store and buy fivespools

three yards of gingham to make
an
apron for
asked the clerk. As
I charge it,ma'am?''

herself
go

thread and

on

saw

into

FROM

STORIES

208
she walked

out

lady whom

O.

HENRY
"

greetedher cordially. OA,

she met

did you get the pattern for those sleeves,dear Mrs.

ant?^' she said.
At the corner
a
policeman helped her

Con-

where

the street and

touched

the maid

she reached

the

when

she said.

Mrs.

You

Conant

Peruvian

Mateo,

steamer

to-nightor

coast

or

is there

that

to-morrow

she asked

Angela,
him

send

old but

vessel

called

and

half-breed,shufflingand

there

"Is

*'If Mateo

woman.
a

the door

to

went

callers?"

Waldron/' answered
Jenkinson."
"Very welly'*
cup of tea, Maggie.''

Misses

bring me

may

''Any
''Mrs.

home.

the two

maid, "and
"

his helmet.

across

to

old

me.'*

efficient,came.

of any

kind

leaving this
on?"

get passage

can

the

she

asked.
considered.

Mateo
"At

Punta

Reina, thirty miles down

is a small

he answered, "there
and

dyewoods.
So

sunrise.
"You

Will you

sails for San

Francisco

my

brother, who

arrived

Punta

must

take

do

that.^"

IVIrs.Conant

me

"

"Perhaps

coast, senora,"
loading with cinchona

She

says

passing by

steamer

the

took

in his

at

day,
sloop to-

Reina."
in that

Mateo
a

to-morrow

sloopto

shrugged

handful

of money

that steamer

to-night

suggestive shouldei.

from

draw^er and

gave

it to him.
"Get

the

sloopready

behind

the littlepoint of land below

ready to sail
In half an hour bring a cart partly filled with
at six o'clock.
trunk
into the patio here, and take my
to the sloop.
straw
There
is more
yet. Now, hurry."
money
his feet.
walked
without
For one
time Mateo
shuffling
away
and
"come
"Angela," cried Mrs. Conant, almost fiercely,
Out
with
this trunk.
help me
going away.
pack. I am
My clothes first. Stir yourself. Those dark dresses first.
Hurry."
the

town,"

From

view

was

she ordered.

"Get

the first she did not

clear and

final.

sailors,and

waver

Her

door

from
had

her

be

decision.

opened

and

Her
let the

in.

THE

AND

WORLD

THE
Her

love for Merriam

She

tried to

DOOR

209

lessened;but it
appeared a hopelessand unrealizable thing. The visions
blissful and complete had
their future that had seemed
so

world
DOW

of

vanished.
rather

was

weigh

own

burden

of her

cleared

at

"

heavily

too

herself that

assure

for her

for his sake than

not

was

her renunciation
Now

own.

that she

least,technically would

not

"

him?

upon

If she

should

was

his

clingto

and corrode
mar
him, would not the difference forever silently
she reasoned; but there were
their happiness.? Thus
sand
a thoulittle voices callingto her that she could feel rather
of distant, powerful machinery
than
hear, like the hum
raised in unison, can
the littlevoices of the world, that, when
send their insistent call through the thickest door.
of the lotus dream
Once while packing, a brief shadow
came
She held Merriam
's picture to her heart with
f)ack to her.
hand, while she threw a pair of shoes into the trunk with
one
"

her other.
At six o'clock Mateo
He

lifted the trunk

his brother

and

with

straw,

From

there

Then

Mateo

Mrs.

and

conveyed

they

transferred

returned

Conant
with

matters

and reported the

returned

it

into the cart, covered

the

it to
on

sloopready.

point

board

for additional

it

of embarkation.

in the

sloop'sdory.

orders.

ready. She had settled all business

Angela, and was
impatiently waiting. She
was

long, loose black-silk duster that she often walked

the evenings were
in when
about
chilly. On her head was
round
it the apricot-coloredlace
small
hat, and over
a

wore

mantilla.
Dusk
led her
behind

had

by
which

beheld

the

quickly followed
dark
the
the

and

grass-grown

sloop was
Hotel

short

Orilla

del

toward

streets

anchored.
Mar

twilight.

On

the

turning a

three

Mateo

point
corner

streets
they
away,
nebulously aglow with its array of kerosene lamps.
"I must
I
Mrs. Conant
paused, with streaming eyes.
in anguish.
before I go," she murmured
him once
must
see
then she did not falter in her decision.
But even
Quickly
she might speak to him, and
she invented a plan by which

make

yet
walk

moments

on

her

see

mantilla

after

and

She
Pancho

trouble

on

the

And
does

Pajaro

then
not

for

Panama

went

to

del

draped

walking

Mar.
of

figure

Tie

smile,
out

for

said,

as

come

"may
just

few

him.'^"

less

on,

know
at

when

charming

bows.
he

Conant,"

sefiora

did

Orilla

this,

she

w^hite-clad

elephant

an

"Keep

gallery.

with

Sefiora

the

the

to

Merriam

as

he

talk

expecting

Then

usually

with

speak

may

tardes,

she

bulky,

said,

Mr.

bowed

Pancho

''Buenas

"But

that

moments

talks.

ask

to

you

as

the

on

she

Pancho,"

and

him

Mateo.

to

ordered.

she

the

see

alone

standing

"Tio

Tio

to

it

gave

straight

went

glad

was

and

head

her

would

out

leaving

excuse,

come,"

him

call

She

seven.

hat

till

over

sunset,

at

her

here

wait

and
the

home

unpinned

She

trival

knowing.

to

one

some

some

her

at

ask

hotel,

HENRY

his

without

departure

the

past

few
to

her

O.

FROM

STORIES

210

three

at

his

that

o'clock

cavalier

ease:

Senor
of

Merriam
this

afternoon?

sailed
"

FROM

STORIES

212

Telfair

at

his residence, Cedar

and

the South

colonel

The

of his

most

spent

his father.

from

had

of which

should

received

them

terprise
Heights, fearful lest the ensuffer by his possiblerefusal.
in his great library,where
he

library had

The

days.

descended

thousand

It contained

ten

published as

late

been

HENRY

O.

volumes,

the year
Telfair was
as

1861.

to him
some

When

seated
at his
deputation arrived, Colonel
massive
white-pine center-table, reading Burton's "Anatomy
hands
shook
of Melancholy.'* He
and
arose
punctiliously
the

If you
familiar
were
will remember
the colonel's trait,
The Rose of Dixie you
porcould
which
in
it
from
time
time.
You
to
appeared

with

each

with

not

of the

member

committee.

forget the long,carefullybrushed

white

hair; the hooked,

slightlytwisted to the left;the keen eyes

beneath
the
under the stillblack eyebrows; the classic mouth
drooping white moustache, slightlyfrazzled at the ends.
committee
The
solicitouslyoffered him the position of
managing editor, humbly presenting an outline of the field
that the publicationwas
and mentioning
designed to cover
colonel's lands
comfortable
were
a
salary. The
growing
each year and were
much
sides,
cut up by red gullies. Bepoorer
high-bridged nose,

the honor

was

not

one

to be

refused.

forty-minute speech of acceptance. Colonel Teffair

to Macaugave an outline of English literature from Chaucer
lay, re-fought the battle of Chancellorsville, and said that,
The Rose of Dixie that
God
helpinghim, he would so conduct
its fragrance and beauty would
permeate the entire world,
minions
their
hurling back into the teeth of the Northern
belief that no
genius or good could exist in the brains and
hearts of the people whose
property they had destroyed and
whose
rightsthey had curtailed.
OflBces for the magazine were
partitionedoff and furnished
in the second floor of the First National
Bank
building;and
for the colonel to cause
it was
The Rose of Dixie to blossom
and flourish or to wilt in the balmy air of the land of flowers.
In

The
Telfair

staff of assistants and

drew

about

him

was

contributors
a

peach.

that Editor-Colonel
It

was

whole

crate

ROSE

"THE

The

Georgia peaches.

of

Fairfax, had
The

had

the

nephew of one
reviewer, Jackson Rockingham,

book

was

the youngest soldier in the Confederate

appeared on the field of battle with a sword

had

having

been

and

hand

Unthank,

The

Morgan's Raiders.

of

editor,ToUiver Lee
killed during Pickett's charge.

assistant,Keats

second

213

first assistant

father

DIXIE"

OF

in the

milk-bottle

cesvalles Sykes,
Miss

was

other.

third cousin

to

one

editor, Ron-

art

of Jefferson

nephew

in

colonel's

the

Terhune,

Lavinia

The

army,

stenographer
who
had once
been kissed by
aunt
and typewriter,had an
Stonewall Jackson.
Webster, the head office-boy,
Tommy
complete,
got his job by having recited Father Ryan's poems,
exercises of the Toombs
at the commencement
City High
the magazines
who wrapped and addressed
School.
The girls
Davis.

of old

members

were

The

Southern

cashier

was

Arbor, Michigan, who

Ann
from

guarantee

Georgia

stock

live

to

ones

five times

buy their hooks

climbed
Even

in Ann

Banks

"

had

young

been

told

man

been

the Exalted

to

used
as

to

the

that

it takes

blossomed

lavender

"

stock

having

far away

engaged

was

in

bond
Even

owners.

realize

'em

on

least

at

the

of it except the people who

in Toombs
City. Then Hawkins

eyes

propositionsheard of
an
advertisingmanager

from

heard

he had

Arbor

and

Rose of Dixie

The

cumstance
Cir-

Hawkins,

recommendations,

me.

anybody

off his stool and

Reduced

in

named

sometimes

believe

and

scrub

filed w4th

company

you

before

had

companies
bury the dead.

Well, sir,if

families

as

company.

his business

Detroit.

So

Beauregard Fitzhugh
necktie, whose

of
High Pillow-slip

father
grand-

the Kuklux

Klan.

spiteof which The Rose of Dixie kept coming out every

month.
Although in every issue it ran photos of either the
the Luxembourg
Gardens, or Carmencita
or
or
Taj Mahal
scribed
of people bought it and subLa Follette, a certain number
In

for it.
three

different

Hermitage,"

As

views

boom

for it,Editor-Colonel

of Andrew

Jackson's

full-pageengraving

of the

Telfair

old home,
second

ran

"The

battle of

FROM

STORIES

214

entitled

Manassas,

biography
subscriptionHst

"Lee

in the

name),

related to the Haricots

a
a

number.
Also

118.

Leonina

by

five-thousand-

Vashti

The

there

Haricot

of Charleston, South

were

(pen-

Carolina,

nephew of one of the stockholders, and

article from
a
specialsociety correspondent describing
tea-party given by the swell Boston and English set, where
lot of tea was
of the guests masspilledoverboard
by some
querading

and
an

issue

and
same

advanced

poems

Bill

in the

Boyd

that month

same

HENRY

the Rear!'*

to

of Belle

word

O.

