Povestiri O.Henry

8/13/2019 Povestiri O.Henry

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1 0 0 S e l e c t e d S t o r i esO HENRYThis collection of 100 of O Henry's finest stories is ashowcase for the sheer variety of one of America's

best and bestloved short story writers!The variety of the stories is ama"in#$ O Henry is asat home describin# life so%th of the Rio &rande ashe is chroniclin# the activities and concerns of'the fo%r million' ordinary citi"ens who inhabitedt%rnofthecent%ry New Yor! They are mared bycoincidence and s%r(rise endin#s as well as thecom(assion and hi#h h%mo%r that have madeO Henry's stories (o(%lar for the last cent%ry!

)over *esi#n by Robert +athias, -%blishin# .orsho()over /ll%stration*etail from Street Scene in New York, Winter

by Hi((olyte ictor alentin Sebron 120112345)hatea% 6leranco%rt, 7rance)o%rtesy of 6rid#eman Art 8ibrary, 8ondonO HENRY100 Selected StoriesWORDSWORTH CLASSICS

This edition (%blished 1449 by.ordsworth Editions 8imited)%mberland Ho%se, )rib Street,.are, Hertfordshire S&1: 4ET/S6N 1 29;:< :=1 :c .ordsworth Editions 8imited 1449.ordsworth > is a re#istered trade mar of.ordsworth Editions 8tdAll ri#hts reserved! This (%blication may not bere(rod%ced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, (hotoco(yin#, recordin# or otherwise,witho%t the (rior (ermission of the (%blishers!

Printed and bound in Great Britain

by Mackays of Chatham plc, Chatham, ent

!ypeset in the " by #$ B Creati%e Ser%ices &td

/NTRO*?)T/ON


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THE STOR/ES O7 O HENRY are in the #reat tradition of Americanshort story writin# that stretches from /rvin# and -oe thro%#h to*amon R%nyon and even - @ O'Ro%re! /n all, Henry wrote twoh%ndred and seventy stories, and they consist of a rich mit%re ofsemirealism, sentiment and s%r(rise endin#s! Tho%#h he is freB%entlytho%#ht of as a 'f%nny' writer, O Henry was, lie R%nyon,ca(able of addressin# the darer side of life ' ( Municipal #eport and!he )urnished #oom are two s%ch stories! At the same time, his#eni%s for comic invention flows thro%#h the (a#es of this boo,eem(lified by the e(ic%rean echan#e in*osta+es to Momus

between the narrator and )ali#%la -ol!The etraordinary life and e(eriences of O Henry inform all hisstories! He is as at home describin# life so%th of the Rio &rande ashe is with 'the fo%r million' the ordinary inhabitants of teemin#,

t%rnofthecent%ry New Yor! Altho%#h he has been criticised forrelyin# too m%ch on coincidence and contrived circ%mstance, OHenry had a #en%ine sym(athy for the downtrodden and o((ressedwhich was %n%s%al in writers of his era! And it is an era that hede(icts with remarable clarity$ tho%#h some of the re(orta#e andsome of the conversations may #rate on those whose conscio%snessis att%ned to (olitical attit%des of the late twentieth cent%ry ratherthan the realities of the early twentieth cent%ry, the stories are val%ableeam(les of how life was lived at a time when slavery and the/ndian .ars were only a #eneration or so in the (ast!This selection of one h%ndred of O Henry's stories does notincl%de any from his first collection, f Cabba+es and in+s 140=5!Those were all set in So%th America and have a common threadr%nnin# thro%#h them! This boo sees rather to re(resent in thewidest way the sheer variety and sco(e of O Henry's writin# and to

brin# it to the wide a%dience that his talent deserves, and to restorehim to his ri#htf%l (lace in the mainstream of American short storywritin#! *enry -./01'.2.34 was born William Sydney Porter in North Carolina5

*is schoolin+ was rudimentary, and after workin+ in a dru+ store,he went to !e6as in .//17 he became a rancher for a time, then a bank

teller and 8ournalist, foundin+ a comic weekly ma+a9ine, !he #ollin+

Stone -./2:';4 before bein+ employed by the *ouston -ost to write ahumorous daily column5


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to be with his dyin+ wife, was arrested and spent three years in the federal

penitentiary in Columbus, hio5 *ere Porter started to write short stories

under the pseudonym of *enry, thou+ht to be adopted from a )rench

pharmacist mentioned in The ?S *is(ensary, a reference book whichPorter came across in his work in the prison pharmacy5 *is collections of

stories were immediately popular, and include The 7o%r +illion 140


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The 6%yer from )act%s )ity 1;1The 6ad#e of -oliceman O'Roon 1;36ricd%st Row 1=1The +ain# of a New Yorer 1=2anity and some Sables 19;The Social Trian#le 192The 8ost 6lend 1