Thompson,

Indians.

as

One
he

day

He

was

from

Telfair
"I'm
chair"

J.

rose

that

he must

have

and

began
said

Prince

the

borrowed

jointly
con-

Green.

asinorun.

nel
Colo-

bow\
editor's

York."

the colonel's desk

a

Hetty

intruder, taking the

of New

hastilyupon
envelope, and

Albert

of Dixie.

agent, with

and

pons

mirror,

Rose

real-estate

Bryan, Hackenschmidt,

T. Thacker,

dribbled
manila

easilycloud

the office of The

the size of

manner

Thacker,"
"T.

He

would

into the editor-colonel's

shown

was

bulk

W.

breath

alive,entered
about

man

self-tied tie and

He

whose

person

much

so

was

letter from

the

cards,

some

of

owners

The

This letter introduced

Mr. Thacker, and poof Dixie.
litely
Colonel
Telfair
him
to
conference
and
a
give
requested
about
the magazine he might desire.
whatever
information
"I've been corresponding with the secretary of the magazine
for
said
"I'm
time,"
owners
some
Thacker, briskly.
a
practicalmagazine man
myself, and a circulation booster as
good as any, if I do say it. I'll guarantee an increase of anywhere
Rose

from
any

ten

thousand

publicationthat

isn't

to

hundred

printed in

thousand
a

dead

year

language.

for
I've

I know
since it started.
of Dixie ever
sified
end of the business from editingto setting up the clasevery
of
here to put a good bunch
ads.
down
Now, I've come
clear.
It ought
in the magazine, if I can
see
money
way
my
The secretary tells me
it's losing money.
to be made
to pay.
I don't see
why a magazine in the South, if it's properly
handled, shouldn't get a good circulation in the North, too."
had

my

eye

on

The Rose

ROSE

"THE
Colonel

leaned

Telfair

OF

back

DIXIE"

215

in his chair

and

polished his

gold-rimmed glasses.
said he,

Thacker,"

of Dixie
of
have

"

courteouslybut firmly, The

is a publicationdevoted
to the fosteringand the
Southern
which
genius. Its watchword,
you

"Mr.

"But

the

on

seen

wouldn't

you

is

cover,

object to

the circulation

open

nothing

do

to

with

the

called upon
to assume
devoted
to its conduct
and

whatever

business

North,

South,

goober peas,
iooking over
desk.

or

West

or

Rocky
don't

it is customary
know.
I have

not

affairs of the

poor

magazine.

of

it,and

literarytalents

I have
I may

as

of erudition

have
I may
dollar is a dollar

acquired."
"But
a
anywhere.
whether
you're buying codfish,
Ford
cantaloupes. Now, I've been
"

number.

see

here

one

on

it with me.^^
running over
"Well, your leading article is all right. A good write-up
of the cotton-belt with plenty of photographs is a winner any
New
time.
York
is always interested
in the cotton
crop.
this sensational
And
of the Hatfield-McCoy feud,
account
of a niece of the Governor
of Kentucky,
by a schoolmate
isn't such a bad idea.
It happened so long ago that most
three pages
people have forgotten it. Now, here's a poem
I've
long called 'The Tyrant's Foot,' by Lorella Lascelles.
saw
pawed around a good deal over manuscripts, but I never
her name
on
a rejection
slip."
your

You

such

November

your

I do

editorial control

store

"Sure," said Thacker.

may

By the South."*
Northern
circulation,would

lists to all.

was

possess

ing
voic-

'Of, For, and

you.'^"asked Thacker.
"I suppose," said the editor-colonel,"that
to

Rose

mind

Lascelles," said

"Miss

the

editor, "is

widely recognizedSouthern

poetesses.

Lascelles

family, and

to

the

hands

Alabama
the

silken

Confederate

banner

view

of the

M.

"

is

made

most

our

closelyrelated
with

her

own

presented
inauguration."

the governor
of that state at his
"But
why," persistedThacker,
with

She

that

of

one

"is the

O. Railroad

was

poem

to

illustrated

freightdepot

at

caloosa?"
Tus-

Lascelles

"All

Bull

dignity,"shows

the old homestead

where

born."

was

right,"

couldn't
of

surrounding

of the fence

corner

Miss

HENRY

illustration,"said the colonel,with

"The
a

O.

FROM

STORIES

216

Thacker.

said

about

tell whether

it

Run.

here's

Now,

was

the

short

the

read

"I

depot

the

or

called

story

but

poem,

battle

'Rosie's

What
is a
Temptation,' by Fosdyke Piggott. It's rotten.
Piggott,anyT\^ay.?"
"Mr.
cipal
Piggott," said the editor, "is a brother of the prinof the magazine."
stockholder
"All's rightwith the world
Piggottpasses,"said Thacker.
pon
"Well, this article on Arctic explorationand the one on tarfishingmight go. But how about this write-up of the
"

It

qualityof

the

and

consist

to

seems

their output
the bug?
the chip over

of statistics about

mainly

"

What's

their beer.

understand

"If

breweries?

Savannah

Orleans, Nashville, and

Atlanta, New

figurativelanguage," answered

your

Colonel Telfair, "it is this : the article you

refer to

handed

was

to
of the magazine with instructions
by the owners
publish it. The literaryquality of it did not appeal to me.
I feel impelled to conform, in certain
But, in a measure,
interested
are
matters, to the wishes of the gentlemen who

to

me

Rose.''

in the financial side of The

"

"Next

I see," said Thacker.

'Lalla Rookh,'

from
Federal
of the

prison did Moore

F. F. V. family that

by

have

we

from,

he carries

or

what

Now,
the

what's

name

handicap?"

as

tions
of selec-

pages

Moore.

Thomas

escape

two

Irish poet who died in 1852," said Colonel

I have been thinking
is a classic.
Telfair, pityingly. "He
"Moore

of

reprintinghis translation
"Look

the

Who's

Belleclair,who

Bessie

of Miss

knowing

the

water-

sir," said

name,

Elvira

lady; but

in
serially

of Anacreon

said

copyright laws,"

newly completed

"The
guerre

for the

out
"

on

an

was

works

Colonel

Simpkins.

the magazine."

Thacker, flippantly.

contributes

the essay

plant in Millodgeville?"
Telfair, "is the
I have

her contribution

was

not
sent

the
us

nom

de

honor

of

by

Con-

"THE

Brower,

gressman

er's mother

"Now,

was
see

ROSE

OF

of her native

related

to the

DIXIE"

Congressman

state.

Polks

217

Brow-

of Tennessee."

here, Colonel," said Thacker, throwing down

the

magazine, "this won't do. You can't successfully

a
run
for
section
of
the
You've
one
particular
magazine
country.
universal
a
appeal. Look how the Northern
got to make
publicationshave catered to the South and encouraged the
Southern
writers.
And
you've got to go far and wide for
You've
contributors.
got to buy stuff according to its
your
quality, without any regard to the pedigree of the author.
Now, I'll bet a quart of ink that this Southern
parlor organ
you've been running has never
played a note that originated
Mason
" Hamlin's
line. Am
above
I right.'^"
"I have carefullyand conscientiouslyrejected all contributions
from

that

section

of the

country

"

if I understand

figurativelanguage aright,"repliedthe colonel.

"All right. Now, I'll show you
something."
Thacker
reached for his thick manila envelope and dumped
of typewritten manuscript on the editor's desk.
a mass
"Here's
truck," said he, "that I paid cash for, and
some
brought along with me."
One
by one he folded back the manuscripts and showed
your

their first pages

to the colonel.
four short stories
"Here
are
in the

authors

York,

and

United

States

commuting.
Vienna-bred
society by Tom
serial by Captain Jack
^no
one

"

are

and

three
here's

separate

exposes

"

of

entitled

"

by

four of the

three

of

There's

highest priced
'em
livingin New
special article on

Vampson.
it's the other

Here's

an

Crawford.

Italian

Here

city governments by Sniffings,

Women
Carry in Dress-

'What

dandy
hired herself out
Suit Cases'
a
woman
Chicago newspaper
for five years as a lady'smaid to get that information.
And
here's a Synopsis of Preceding Chapters of Hall Caine's new
June.
here's a couple of pounds of
And
serial to appear
next
de societe that I got at a rate from the clever magazines.
vers
That's
the stuff that people everywhere want.
And
now
with
of
at
the
here's a write-up
photographs
four,
ages
a
"

bound

prognostication.He's

"I

beg

your

be elected

to

the name?"

was

if

you'llexcuse

me.

the first gun at Fort

thing that's bound to get next to you.

make
a

grin. "Yes, he's a

We'll pass that manuscript up.
But,
Colonel, it's a magazine we're trying to

General.

of the

by

go off

James

that

to

means

It's

here's

originalpoem

You

know

what

tell you
what
I had to
this
Riley can make more

I won't

but I'lltell you

for that poem;
\\Titingwith a fountain-pen than
money
"

pay

one

Now,

an

himself.

J. W.

Riley,
magazine.

\ATiitcomb

Sumter.

not

"

of New
"

*'0h, I see," said Thacker, with half

son

Mayor

It's

"What

his chair.

B. McClellan.

the country.
He
big hit all over
pardon," said Colonel Telfair, stiffeningin

It'll make

York.

HENRY

thirtyof George

and

twelve, twenty-two,

O.

FROM

STORIES

218

that lets the ink

"

I'llread

run.

'N' reads and

He

lets

I'm

'N' when
'N' when
Bad

Jesse crost

sorry

of my

'N' say

lightsare
it; so

'bout

trundle
I love

'N' it's too

every

She
I

bed

her

'N' kiss her, 'n' I

But

mad

her

knees.
wuz

"

does.

never

after all the

Out

tease

it's cause

I guess

I'm

me,

why that

always wondered
Pa

be.

'n' say

just smiles, ma's

cat, 'n' pa
'N' gives me

"**N'

please,
laughs at

begin to

'n' then

words

leave him

he

bad

I holler loud

The

us

just like

do

me

makes

hug

dark

time I do

out

I creep
to ma's

whole
her

heap,
tight.

her eyes.
I know

to

see

cries 'n' cries 'n' cries 'n' cries.

always wondered

1 guess it's cause

does.'
Pa never

the last two

'n' loafs all day,

lays around

Ta

you

or

you

why that

wuzr-^

can

vvith

stanzas

STORIES

220

to you,

Colonel

Telfair

to fillthe

good. I've got to run back to New

down
again in a couple of weeks."
slowly swung his eye-glassesby their broad,

ribbon.

"The

in the

space

said he,
a

brought

it's all

as

I'll be

York, and
black

HENRY

I'llleave the selection of the stuff I

burg.
space

O.

FROM

January

measuredly, "has

number

that

I referred

to,"

held open purposely,pending

decision that I have not yet made.
A short time ago a contribution
submitted
that is one
to The Rose of Dixie
of
was

the most

remarkable

observation.

my

have

produced

reserved

for its

"WTiat
words

literaryefforts
None

but

about

ever

mind

under

come

talent could

and

fillthe space

that

I have

possibleuse."
anxious.

of stuff is it?"

kind

that has

master

It would

it.

looked

Thacker

been

he

asked.

"Eight

thousand

sounds

suspicious. The oldest families must have been

collaborating. Is there going to be another secession.?
"The author of the article,"continued
the colonel,ignoring
"

Thacker's
has
at

allusions,"is

of

also

distinguishedhimself in
libertyto reveal to you his name

decided

whether

"Well,"
or

writer

an

said

or

Carolina,

servants,

what?"

"You

or

I do not

ways.

at least not

"

He
feel

until I have

accept his contribution."

to

unveilingof

mire, South
or

other

Thacker, nervously,"is it

of the

account

not

reputation.

some

the

revised

new

continued

town

pump

listof General

story,
in Whit-

Lee's

body-

be

said Colonel Telfair,

facetious,''
calmly. "The article is from the pen of a thinker, a philosopher,
of
lover
and
rhetorician
of high
mankind, a student,
a
a
are

disposed to

degree."
"It must

have

been

written

"But, honestly.Colonel, you

of

by

want

syndicate,"said
to go slow.

Thacker.

I don't

know

eight-thousand-word single doses of written matter

that are read by anybody these days, except Supreme Court
briefs and reports of murder
trials. You
haven't by any
cident
acany

gotten hold

speeches, have

of

you?"

copy

of

one

of Daniel

Webster's

ROSE

"THE

Colonel Telfair swung

under

the

littlein his chair and

looked

ily
stead-

the solicitude that your business investments

edly
undoubthave conferred upon
But I must
ask you
to cease
you.

jibes and derogatory comments

Southern
people. They, sir,will

ojSSce of
you

221

bushy eyebrows at the magazine promoter.

Thacker," he said, gravely, "I am
willingto segregate
somewhat
crude expression of your
of
humor
sense

the

j'our

DIXIE"

his

'*Mr.

from

OF

The

Rose

proceed

with

the editor of this

merits

of Dixie

for

of your

more

magazine,

of the matter

will first present

superior in any way,

you

to

or

be tolerated
And

in the
before

insinuations

proof that

that I,

are

you

relative to the

form

shape, or

and

evidence

some

South

competent judge of the

its consideration, I beg that

not

submitted

not

the

moment.

one

covert

am

upon

my

question

in hand."

"Oh,
didn't

Colonel," said Thacker, good-naturedly.

come.

do

anything like
by the fourth

dictment

get back

to

business.

article," said

"The

that

to

assistant

What's

It sounds

you.

like

"I
m-

an

attorney-general.

Let's

this 8,000 to 1 shot about.'^"

Colonel

Telfair, acknowledging the

slightbow, "covers a wide area of knowledge.

It takes up theories and questionsthat have puzzled the world
for centuries, and disposes of them
logicallyand concisely.
One by one
it holds up to view the evils of the world, points
the way
of eradicatingthem, and then conscientiously
out
and in detail commends
the good. There
is hardly a phase
life that it does not
of human
discuss wisely,calmly, and
equitably. The great policiesof governments, the duties of
life,law, ethics,
private citizens, the obligationsof home
with a
morality all these important subjects are handled
calm wisdom
and confidence that I must
confess has captured
apology by

"

my

admiration."
"It must
"It

is

be

great contribution

the colonel.

"The

the tremendous
in The

crackerjack,"said Thacker, impressed.

Rose

to

the

world's

wisdom,"

said

only doubt remaining in my mind as to

advantage it would be to us to give it publication
of Dixie is that I have not yet suiSficientin-

the author

about

formation

O.

FROM

STORIES

222

HENRY

give his

to

work

in

pubHcity

our

magazine."
thought

"I

is

said he

you

said

distinguished man,"

Thacker.

diversified and

more

extraneous

that

the matter

careful about
contributors

people of unquestionablerepute

are

holding

be

can

its author.

I do not

know

whether

not.

If I decide

against it, I

shall be

Thacker,

are

you

I said, I

publish it or
pleased, Mr
leaving with

place."

in its

me

that

the matter

substitute

to

much

tions,
connec-

information

I will

about

and
As

time.
verified at any
this article until I can
acquire more
fact

which
am

literaryand in other
fields. But I am
extremely
for
pubhcation. My
accept
in

is," repHed the colonel,"both

"He

Thacker

somewhat

was

at

sea.

about
gather," said he, "much
It sounds
more
of this inspiredpiece of literature.
dark horse than Pegasus to me."
don't

"I

is

"It

"from

rose

he

"Say!"
John
at

D.

said.

said

on

the world

livingto-day."
excitedly.
isn't possiblethat youVe

"It

colonel-editor, confidently,

the

grasp

gist

like

accomplishments who,

stronger

that of any
to his feet

than

Thacker

of great

man

obtained

opinion, has
outcomes

document,"

human

the

to

seem

in my
and its

man

Rockefeller's memoirs,

tell

Don't

is it?

cornered
that all

me

once."
"I

sir,"said Colonel Telfair.

"No,

literature, not

and

of the

less

tality
speaking of menworthy intricacies of
am

trade."

"Well, what's
Thacker,
has

the trouble about

the

little impatiently,"if the man's

article,"asked

well known

and

got the stuff?"

Colonel
"Mr.

Telfair

Thacker,"

Nothing

has

sighed.
said he, "for

from

I have

once

yet appeared in The Rose

the pen of
little about the author

been

running

one

of its

sons

or

been

tempted.

of Dixie that
daughters.

of this article except that

has

not

I know

he has

ac-

ROSE

"THE

prominence

quired

inimical

been

his

in

genius;

and,

shall

leave

the

open

Thacker

I have

Until

is

the

be

vestigati
in-

an

futile.

finished,

vacant

ways
al-

recognize

instituted

it will

that

filling

of

But

has

But
I

must

in

space

our

Colonel,"

right.
use

I'll

stuff.

Colonel

focky
number

of

the

the

article

magazine

made

SECOND

had

headed

was

MESSAGE

the

thus

for

OF

DIXIE

BY

BULLOCH

Member

of

the

FAMILY,
T.

Roosevelt

Well-known

OF

the

forms

CONGRESS

TO

ROSE

found

yawning

been

Written

THE

He

scoop

GEORGIA

of

my

luck!"
hands.

off

dropped

and

up

Good
shook

promoter

City.

that
that

run

two

could.

it instead

weeks.

later, Thacker

magazine
space

sit up,

he

as

really got

you've

about

Toombs

at

vacant
an

again
and

'em

in

cordially

as

If

make

fortnight

Pullman

filled by

in

Telfair

Returning

The

will

that

drop

said,

he

judgment.

own

your

something

leave.

to

arose

"All

or

mind.

you,

that

country

Perhaps

inquiry.

223

number.'*

January

"You

told

question

the

and

personality.

the

pursue

DIXIE"

of

heart

my

I have

as

of his

section

to

OF

very

January

closed.
for

type

was

From

StrictlyBusiness.

November,

April

MUNICIPAL

This

1909.

28, 1918, "is

short story and

one

published in Hampton*s Magazine,

First

story, says

coming

writer

in the New

York

Times,

regarded as O. Henry's greatest

language." Writing about
of Hampton's,0. Henry
then
editor
Griffith,
to

be

of the greatest in the

the story to Mr. William

"Title will follow
says:

with

title.

end

In

REPORT

the

the

remainder; have

there

is

take

to

dramatic

time

on

and

a
mysterious
The *snapper' comes
in
being Major Caswell.
the last paragraph, revealing the slayerby a bare intimation.
The
is to show that an absolutelyprosaic and conventional
whole scheme
such as Nashville, can
town
equal San Francisco, Bagdad, or Paris
it comes
when
to a human
story. The beginning of the story is not
there will be two or three pages
to follow, containing
yet written
...

murder,

the victim

"

references

to Frank

Norris's

lines,in which

the words

occur,

Think

of

It was
knowTi
anything happening in Nashville, Tennessee.'"
his titles,
before that O. Henry pondered long over
that he blocked
but
that he wrote
out his plots slowly,
rapidly and with hardly an
after
had
the
been
erasure
plot
thought through to its denouement.
This letter indicates also that the expository openings (seepage
97)
sometimes
written
after
the
narrative
had
been
were
purely
part
In
of
the
the
structure
note
completed.
especially the
story,
and
artistic use
of Rand
made
The
McNally's prosaic summary.
repetitionof a quotation or parts of a quotation at intervals through
a

story for re-enforcement

device.

or

continuousness

is not

an

uncommon

quotations from Rand and McNally are employed

differently. They strike an opposing note; they take the side of
Frank
Norris; they build up the material Nashville by the side of
O.
Nashville.
The
becomes
sort
Henry's romantic
a
story
of debate, with
the opposition. The
periodic rejoinders from
The House
with
initial quotation from Frank
Norris is taken
from
But

the Blindsy

the

one

of

the

stories in

Circle (1909).
224

the

volume

called

The

Third

MUNICIPAL

A
The

cities are

REPORT

full of

Challenging each
This from
That

225

pride.

to each

"

her mountainside.

from

beach.

her burthened

R. Kipling.
novel

Chicago or Buffalo, let us say, or Nashville,

Tennessee!
There are just three big cities in the United States that
New
York, of course.
are
"story cities" New
Orleans, and, best
Fancy

about

"

Francisco.

of the lot,San

is East, and

East

Calif ornians.

merely

not

of lake

inhabitants

Of

when

Odd

new

hour

an

heavy

while

underwear.

silence for

your

World.

of the New

map

soon

comes

the Golden
a

But, dear
one

*'In this town

say:

as

Gate

"

of Tennessee,
the L. "

stepped

thesaurus
hie

me

to

take
mis-

Bagdad

of

tion
opinion,no refutaall (from Adam
cousins
and
who will lay his fingeron the
matter

there

the Cumberland
railroads.

portant educational
I

coal

be

can

no

romance
a

"

rash

and

what

deed

Rand

to

and

city,port of delivery,and the capitalof the State

is on
N.

the

is

them,

upon
as

Yes, it is a bold and

happen here?"
challenge in one sentence
history,romance,
McNally.
Nashville.

that

argument

could

and

Cali-

But

thinking of your
to
as
they come

conviction, madness

descended), it is a rash
and

Building.

are

you

So far, as

is necessary.
Eve

are

the Southerners

are

climate, an

But

they picturethe city of

and

people; they

They

Fellows

in the

they have,

for half

bills and

State.

of

race

to

into detail.

go

course

good

the

are

Francisco, according

Chicagoans are no less loyal to their

them
and speak
why, they stammer

ask

you

Norris.

is San

of

Now,

fish and

fornians

West

Calif ornians

of the West.

city;but

Frank

"

centre

off the

in vain

comparison

and

the N.

on

city is regarded

This

as

C. " St. L.

the most

im

in the South.

train

for

River

at

p.

adjectives,I
in the form

of

searched

Having

m.

must,
a

as

recipe.

the

substitution,

STORIES

FROM

O.