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?lysses and the *o#man =;3At Arms with +or(he%s ==:A &host of a )hance == > > > >/t was +rs! +c)ool's ni#ht to #o with the can for beer! So shefetched it and sat with +rs! -%rdy in one of those s%bterranean20retreats where ho%seee(ers fore#ather and the worm diethseldom!'/ rented o%t my third floor bac, this evenin#,' said +rs! -%rdy,across a fine circle of foam! 'A yo%n# man too it! He went %( to

bed two ho%rs a#o!'Now, did ye, +rs! -%rdy, ma'am' said +rs! +c)ool, withintense admiration! 'Yo% do be a wonder for rentin' rooms of thatind! And did ye tell him, then' she concl%ded in a h%sy whis(er,laden with mystery!'Rooms,' said +rs! -%rdy, in her f%rriest tones, 'are f%rnishedfor to rent! / did not tell him, +rs! +c)ool!'' 'Tis ri#ht ye are, ma'am$ 'tis by rentin# rooms we a(e alive!Ye have the rale sense for b%siness, ma'am! There be many (eo(lewill rayCict the rentin' of a room if they be to%ld a s%icide has been

after dyin' in the bed of it!''As yo% say, we has o%r livin# to be main#,' remared +rs,-%rdy!'Yis, ma'am$ 'tis tr%e! 'Tis C%st one wae a#o this day / hel(ed yelay o%t the third floor bac! A (retty sli( of a colleen she was to beillin' herself wid the #as a swate little face she had, +rs! -%rdy,ma'am!'


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'She'd abeen called handsome, as yo% say,' said +rs! -%rdy,assentin# b%t critical, 'b%t for that mole she had a#rowin' by herleft eyebrow! *o fill %( yo%r #lass a#ain, +rs! +c)ool!'P//The Brief #e'ut of Tildy

/7 YO? *O NOT FNO. 6o#le's )ho( Ho%se and 7amily Resta%rantit is yo%r loss! 7or if yo% are one of the fort%nate ones whodine e(ensively yo% sho%ld be interested to now how the otherhalf cons%mes (rovisions! And if yo% belon# to the half to whomwaiters' checs are thin#s of moment, yo% sho%ld now 6o#le's,for there yo% #et yo%r money's worth in B%antity, at least!6o#le's is sit%ated in that hi#hway of bour+eoisie, that bo%levardof 6rown@onesandRobinson, Ei#hth Aven%e! There are tworows of tables in the room, si in each row! On each table is a

castorstand, containin# cr%ets of condiments and seasons! 7romthe (e((er cr%et yo% may shae a clo%d of somethin# tastelessand melancholy, lie volcanic d%st! 7rom the salt cr%et yo% mayO HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 21e(ect nothin#! Tho%#h a man sho%ld etract a san#%inarystream from the (allid t%rni(, yet will his (rowess be baled whenhe comes to wrest salt from 6o#le's cr%ets! Also %(on each tablestands the co%nterfeit of that beni#n sa%ce made 'from the reci(eof a nobleman in /ndia!'At the cashier's des sits 6o#le, cold, sordid, slow, smo%lderin#,and taes yo%r money! 6ehind a mo%ntain of tooth(ics he maesyo%r chan#e, files yo%r chec, and eCects at yo%, lie a toad, a wordabo%t the weather! 6eyond a corroboration of his meteorolo#icalstatement yo% wo%ld better not vent%re! Yo% are not 6o#le'sfriend$ yo% are a fed, transient c%stomer, and yo% and he may notmeet a#ain %ntil the blowin# of &abriel's dinner horn! So taeyo%r chan#e and #o to the devil if yo% lie! There yo% have6o#le's sentiments!The needs of 6o#le's c%stomers were s%((lied by two waitresses

and a oice! One of the waitresses was named Aileen! She was tall,bea%tif%l, lively, #racio%s and learned in (ersifla#e! Her othername There was no more necessity for another name at 6o#le'sthan there was for fin#erbowls!The name of the other waitress was Tildy! .hy do yo% s%##est+atilda -lease listen this time Tildy Tildy! Tildy was d%m(y,