HENRY

of London

Take

fog 30 parts; malaria 10 parts; gas leaks

20 parts; dewdrops gathered in a brick yard at sunrise, 25
parts; odor of honeysuckle 15 parts. Mix.
will give you
The mixture
an
approximate conception of a
drizzle.
Nashville
It is not so fragrant as a moth-ball
nor
thick
but 'tis enough
'twill serve.
as
as
pea-soup;
I went
It required strong selfto a hotel in a tumbril.
to keep from
suppression for me
climbing to the top of it
and giving an imitation
of Sidney Carton.
The vehicle was
drawm
by beasts of a bygone era and driven by something
dark and emancipated.
I was
riedly
sleepy and tired,so when I got to the hotel I hurpaid it the fiftycents it demanded
(with approximate
lagniappe, I assure
you). I knew its habits; and I did not
its old "marster"
want
to hear it prate about
or
anything
that happened *'befo' de w^ah."
"

hotel

The
That

was

$20,000 worth

means

lightsand
table

time

great

the service

thousand

where
At

as

electric
pillars,
tiling,
lobby, and a new L. ". N.

for.

full of

management

is

chicken

no

out
with-

was

exquisiteSouthern

as

There

in each

other

livers

en

hotel

tesy,
cour-

goodtraveling
as

in the world

brochette.

Negro waiter if there was

anything
He pondered gravely for a minute, and then
doing in town.
replied: "Well, boss, I don't reallyreckon there's anything
at

I asked

The

Mountain

the progress
of a snail and
Winkle.
The food was
worth

get such

can

dinner

slow

Van

miles

you

attention

"renovated."

as

marble

new

above.

rooms

Rip

as

of

described

cuspidorsin the
lithograph of Lookout

reproach, the
humored

kind

brass

and

of the

one

of the

one

all doin' after sundown."

Sundown

in the

had

drizzle

me.

But

what

might

been

long

I went

It is built

accomphshed;
before.

forth

upon

So

it had

that

been

spectaclewas

the streets

drowned
denied

in the drizzle to

see

be there.

on

at a
electricity

undulating grounds;
cost

of $32,470 per

and

annum.

the streets

are

lightedby

FROM

STORIES

228

stood.

But, shades

beautiful

tile floor!

they
the

O.

HENRY

of Jefferson

Brick!

I could

avoid

not

the tile floor

"

"

the

thinking of

battle of Nashville, and

deductions

some

Here

I first

tryingto draw, as is my foolish habit,

about hereditarymarksmanship.
saw
Major (by misplaced courtesy) WentI knew

Caswell.

worth

him

for

type the

suffered

from

the

sight of

habitat.

My

old

friend, A. Tennyson, said, as

said

almost

And

is

rat

This

has

eyes

geographical

no

he

so

well

the

blabbing lip.

the British vermin, the rat.

word

"British"

interchangeablead lib,

as

as

hunting

about

the hotel

lobby

like

starved

he had
buried
bone.
He
a
forgotten where
face of great acreage,
red, pulpy, and with a kind of

that

had

had

sleepy massiveness
he
single virtue
"

of the beast
a

that

rat

rat.

man

dog

with

me

me

curse

regard the

us

my

everything:
Prophet, curse

Let

him.

moment

is not

stubble.

day

I w^ould

calendar
of

one

like that
was

very

of Buddha.

smoothly

indelible upon
a
I think that if he

man

had

He

possessed one

shaven.

The

until he goes about

used his razor
not

repulsed his advances, and the

world would
have been spared the

have

of the

mark

inal
crimtion
addi-

murder.

happened to be standing within five feet of a cuspidor

it. I had been observant
when
Major Caswell opened fire upon
enough to perceivethat the attackingforce was using
ly
Gatlings instead of squirrelrifles; so I side-steppedso promptthe
that the major seized
opportunity to apologizeto a nonthe blabbing lip. In fcur minutes
He
had
combatant.
friend and had dragged me
to the bar.
he had become
my
But
Southerner.
I desire to interpolatehere that I am
a
the stringtie,
I eschew
I am
not one
by professionor trade.
I

the

slouch

cotton

hat, the

Prince

Albert, the

destroyed by Sherman,

the orchestra

playsDixie

I do not

and

of bales

number

plug chewing.

cheer.

I slide

of

When

littlelower

MUNICIPAL

the leather-cornered

on

at

Fort

at

Appomattox
of

re-echoed.

began

collateral branch

disposed of, he took

He spoke of
matters.
and profanely denied

of the
to

up,

this time

By

that

when

But

I would

they

And

when

brusquely; for
obtained

paid

like to make

would

no

nuisance,

showed

time.

But

we

don't

seems

serving was
I took

leave

loudly
tory.
obligaof him

before

But
an

the

on

I had

income

that

handful

of silver money.
the clerk said to me
teously:
cour-

annoyed

to have

you,

will have

without

to be

seem

scure
ob-

for them.

silver dollar

prated loudly of

loafer, and

support, although he

have

trying to

was

paying

of him.

more

complaint, we

Eve,

to

the drinks,

into

for that

I got my
key at the desk
"If that man
Caswell has

When

is

ordered

another

course,

I had

his wife, received, and

back

that she may

he crashed

release he had

my

one

he

her descent

bewildered

of

I wanted

then

suspect that he

to

down

Then,

the first

of Nod.

be

were

the bar.

upon

began

the use?

he fired the last

possiblerumor

any

Wiirz-

ily
began on famAdam
was
only a third cousin
Caswell family. Genealogy
distaste, his private family

noise the fact that he had

by
chance

my

what's

his fist,and

But

his wife,traced

relations in the land

had

He

that

demonstrated

But

When

hope.

to

another

and, well, order

seat

Longstreet had
banged the bar with

Sumter

trees, and

229

that

burger and wish

Major CasweU
gun

REPORT

some

him

known

any

ejected.

able to hit upon

of

means

of the

most

money

if you

and

means

any

throwing him out legally."

"Why, no," said I, after some
reflection;"I don't see my
clear to making a complaint. But I would
like to place
way
pany.
myself on record as assertingthat I do not care for his comYour
to be a quiet one.
town," I continued, "seems
of

What
have

of entertainment,

manner

adventure,

to offer to the

stranger within your

"Well, sir," said the clerk, "there will be
you

Thursday.
sent

up

After

to

It is
"

your

I went

excitement

or

gates?"
a

show

here next

I'lllook
room

up

to

it up and have the announcement

with the ice water.
Good
night."

my

room

I looked

out

the

window.

STORIES

230

It

only about

was

in

currants

cake

O.

HENRY

o'clock,but I looked

ten

drizzle continued,

The
as

FROM

spangled with

silent town.

upon

dim

far apart

lights,as
Exchange.

sold at the Ladies'

quiet place," I said to myself, as my first shoe struck

of the room
beneath
mine.
the ceiling of the occupant
"Nothing of the life here that gives color and variety to the
cities in the East and West.
Just a good, ordinary,humdrum,
*'A

town.*'

business

Nashville

of the country.
States, the largestcandy and

United

and

South,

tell you

I must
the
I

you.

had

does

cracker

manufacturing

shoe

in the

market

manufacturing city in
drygoods, grocery, and

and

cents

me

Adair.

writing)
personalityexcept the handthat
(lostart:)and poems
essays
o'clock
their one
approvingly over

some
swear

by

before

to

business, but

own

my

it does

as

literarymagazine to stop
between
the
personal connection

commissioned

had

they

corner

word

in

sent

So

on

to

assure

clue to the

no

the editors

luncheon.

tedium

of its contributors. Azalea

one

(therewas

made

Nashville, and I

Northern

establish

and

had

Adair

to be in

came

from

publicationand
Adair

digressionbrings as much
travelingelsewhere
was

there

over

how

commission

had

and

wholesale

enormous

an

the

among

business.

drug

you

place

foremost

It is the fifth boot

centers

the

occupies

his

contract

her

or

round

up

said

output

at

two

publisheroffered

other

some

to

me

her ten

or

twenty.

out

stalwart

of the late
that I

ankles

and

rain and

sun

corner

came

reminded

me

the

had

had

once

and

age

seen

or

been

had

still on

for

Uncle

pyramids,

so

He

expect

wore

to

Confederate

unlimited

an

He

Csesar.

of Brutus, and

King Cettiwayo.
ever

can

upon

older than

Negro,

face that

coat

(try them

first

the

At

chicken
livers
after my
find that hotel), I strayed

morning,

the next

if you
into the drizzle,which
was

brochette

en

o'clock

nine

At

with

gray

second

the
see.

gray

most

run.
a

was

wool

and

afterwards
remarkable

It reached

to his

in co/ors.

variegated it that Jo."eph's

But
coat

MUNICIPAL

beside it,would

faded

have

to

do

to

story that is so long in coming, because

anything
Once

the

been

have

it must

the story

with
you

I must
the

"

hardlyexpect

can

in Nashville.

happen

to

231

pale monochrome.

coat, for it has

that

lingerwith

REPORT

militarycoat

of

an

officer.

The

vanished, but all adoT\Ti its front it had been

the frogsand
frogged and tasseled magnificently. But now
In their stead had been patientlystitched
tassels were
gone.
by some
surviving "black mammy")
new
(I surmised
frogs
of cunningly twisted
made
This
common
hempen twine.
have been added
It must
twine was
frayed and disheveled.
substitute for vanished
less
to the coat
a
as
splendors,with tastebut pains taking devotion, for it followed faithfully
the
of the long-missingfrogs. And, to complete the
curves
comedy and pathos of the garment, all its buttons were
gone
cape

of it had

save

one.

The

coat

The

fastened

was

and

buttonholes
There

side.

was

and

bedecked

of

the size of

was

with

on

This

might
with
open

Negro

the two

the top alone remained.

other twine stringstied through the

other

holes

never

such

rudely pierced in
a

weird

so
garment
hues.
The

mottled

many

half-dollar,made

of

the

opposite

fantastically
lone

yellow horn

button

and

sewed

twine.

coarse

have

by

so

from

button

second

by

stood

started

animals

the door, drew

line with

hack
hitched
out

old that

carriage so

it after he left the ark

to it. As

feather

himself

Ham

approached he threw
it without
duster, waved
I

using it,and said in deep, rumbling tones :

"Step right in, suh; ain't a speck of dust in it ^jus'
got
back from a funeral, suh.'*
I inferred that on such gala occasions carriageswere
given
extra
an
cleaning. I looked up and down the street and perceived
"

that

there

little choice

was

hire that lined the curb.

for the address
*'I want

about

to

to

of Azalea
go

to

861

I looked

in my

vehicles

for

book

memorandum

Adair.

Jessamine

step into the hack.

arm
long,gorilla-like

the

among

of the

But

Negro

Street," I said, and

for

an

barred

instant
me.

On

was

the thick,
his

mas-

suspicionand enmity
moment.
Then, with quickly returning conviction,
a
"What
asked blandishingly:
are
gwine there
you
face

saturnine

sive and
flashed

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

232

for
he

look of sudden

for,boss?"
'*

"

you? I asked, a little sharply.

suh, jus' nothin'.
Only it's a lonesome

is that to

What

"Nothin',

and

of part of town
Step right in.

folks

few

The

is clean

seats

business

has

ever

jes' got

"

kind
there.

out

back

from

funeral, suh."
and

mile

hack

like

something
I could

All

which

area

an

miles

137

I could

the

with

and

tar

journey's end.

our

rattle of the

flavored
of

through

to

ancient

smell

coal

nothing

smoke

and

oleander

blossoms.

windows

were

streaming

two

houses.

city has

The

paving;

further
mixture

see

of dim

rows

brick

uneven

drizzle, now

the

but

the

over

been

fearful

the

but

nothing

hear

I could

have

half it must

paved;

are

$2,000,000, with

miles; 181 miles of streets, et

of 10 square

of

system

water-

works

that

cost

miles of mains.

77

decayed mansion.
it stood, out-merged in a
street
untrimmed
shrubbery. A row
overflowed
hid the paling fence
and almost
of box bushes
that
from
kept closed by a rope noose
sight;the gate was
encircled the gate post and the first paling of the gate. But
that 861 was
when
a shell,
a shadow,
a
got inside you saw
you
excellence.
in
the
and
But
story,
ghost of former grandeur

Eight-sixty-oneJessamine
Thirty yards back from the
splendid grove of trees and

I have

the

quadrupeds
with

an

came

I did

rattlingand the weary

to a rest I handed
jehu his fiftycents
my
quarter, feelinga glow of conscious generosity,

so.

had

ceased

He

from

refused

it.

dollars,suh," he said.

"It's two
"How's

hack

additional
as

was

yet got inside.

not

When

Street

that?"

at the hotel:

I asked.

'Fiftycents

"I
to any

plainly heard

call out

you

part of the town.'

'*

MUNICIPAL

A
"It's
a

long

dollars, suh," he

two

"Don't

argued.

Do

Yankee.

the

see

You
when
The

face of

grim

gen '1'man

to

the

"Then

His

born

was

it

picked up

I went

on,

them, myself, for

see

their other

on

people from
softened.

them

shoes

in the

toes

was

them," I
greenhorn

there?"

raised

tell

sharp

is

fiftycents,

expression,a mingling

returned, remained
"Boss,"

and

within

side.

other

people

"Is you

from

of yourn
fooled
for a Southern

wear."

charge

former

well

not

King Cettiwayo

is somethin'

They

and

(I could

I reckon

the South, suh?

me.

limits

nigger,can't you
'em?"

see

you

repeated obstinately."It's

that you have

those hills over

the east

the drizzle)
; "well, I
old fool

city

think

you

pointing toward

233

the hotel."

from

ways

is within

"It

REPORT

suppose?" said
of

cupidity and

seconds, and

ten

he said, "fiftycents

is

I inexorabl

tility,
hos-

vanished.

right;but

I needs

two

lars,
dol-

suh; I'm obleegedto have two dollars. I ain't demandin*

whar
it now,
suh; after I knows
you's from; I'm jus' say in'
that I has to have

dollars

two

to-night,and

business

is mighty

po'."
and

Peace
had

an

than

settled upon
his
he had
hoped.

heavy features. He
Instead
of having

greenhorn, ignorant of rates,

he had

come

upon

inheritance.
confounded

old

pocket, "you ought

For

HE

up

"You
my

luckier

been

picked

confidence

the

first time

rascal," I said, reaching down

to

be

turned

him

saw

smile.

over

He

to

the

to

police."

knew; he knew;

KNEW.

I gave
I noticed

him

two

that

one

one-dollar
of them

had

bills.
seen

As

I handed

parloustimes.

them

over

Its upper

missing,and it had been torn through

in the middle, but joined again. A stripof blue tissue paper,
the split,
pasted over
preserved its negotiability.
Enough of the African bandit for the present: I left him
happy, lifted the rope, and opened the creaky gate.
right-hand corner

was

FROM

STORIES

234

house,

The

as

I said, was

again

until I looked
that

trees

saw

the

at

shell.

I could

it in twenty years.
bowled
have
should
not

touched
wind

HENRY

O.

it
trees

like

over

that

the battle of Nashville

branches

paint brush
not
see
why

stilldrew

and

and

enemy

Adair, fiftyyears old, white-haired,

of the cavaliers, as thin and frail as the house
Azalea

not

strong

of cards

it close

hugged

it againststorm

around

house

had

the

"

their tecting
proand cold.
descendant

she lived in,

cheapest and cleanest dress I ever saw, with an

air as simple as a queen's,received me.
mile square,
because
there
seemed
The
a
reception room
of books, on unpainted
rows
was
nothing in it except some
white-pine bookshelves, a cracked marble-top table, a rag
in the

robed

rug,

hairless horse-hair

there

pictureon
of pansies.

was

cluster

I looked

the

around

for the

portrait of
pine-cone hanging basket but they

there.

not

were

and

Jackson

Andrew

sofa, and two or three chairs.

Yes,
the wall, a colored crayon
drawing of

conversation, a littleof which will

She was
be repeated to you.
a
product of the old South,
gently nurtured in the sheltered life. Her learningwas not
in its somewhat
broad, but was
deep and of splendid originality
She had been educated
at home, and
narrow
scope.
Adair

Azalea

and

I had

knowledge of the world

by inspiration. Of such is

her

derived

was

from

inference

and

precious,small group of
I kept brushing
made.
While she talked to me
fingers,trying,unconsciously,to rid them guiltilyof the
dust from
Marcus
she

was

knows

the

the half -calf backs

too

valuable
much

"

my

sent
ab-

Chaucer, Haziitt,

of Lamb,

She

exquisite,
discovery. Nearly everybody nowadays

Aurelius, Montaigne, and

a

sayists
es-

oh,

so

much

Hood.

too

much

"

was

of real life.

perceiveclearlythat Azalea Adair was

very
poor.
So,
else, I fancied.
A horuse and a dress she had, not much
divided between
duty to the magazine and my loyalty
my
in the valley
to the poets and essayistswho
fought Thomas
I could

of the Cumberland,
and
harpsichord's,

I listened to her voice, which

found

that I could

not

speak

was

like

of contracts.

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

236

powder. In San Francisco's Chinatown

girlSing Yee dipped slowly,inch by inch,

rice

her

oil to make
She

again.

night I

I wish

her heart; but

three
ville
Nash-

party in East

euchre

Just

town.

and

stores

Some

one

Adah*

Azalea

it is

yes,

drum
hum-

mud

and

houses

brick

yards."
knocked
hollowly at the
breathed a soft apology and
cheeks, and

her

on

back

of

went

ten

to

with

in three minutes

back

came

faint flush

Oh,

of red

miles

the fine littlesmile

seen

table to table.
few

have

could

lumber

She

the sound.

saw

you

from

she carried

eyes,

reached

had

boilingoil

lover

her American

see

never

boilingalmond

in

Kitty Morgan cut dead by seven

she had marfriends because
ried
and lifelong
schoolmates
as
high as
house painter. The boiling oil was
sizzling

of her

and

At

knee.

her

the other

that

the

in when

gave

above

inches

she would

swear

the slave

saw

house.

the

investigate
brightened
her

lifted from

years

shoulders.
"You
"and

have

must

at

with

opened

and

Baker's

Mr.

to

In shuffled

and

drew

Impy
bare
I

was

"

kind

the

left by the back

store

of the

one

doubt

no

the

on

feet had
sure

it

died
was

deep, grufftones

on

away

hers
of

an

"

get

bills I had

Impy,"
a

Before
the back

man's

hollow
voice

wild

house.

cents

in

tea
me.

shriek
Then

mingled with

words.
givVsfurther squealsand unintelligible

of her hard,

the scrape

porch, a

she

quarter of

"

filled the
angry

of it.

corner,

he

way.

out

upper

and ten
always sends me
cakes.
Now, hurry. The supply of
worth
of sugar
the house happens to be exhausted," she explained to
of tea

small

right-hand corner
pasted together again with

the

said, handing the girlthe dollar bill,"and

pound

said,

tidy,glowering

very

purse

"

up

she

bulging eyes.

tiny, worn

bill with

dollar

not

missing,torn in two pieces and

It was
a
stripof blue tissue paper.
there was
Negro
given the piratical
"Go

go,"

you

littleiron bell.

in mouth

thumb

dollar bill,a

twelve, barefoot,

Adair

Azalea

shook

and

girlabout

me

before

of tea

cup

cake."

sugar

She reached

Negro

"

the
the

MUNICIPAL

A
Azalea

Adair
For

minutes

voice; then something like

man's

she returned

and

I heard

is

"This

calmly

to her

237
emotion

surpriseor

witnout

rose

two

REPORT

the hoarse
oath

an

rumble

and

peared.
disapof the

slightscuffle,

chair.

house," she said, "and

roomy

and

I have

tenant

for part of it. I am

invitation to
sorry to have to rescind my
It was
tea.
impossible to get the kind I always use at the

Perhaps

store.

Mr.

to-morrow

will be able to

Baker

supply

me."

Impy had not had time to leave the house.

lines and
took
I inquired concerning street-car
leave.
my
I

sure

that

was

well

was

After

Azalea

learned
That

my

I remembered

way

Adair's

But

name.

day I started in
city forced upon

same

this eventful

days, but
telegraph,and

in that

two

is the correct
As

on

to

be

time

the

the

course

me.

an

"

to

"

to

not

do.

of

iniquitythat
in the town
only
lie shamelessly by

after the

fact, if that

murder.

nearest

corner

was

I had

would

to-morrow

managed
accomplice

legalterm

I rounded

on

that

my

hotel the Afrite coachman

of the
open

the

flirted his

in, boss.

polychromatic, nonpareil coat seized me, swung

of his peripateticsarcophagus,
door
dungeony
feather duster, and began his ritual:
"Step right
Carriage is clean
jus' got back from a funeral.
"

Fifty cents
And

boss;
Thank
"I

to

then
you
you
am

"

any

he

knew

and

is de

grinned broadly.

genl'man what rid out with

kindly,suh."
going out to 861 again to-morrow

three," said I, "and

So you know
bill.
"I

me

Miss

if you
Adair.^

"

me

"

'Souse me,
dis mawnin'.
afternoon

at

will be here, I'lllet you drive me.

dolI concluded, thinking of my lar

belonged to her father, Judge Adair, suh," he replied.

"I judge that she is pretty poor," I said.
"She
hasn't
much
to speak of, has she?"
money
of
For an instant I looked again at the fierce countenance
King Cettiwayo, and then he changed back to an extortionate
old Negro hack driver.

FROM

STORIES

238

ain't

"She

gwine

to

O.

HENRY

suh,'* he said slowly. "She

starve,

has reso'ces,suh; she has reso'ces.'*

"I shall pay you fiftycents for the
is puffecklycorrect, suh," he

"Dat

dollars dis mawnin',

dat two

to have

jus'had

trip,"said I.
answered
humbly.

"I

boss."

by electricity.I wired the

magazine: "A. Adair holds out for eight cents a word."
"Give
it to her quick,
back was:
that came
The
answer
I went

the

to

hotel

lied

and

duffer."

you

Caswell bore down

"Major" Wentworth
friend.
I have seen
with the greetingsof a long-lost
I have so instantaneously hated, and of whom
whom
difficultto be rid. I was
standing at the bar w^hen

Just before dinner

me

upon

few
it

men
so

was

invaded

he

me;

therefore

not

he

thereby, to escape another; but

roaring,advertisingbibbers
and

fireworks

attend

the white

wave

who

of those

one

must

have

that

cent

every

upon

w^as

ribbon

the drinks,

paid gladly for

have

I would

in his face.

I could

hoping,
able,
despic-

brass bands

they

waste

in

their follies.

With

bills from

I looked
hand
with

I went
a

have
up

through
It

blue tissue paper.

been no other.

to my

dreary, eventless

two

of them

upon

Southern

the
w^as

the

bar.

rightmiddle, and patched

dollar bill again.
my
the

upper

of
the monotony
tired and
made
me

drizzle and

The

room.

one-dollar

he drew

dollar bill with

the

missing,torn

stripof

It could

at

more

once

corner
a

producing millions
pocket and dashed one

air of

an

towTi

had

just before I went to bed I mentallydisposed of the mysterious dollar bill (which might have
the clew to a tremendously fine detective
formed
story of
if
as
San Francisco) by saying to myself sleepily: "Seems

listless.

lot of

I remember

people here

that

own

stock

in the Hack-Driver's

Wonder
Pays dividends promptly, too.
fell asleep.
King Cettiwayo was at his post the next
my

bones

rattle

me

over

back

the

stones

again when

out

was

to

861.

ready.

He

if

day,
was

Trust.

"

Then

and
to

rattled

wait

and

Adair

Azalea

had ^oked

slipout

of her

get her

up

out

ran

Pirate

sidewalk

the

bring

to

with

he returned
of medicine.

In

each)

cents

him

explained to

Lucy

half

and
drive

I want

It occurred
as

to

the

Uncle

Caesar

much

"It

doctor

cream

Dr.

struck

off up
utes
ten min-

In

in the

hollow

up

to my

house

and

pitcherfull of fresh milk

And
Don't
hurry back.
sometime

Merriman

this week."

also felt

distrust

of the

After
steeds.
land-pirate's
lumberingly, but swiftly,up the
with great politenessand
over
me

gone,

looked

careful

is

other

to

was

not

calculation

until

he

had

decided

that

do.

might

Mrs.

that

me

speeding powers

street, the
as

to

of port wine.
to get back
you

tumbler

run.

"

give you

to

I had

statelyunderstanding,

Caesar," he said calmly, "run

ask Miss

and

presence

with

bowed
of mystery.
He
turned to the old Negro.

"Uncle

coffee-colored

of speed.

my

house
and

gray-haired,and capable man

less than eight
(worth much

grave,

words

few

to

then

and

that

his team

afoot, realizingthe value

street

the

wisdom

he abandoned

suspected in him,
the

With

I managed

sofa

yelled to

and

doctor.

trouble

horse-hair

the antediluvian

on

to

she grew
much
Without

chair.

she

signed the contract

stillpalerand began to

word

per

frailer than

and

she had

After

the day before.

on

239

cleaner

paler and

looked

eightcents

at

REPORT

MUNICIPAL

only

words,
Caswell

aid her, but

Negro,

Uncle

the

result

has

many

"In

starvation.
of poverty, pride, and
friends who
would
be glad
devoted

she will accept

Caesar, who was

Caswell!"

"Mrs.

of insufficient nutrition," he said.

case

at the contract

and

nothing except from that old

owned
once
by her family."
said I, in surprise. And
then I looked
that she had signed it "Azalea
Adair
saw

Caswell."
"I

thought

"Married

doctor.

"It

she

to

drunken,

Adair," I said.
worthless

loafer, sir," said the

is said that he robs her

that her old servant

When

Miss

was

the milk

contributes
and

wine

even

toward

had been

of the small

sums

her

support."
brought the doctor

soon

Azalea

revived

leaves

autunm

height

of color.
of

the outcome
her

she

as

and
within

was

She

sat

that

were

lay

HENRY
talked

and

up

then

in

of the

beauty
their

and

season,

referred

lightlyto her faintingseizure

ned
palpitationof the heart.
Impy fan-

old

an

O.

She

Adair.

of the

as

FROM

STORIES

240

the

on

The

sofa.

I followed

him

to

my

and

intentions

power

doctor

due

was

I told him

the door.

make

to

where,
else-

that

it

reasonable

future

contributions

magazine, and he seemed pleased.

"By the way," he said, "perhaps you would

like to know

of money

advance

Azalea

to

Adair

on

to the

that

have

you

grandfather
as

ways,

had
a

was

the doctor

As

inside:

have

may

you

Csesar

Csesar's

himself

has

royal

observed."

moving
git bofe of

off I heard

was

he

"Did

Old

coachman.

royalty for a
king in Congo.

dem

Uncle

Caesar's voice

dollars from

two

Mis'

you,

Zalea.?^"

weakly. And
in and concluded
then I went
business negotiationswith our
contributor.
the responsibility
I assumed
of advancing fifty
dollars, putting it as a necessary
formality in binding our
bargain. And then Uncle Caesar drove me back to the hotel.
Here ends all of the story as far as I can
testifyas a witness.
The rest must
be only bare statements
of facts.
"Yes, Csesar," I heard

about

At

at

was

his

flourished

six o'clock

I went

He

corner.

Azalea

x\dair

for

out

threw

answer

the door

open

Uncle

stroll.

of his

Caesar

carriage,

his

duster, and
began his depressing formula:
"Step right in, suh.
Fifty cents to anywhere in the city
hack's puflBckly
clean, suh
jus'got back from a funeral
"

"

"

then

And

bad.

he
His

had

coat

of color, the twine

remaining button
motley descendant
About

front
this

of
was

two
a

hours

drug

manna;

couch

on

of

kings

later I
In

saw
a

wedged

of empty

boxes

few

more

the button

"

store.
so

taken

stringswere

last

his

I think

recognized me.

of

an

my

way

and

shades

"

Caesar !

excited

desert

faded

more

ting
get-

frayed and ragged, the

was
yellow horn
gone.

Uncle

was

eyesightwas

besiegingthe
nothing happens

crowd

where

inside.
chairs

was

On

an

porized
extem-

stretched

the

MUNICIPAL

REPORT
Caswell.

mortal corporealityof Major Wentworth

immortal

for the

testinghim

was

241

ingredient.

doctor

His

decision

conspicuous by its absence.

The erstwhile Major had been found dead on a dark street
citizens to the drug
and brought by curious and ennuied
The
late human
store.
being had been engaged in terrific
that it

was

battle

details

the

"

he had

though
lost.

His

would

not

him

was

been, he had

hands

good words,
looking man

if it

searched

reprobate

warrior.

But

tightlythat

their vocabularies

had

fingers
known

to find

One

"When

thought:

he had

his

possible,to speak of him.

were

was

so

and

gentle citizens who

said, after much

fo'teen he

about

and

been

The

Loafer

also

yet clinched

were

be opened.
about

stood

that.

showed

some

kind-

*Cas'

was

of the best spellersin school."

one

the

fingersof the right hand of "the

that was," which
hung down the side of a white pine
man
box, relaxed, and dropped something at my feet. I covered
I picked it up
foot quietly,and a little later on
it with one
that in his last struggle his
and pocketed it. I reasoned
seized that object unwittingly and held it
have
hand must
in a death grip.
At the hotel that night the main topicof conversation,with
the
and prohibition,
the possibleexceptions of politics
was
I heard one
of Major Caswell.
demise
man
say to a group
I stood

While

there

of listeners:
"In

my

of

some

murdered
opinion, gentlemen, Caswell was
He
these no-account
niggers for his money.

fiftydollars

this afternoon

in the hotel.
on

which
he

When

was

he showed
found

to several

the money

by
had

men
gentlewas

not

his person."

citythe next morning at nine, and as the

River
I
the Cumberland
crossingthe bridge over
the
button
of my
pocket a yellow horn overcoat
twine
fifty-centpiece, with frayed ends of coarse
I left the

from

it,and

^yaters

cast

it out

of the window

below.

I wonder

what's doing in

Buffalo1

into the

train
took

was

out

size of

hanging
slow, muddy

LET*
From

YOUR

FEEL

PULSE

published in The Cosmopolitan

This last complete story that O. Henry
Magazine, July, 1910.
of humor
charm.
shows
An English critic,
diminution
wrote
or
no
S. P. B. Mais, in From
"For
Shakespeare to 0. Henry (1918),says:
I place Let Me
Feel Your Pulse easilyfirst. It has an
pure humor
has
of the
others
for the purely English
none
appeal which
It obeys the laws laid down
for the
reader.
by Meredith
Comic
follies;it satirizes and
us
laugh at human
Spirit:it makes
ridicules and yet it does us quite active and appreciablegood. It is
an
anodyne in itselffor all bodily ailments, an infallibleprescription
first published as Adventures
The story was
from an unerring doctor."
and was
in Neurasthenia
heralded by the announcement:
*'If you want
to get well, read this story by O. Henry;" but the
dead before it appeared. The latter half of the story
author was
North
Asheville (Pineville)
takes place in or near
Carolina, at Mrs.
Porter's home, where O. Henry had sought and seemingly found
"It was
restoration of health.
\\Titten,"says Dr. William Pinkney
Sixes

and

ME

First

Sevens.

...

Herbert, of Asheville, "with

he would

medical

books.

times
Some-

again he would sit in my

office."
There is not the usual surpriseat the end, for the
outer
almost
imperceptibly into an allegory of rest and
story passes
there is exquisite
But
heart's-ease with Amaryllis in the shade.
imagery, there is release at last from the spellof the unquiet Lady
Neurasthenia, and there is a terminal beauty of thought and melody
of

take them

the aid of my
to his office and

phrase that

in themselves

So I went

to

are

restful and

remedial.

doctor.

long has it been since you took any alcohol into

your system?" he asked.
head
sidewise, I answered, "Oh, quite a
Turning my
"How

while."

He

was

young

doctor, somewhere
242

between

twenty and

244

STORIES

looked

and

grave
flesh is heir

"Is

or

it

are

I asked.

O.

HENRY

stringof grievances that the

mostly ending in "itis." I immediately
mentioned

"

fifteen dollars

him

paid

to

FROM

or

account.

on

some

or

of them

any

necessarilyfatal?"
the matter
justified

with
thought my connection
of interest.
toy manifesting a certain amount
"All of them," he answered
cheerfully. "But
I

be arrested.

may

began to think
be sufficient,
I am
I

dollars
"The

on

more

for

account.

allow

myself

So he took
bare

do," he said, with

sanitarium

while, and

proper

or
ninety."
eighty-five
of the doctor's bilL
"Eighty-five would
I paid him ten
comment.
sure," was
my

first thing to

"is to find

and

care

live to be

may

you

With

their ress
progcontinuous
ment
treat-

me

where
your

you

nerves

renewed

will get a
to get into

animation,

complete
a

better

rest
dition.
con-

will go with you and select a suitable one."

in the Catskills.
It was
to a mad-house
on

mountain

frequented only by infrequent frequenters.

could see nothing but stones
and boulders, som^e
You
patches
The
of snow,
and scattered pine trees.
physician in
young
out
charge was most agreeable. He gave me a stimulant withluncheon
It was
to the arm.
time,
applying a compress
invited to partake. There
about
and we
were
were
twenty
inmates
in the dining room.
The
at little tables
young
table and said:
"It is a
to our
physician in charge came
with our
custom
as
patients,
guests not to regard themselves
but
merely as tired ladies and gentlemen taking a rest.
alluded to
Whatever
slightmaladies they may have are never
a

in conversation."

My doctor called loudly to a waitress to bring some

phoglycerate of lime hash, dog-bread, bromo-seltzer
and
arose

like

by

nux

sudden

every

The

"

say,

wind

tea

Chronic

one

for my

storm

guest in the

except

"

heard

vomica

man

room

with

turned

cakes,
pan-

sound

It was
pine trees.
duced
proasthenia!"
whispering loudly,"Neurwhom
I distinctly
a
nose,
him again.
I hope to meet

among

alcoholism."

physician in charge

repast.

Then

phos-

and

walked

away.

LET

An

hour

or

YOUR

after luncheon

had

been

and

sponge-holder

was

so

conducted

from

tall that I

PULSE

he conducted

the

house.

245
to

us

Thither

the workshop
the

guests

by the physician in charge'sunderstudy

a

"

was

Packing Company

to

FEEL

fiftyyards

say

"

so

ME

with

man

not

would

sure

have

feet and

he had

blue

face

He

sw^eater.

but

the Armour

been

delightedwith his hands.

"Here," said the physician in charge, "our guests find relaxation
from
mental
worries
past
by devoting themselves
labor
recreation,in reality."
physical
There
were
turning-lathes,
carpenters' outfits,clay-modeling
tools, spinning-wheels, weaving-frames, treadmills,
"

bass

drums,

enlarged-crayon-portrait
apparatuses,

smith
black-

forges,and everything, seemingly, that could interest

the paying lunatic guests of a first-ratesanitarium.
"The
lady making mud pies in the corner," whispered the
Lula Lulington, the
physician in charge, "is no other than
authoress of the novel entitled 'Why Love Loves.'
What
she
is doing now
is simply to rest her mind
after performingthat
piece of work."
I had seen
the book.
"Why doesn't she do it by writing
"

another
As

you

"The

broken

instead?"

one

see,

I wasn't

I asked.
as

far gone

gentleman pouring water

the physician in charge,
down

I buttoned
Others

from
my

they thought I
through the funnel,"

"is

as

Wall

Street

was.
tinued
con-

broker

overwork."
coat.

he

architects playingwith Noah's

pointed out were
arks, ministers reading Darwin's
"Theory of Evolution,"
lawyers sawing wood, tired-out societyladies talking Ibsen
to the blue-sweatered
sponge-holder,a neurotic millionaire
lying asleep on the floor,and a prominent artist drawing a
little red wagon
around
the room.
"You
look pretty strong,"said the physician in charge to
"I think the best mental
relaxation for you
me.
would
be
the mountainside
throwing small boulders over
and
then

bringing them
I

was

up

hundred

again."
yards away

before my

doctor overtook

me.

"What's
"The

coal

the matter?"

So

to

back
said

hardly the

seems

is rest
That

clerk:

place for

and

rest

to

I need

"What

the

doctor, "perhaps

I went

night

catch

and

suitable

absolute

"

aeioplanes
hastilyjog the footno

are

first milimited-soft-

town."

to

the

there

merrily and

to

station

yon

express

"Well,"

going

am

HENRY

he asked.

is," said I, "that

matter

handy.
pathway

0.

FROM

STORIES

246

what

This
need

you

exercise."
hotel

in the

is absolute

city,and

rest and

tall

of those

with

But

you.

right.

are

you

said to the

exercise.

Can

foldingbeds

you

in it,and

one
give me a room
a
relay of bellboys to work it up and down while I rest.^"
of his fingernails and
The
clerk rubbed
a
speck off one
in a white hat sittingin the
glanced sidewise at a tall man
and asked me
came
over
politelyif I had
lobby. That man
I had not, so he
entrance.
the shrubbery at the west
seen

showed

guess
man."

week

again
a

and

me

looked

then

thought you had 'em,"

you're all right. You'd

"I

it to

afterward

without

the

did

that

"What

"Would

coast

see

go

tested

of Long

He
were

doctor, old
pressure

looked
of

to

shade

me

of

me.

"

mermaid

blood

my

liissocks

need," he decided," is

manner.
professional
"I myself," he said,

off the

better

And

Napoleon.
not
appeal to

you

unkindly, "but

not

preliminary stimulant.

littleless like

^an

said,

he

doctor

my

over.

me

"will

Island

sea

air and

ship."
companion-

began; but he slippedon

take
and

you

the

to

that

see

you

Hotel

his

Bonair

get in good

where you will soon

resort
shape. It is a quiet,comfortable
recuperate."
ionable
fashThe Hotel Bonair proved to be a nine-hundred-room
body
Everyhostelry on an island off the main shore.
who

did

dining-room
table d'hote.

not

and
The

dress

for dinner

given only

bay

was

was

shoved

into

side

terrapin and champagne

great stamping ground for

Corsair

The

wealthy yachtsmen.

PULSE

YOUR

FEEL

ME

LET

247

there the day

anchored

Morgan standing on deck eatinga

and
cheese sandwich
gazing longinglyat the hotel. Still,
It was
inexpensive place. Nobody could afford to
a
very
their prices. When
went
simply left
you
you
away
pay
baggage, stole a skiff,and beat it for the mainland in
your
the night.
there one
I had been
When
day I got a pad of monotelegraphblanks at the clerk's desk and began to
grammed
wire all my
friends for get-away money.
My doctor and I
to
of croquet on the golf links and went
played one
game
I

arrived.

we

Mr.

saw

the lawn.

sleepon
When

got back

we

the

suddenly. "By

of very

"ReHeved

to town

thoughtseemed

way," he asked, "how

much," I replied.

to

do

occur

you

to him

feel.?"

exactly sure

isn't
consulting physician is different. He
he is to be paid or not, and this uncertainty

msures

either the

Now

you

doctor

My
He

made

took

me

and

guess

poor

careful

most

immensely. He

liked him

to

see

gave

put

or

me

me

the most

tention.
careless at-

consultingphysician.
careful

attention.
tion
co-ordina-

through some

exercises.

"Have

I had

I told him

"Shut

pain in the back

you

of your

he asked.

not.

eyes," he ordered, "put

your

head.?"

your

feet close together,

jump backward as far as you can."

I always was
a good backward
jumper with my eyes shut,
I obeyed.
My head struck the edge of the bathroom
so
door, which had been left open and was only three feet away.
and

The

doctor

that the door

was

touch

"Now

open.
your

He

sorry.

very

was

He

nose

had

overlooked

the

fact

closed it.
with

your

he
right forefinger,"

d.
is it.?" I asked.

"Where
"On

"I

face," said he.

your
mean

"Oh,

my
excuse

I explained.
right forefinger,"
me," said he. He reopened the bathroom

STORIES

248

door, and

I took

performed
"I

do

the

reallyhave
He ignored
with

HENRY

fingerout of the crack of

marvelous
digito-nasalfeat I
deceive

to

something

hke

the symptom

pain

and

to

as

you

it.

my

I had

said:

Doctor;

symptoms,

in the back

examined

After

of my
head."
heart carefully

latest-popular-air-penny-in-the-slot
ear-trumpet.

felt like
about

O.

my

wish

not

FROM

ballad.

five minutes

"Now,"

he said,

around

the room."

I gave the best imitation

being led out of Madison

I could

of

"gallop like
a

horse

for

Percheron
disqualified

Garden.

Square

Then,

without

he listened to my
chest again.
dropping in a penny,
"No
glanders in our family, Doc," I said.
The consultingphysicianheld up his forefinger
within three
inches of my
"Look
at my
nose.
finger,"he commanded.
"Did
I began; but he went
ever
on
try Pears'
you
with his test rapidly.
look across
"Now
the bay.
At my
fijiger.Across the
bay. At my finger. At my
finger. Across the bay. Athe bay. At my
cross
finger. Across the bay." This for
"

about
He

three

minutes.

explained that

It seemed

this

was

test

of the action
mistook

of the brain.
his

fingerfor
the bay.
I'll bet that if he had used the phrases: "Gaze,
it were,
rather laterally in
as
or
unpreoccupied, outward
the direction of the horizon, underlaid, so to speak, with the
adjacent fluid inlet,"and "Now, returning or rather, in a
withdrawing your attention, bestow it upon my upmanner,
raised
I'll
that
I
James
himself
could
bet,
digit"
Henry
say,
have
the
examination.
passed
After asking me
if I had ever
had a grand uncle with curvature
of the spine or a cousin with swelled ankles, the two doctors
retired to the bathroom
and sat on the edge of the bath
tub for their consultation.
I ate an
apple, and gazed first
the bay.
at my
fingerand then across
The doctors came
More:
out
looking grave.
they looked
tombstones
and Tennessee-papers-please-copy. They wrote
easy

to

me.

never

once

"

"

"

"

out

diet list to which

was

to be restricted.

It had

every-

ME

LET

thing that
I

I had

eat

never

*'You

of to eat

follow

it

249

it,except snails.

on

bites

and

me

said
strictly,"

if I could

mile

PULSE

it overtakes

this diet

follow

must

"I'd

heard

ever

snail unless

YOUR

FEEL

the

And
first.

me

doctors.

get one-tenth

what's

of

it," I answered.

on

importance," they went on, "is outdoor air and

here is a prescriptionthat will be of great
And
exercise.
benefit to you."
all of us took something. They took their hats, and
Then
I took my
departure.
him the prescription.
I went
to a druggistand showed
"Of

next

"It will be $2.87 for

"Will

give me

you

I made

and
little superstition,

way

for
you

to

runs

there

course

Maine

that

Then, suddenly, I remembered

is

with

while

and

on

seven

the Blue

dragged
He

home.

by

met

hundred

station, where
us.

by

verdict

for

"Old

man,

jaunt in

the

in

looked

in

at
a

Pineville,and

we

big,neighborlesscottage
mountains.
John's

got off

We

on.

too

state

took

John

has

an

altitude

the
on

at

is

to his

trolleycar
a

dignifiedto

is mica, which

hill surrounded

his little

Amaryllis met
trifle anxiously.

and

the hill between

us

family and

Amaryllis looked at me a
rabbit came
bounding across

John

John's.

It is at

Pineville.

Mountains

outdoor

bower

people

miles from

Ridge

have

preacher standing
of chrysanthemums

of

John
this controversy.
and clearer than gold.

me

It is

to

into

valuable

more

relative

thousand

hundred

only
shaving

without

I must

South

down

I went

in his hands

little book

country house
be

So

exercise.

approximate

an

The

bowl.

say

but

me,

eh?"

woods,

air and

with

was

have

us

in amulets.

confidence

nothing the matter

very ill. I couldn't work, sleep,eat, or
to go
I could get any
sympathy was
then somebody would
four days. Even
Been up
look as hardy as a pine knot.

Of
was

mine

All of

it inside.

tucked

neck, and

my

bottle," he said.

ounce

piece of your wrapping cord.^^" said I.

the cord through it,
ran
prescription,

hole in the

tied it around
a

an

private
greeted

and

the

After

I had

down

on

the

catch

can't

"I

further

no

Amaryllis

the

"

Get

the

descriptionsof

to
a

room

bed

the

as

of

"I'm

well be dead."
I may
as
John.^"
I
is it, Brother

rabbit-chaser, and

you

biscuits

mountains

heard

get cold."

came

up

nobly

come

was

to

Miss

I announced

broad

household

light,
twi-

Murfree's

I could

that I believed

includinglegalholidays. So I
big and cool as a flower garden, where

as

to

on

about

It

two,

or

way.

them.

after dinner

year

up,

the

before

and

I sobbed.

little unstrung," said John, in his calm

house

for

more,"

any

what

is it

worry.

Soon

rabbit

and

say.

"Nerves
"Don't

suit-case

my

in the world.

use

what

"Oh,

HENRY

pursued it hotfoot.
it disappear, I sat
run
twenty yards and seen
grass and wept disconsolately.
down

I threw

house.

O.

FROM

STORIES

250

as

lawn.

retired,and

Soon

afterward

then

there

sleep
shown

was

there

was

the remainder
the

fell upon

land

of
a

silence.
I had
I raised

not

heard

myself

a
on

silence before in years.

and listened
elbow
my

It
to

was

it.

absolute.

Sleep!

thought that if I only could hear a star twinkle or a blade of

I
myself to rest.
sharpen itself I could compose
grass
like the sail of a catboat
that I heard a sound
thought once
flappingas it veered about in a breeze, but I decided that it
probably only a tack in the carpet. Still I listened.
was
the window-sill,
belated bird alightedupon
Suddenly some
and, in what he no doubt considered sleepy tones, enunciated
the noise generallytranslated
"cheep!"
as
I leaped into the air.
there?" called John from
down
*'Hey! what's the matter
his

room

above

mine.

nothing," I answered, "except that I accidentally

bumped my head against the ceiling."
The
next
morning I went out on the porch and looked at
There were
the mountains.
forty-sevenof them in sight. I
of the house,
into the big hall sittingroom
shuddered, went
from
a
selected "Pancoast's
Family Practice of Medicine"
"Oh,

STORIES

252

FROM

neurasthenia, neuritis,acute
I

live

going to
at night

am

bath

to be

on

and

cold

convalescence.

and
indigestion,

I shall also take

strict diet.

HENRY

O.

in the

one

cheerful, and

fix my
mind
I intend to take a

tepid

deavor
morning. I shall enon
pleasant subjects.
phosphorous pillthree

of drugs
In the way
times a day, preferablyafter meals, and

tonic

composed

of

gentian, cinchona, calisaya,and cardamon

Into each teaspoonfulof this I shall mix tincture
compound.
of nux
vomica, beginning with one
drop and increasing it
dose is reached.
I shall
a drop each
day until the maximum
drop this with a medicine-dropper,which can be procured at
Good
cost at any
a trifling
pharmacy.
morning."
the

tinctures

I took
door
I

hat

my

walked

and

I remembered

opened

had

of

something

it again.

The

that
had

doctor

After

I had

closed

the

I had

forgotten to

say.

not

moved

from

but he gave a slightly

nervous
sitting,
me
again.
forgotto mention," said I, "that I shall

been

saw

"I

rest

and

in my
much

start

where

he

when

he

also take

lute
abso-

exercise."

After this consultation

so

out.

mind

I felt much

of the fact that

satisfaction

that

better.
was

I almost

The

ing
re-establish-

hopelesslyill gave me
became
gloomy again.

than to
alarming to a neurasthenic
nothing more
feel himself growing well and cheerful.
John
looked
after me
carefully. After I had evinced so
much
interest in his ^Vhite Orpington chicken
he tried his
best to divert my
mind, and was
particularto lock his hen
house
of nights. Gradually the tonic mountain
air, the
the hills so
wholesome
food, and the daily walks
among
and
alleviated my
utterly wretched
malady that I became
despondent. I heard of a country doctor who lived in the
the
told him
him
and
to see
mountains
near
by. I went
with clear,blue,
whole
a
gray-bearded man
story. He was
wrinkled
suit of gray jeans.
eyes, in a home-made
There

In

is

order

my

nose

the

knee

to

with
to

time

save

my

make

diagnosed

case,

my

right forefinger,struck
my

foot

kick, sounded

my

touched

myself

below

chest, stuck

LET
out

ME

tongue, and

my

YOUR

FEEL

asked

him

the

PULSE

253

price of cemetery

lots in

Pineville.
He

ht his

and

There's

slim

one."

mighty
"What

looked

he said, after

"Brother,"
way.

pipe

can

at

while, "you

for you

chance

to

asked

it be?"

for about

me

three
in

minutes.

mighty bad
pull through, but it's a
are

eagerly.

"I

have

taken

and

vomica, hygold, phosphorus, exercise, nux

drotherapeuticbaths, rest, excitement, codein, and aromatic
Is there anything left in the pharmaspiritsof ammonia.
copoeia?"

arsenic

"Somewhere

in these

mountains," said the doctor, "there's

and
plant growing a flowering plant that'll cure
you,
It's of a kind that's as
it's about
the only thing that will.
old as the world; but of late it's powerful scarce
and hard to
and I will have to hunt it up.
find.
You
I'm not engaged
in active practicenow:
I'm getting along in years;
but I'll
You'll have to come
take your case.
day in the after^
every
and help me
hunt
for this plant till we
fimd it. The
noon
lot about
know
scientific things,
a
new
city doctors may
that nature
much
about the cures
but they don't know
carries
around in her saddle bags."
So every day the old doctor and I hunted the cure-all plant
and valleys of the Blue Ridge. Tothe mountains
gether
among
toiled up
we
steep heights so slippery with fallen
leaves that we
had to catch every saplingand branch
autumn
from falling. We waded
reach to save
within our
us
through
and
chasms, breast-deep with laurel and ferns; we
gorges
a

"

followed

the banks

our

like Indians

way

of mountain

miraculous

the
As

But

side

we

of

pine
explored in
"

we

road

wound

side, hill
search

our

for

plant.

the old doctor

find.

brakes

through

side, river side, mountain

for miles;

streams

said,it must
followed

have

grown

scarce

and

hard

Day by day we
plumbed the valleys,scaled the heights,and tramped the
plant. Mountain-bred,
plateaus in search of the miraculous

to

he

never

seemed

we

to tire.

our

I often

quest.

reached

home

too

fatigued

HENRY

O.

FROM

STORIES

254

anything except fall into bed and sleepuntil morning.

This we
kept up for a month.
One evening after I had returned from a six-mile tramp with
the
the old doctor, Amaryllis and I took a Httle walk under
to

do

trees

around

robes
royal-purple

their

looked

We

road.

the

near

the mountains

at

for their

them

drawing

night'srepose.

first
you
glad you're well again," she said.
I thought you were
reallyill."
frightened me.
came
you
know
that
"Do
"Well
again!" I almost shrieked.
you
to live.'^"
in a thousand
chance
I have only one
in surprise. "WTiy," said she,
AmaryUis looked at me
of the plough-mules,you
sleep
"you are as strong as one
hours every
night, and you are eating us out
ten or twelve
"When

"I'm

and

of house

is,the plant we

have

where

you

save

me.

climbs

the

old

stopped
him.
They

to

the

When

got

we

what

to

glad to
to look

it

these
health

your

and

drove

see

up

means.

needn't

flowering plants, and

any

you

It

called to

and
usual

day at the
Amaryllis to

the next

come

I waited.

while

Amaryllis lugged

name

also

call any
time as
in the
to

seems

the

"The

in it.

word

my

the

on.

house

you

down

at him

hand

my

for five minutes

talked

the

slowly

drove

I waved
hand

on

his horse

sought

"that

told me,
he'd be
me

be

old doctor

and

he told

himself

doctor

I would

that

is that
on

you

back

brought

have

that

takes

who

is it he

"

And

bless the old doctor."

God

He

time.

day

up

him?"

able to talk.

was

ricketyold buggy.

in his

shouted

you

that

"

lives half way

who

know

you

since I

every

go

then

Just

Do

him

known

long walks and

and strength?

but

time, nothing can

old doctor

the

"

Mountain.

Oak

"I

she

in

"

magic

so."

me

Tatum

"Doctor

Then

"

doctor?"

"What

Black

looking for

are

tells

doctor

The

out

do you want.^
find the
unless we

more

tell you," said I, "that

"I

road

What

home.

more
a

an

said,"

doctor
as

patient,

And

friend.

cyclopaedia
en-

then

and
encyclopaedia

be the
name

out

of

name
a

of

country

genus

tell
of

girl in

LET

of

word

to

physicians

the

specific

Tatum

Absolute

the

orderly

now."
under

come

though

cities

exercise

had

spell

the

gropingly
their

put

referred

is

one

Mountain

Methodist

rest

shade,

ritan

know

have

Even

walled

Oak

and

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