(lainfaced, and too anio%s to (lease to (lease! Re(eat the last


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a stitch into a travellin# dress ain't that ri#ht .ell, / #%essI'6%t, TildyI/n steamin#, chatterin#, cabba#escented 6o#le's there wasalmost a heart tra#edy! Tildy with the bl%nt nose, the haycolo%redhair, the frecled sin the ba#o'meal fi#%re, had neverhad an admirer! Not a man followed her with his eyes when shewent to and fro in the resta%rant save now and then when they#lared with the beasth%n#er for food! None of them bantered her#aily to coB%ettish interchan#es of wit! None of them lo%dly 'Collied'her of mornin#s as they did Aileen, acc%sin# her, when thee##s were slow in comin#, of late ho%rs in the com(any of enviedswains! No one had ever #iven her a t%rB%oise rin# or invited her%(on a voya#e to mysterio%s distant '-arsifal!'Tildy was a #ood waitress, and the men tolerated her! They who

sat at her tables s(oe to her briefly with B%otations from the billof fare$ and then raised their voices in honeyed and otherwiseflavo%redaccents, eloB%ently addressed to the fair Aileen! Theywrithed in their chairs to #a"e aro%nd and over the im(endin#form of Tildy, that Aileen's (%lchrit%de mi#ht season and maeambrosia of their bacon and e##s!And Tildy was content to be the %nwooed dr%d#e if Aileenco%ld receive the flattery and the homa#e! The bl%nt nose wasloyal to the short &recian! She was Aileen's friend$ and she wasO HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 2;#lad to see her r%le hearts and wean the attention of men fromsmoin# (ot(ie and lemon merin#%e! 6%t dee( below o%r freclesand haycolo%red hair the %nhandsomest of %s dream of a

(rince or a (rincess, not vicario%s, b%t comin# to %s alone!There was a mornin# when Aileen tri((ed in to wor with asli#htly br%ised eye$ and Tildy's solicit%de was almost eno%#h toheal any o(tic!'7resh #%y,' e(lained Aileen, 'last ni#ht as / was #oin# home atTwentythird and Sith! Sashayed %(, so he did, and made a brea!

/ t%rned him down, cold, and he made a snea$ b%t followed medown to Ei#hteenth, and tried his hot air a#ain! &eeI b%t / sla((edhim a #ood one, side of the face! Then he #ive me that eye! *oesit loo real awf%l, Til / sho%ld hate that +r! Nicholson sho%ldsee it when he comes in for his tea and toast at ten!'Tildy listened to the advent%re with breathless admiration! Noman had ever tried to follow her! She was safe abroad at any ho%r


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of the twentyfo%r! .hat bliss it m%st have been to have had aman follow one and blac one's eye for loveIAmon# the c%stomers at 6o#le's was a yo%n# man named Seeders,who wored in a la%ndry office! +r! Seeders was thin and hadli#ht hair, and a((eared to have been recently ro%#hdried andstarched! He was too diffident to as(ire to Aileen's notice$ so he%s%ally sat at one of Tildy's tables, where he devoted himself tosilence and boiled weafish!One day when +r! Seeders came in to dinner he had beendrinin# beer! There were only two or three c%stomers in theresta%rant! .hen +r! Seeders had finished his weafish he #ot %(,

(%t his arm aro%nd Tildy's waist, issed her lo%dly and im(%dently,waled o%t %(on the street, sna((ed his fin#ers in thedirection of the la%ndry, and hied himself to (lay (ennies in the

slot machines at the Am%sement Arcade!7or a few moments Tildy stood (etrified! Then she was awareof Aileen shain# at her an arch forefin#er, and sayin#G'.hy, Til, yo% na%#hty #irlI Ain't yo% #ettin# to be awf%l, +issSlybootsI 7irst thin# / now yo%'ll be stealin# some of my fellows!/ m%st ee( an eye on yo%, my lady!'Another thin# dawned %(on Tildy's recoverin# wits! /n amoment she had advanced from a ho(eless, lowly admirer to be anEvesister of the (otent Aileen! She herself was now a mancharmer,a mar for )%(id, a Sabine who m%st be coy when theRomans were at their banB%et boards! +an had fo%nd her waistachievable and her li(s desirable! The s%dden and amatory Seeders2=had, as it were, (erformed for her a mirac%lo%s (iece of onedayla%ndrywor! He had taen the saccloth of her %ncomeliness,had washed, dried, starched and ironed it, and ret%rned it to hersheer embroidered lawn the robe of en%s herself!The frecles on Tildy's chees mer#ed into a rosy fl%sh! Now

both )irce and -syche (ee(ed from her bri#htened eyes! Not

even Aileen herself had been (%blicly embraced and issed in theresta%rant!Tildy co%ld not ee( the deli#htf%l secret! .hen trade wasslac she went and stood at 6o#le's des! Her eyes were shinin#$she tried not to let her words so%nd (ro%d and boastf%l!'A #entleman ins%lted me today,' she said! 'He h%##ed mearo%nd the waist and issed me!'


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'That so' said 6o#le, cracin# o(en his b%siness armo%r! 'Afterthis wee yo% #et a dollar a wee more!'At the net re#%lar meal when Tildy set food before c%stomerswith whom she had acB%aintance she said to each of them modestly,as one whose merit needed no bolsterin#G'A #entleman ins%lted me today in the resta%rant! He (%t hisarm aro%nd my waist and issed me!'The diners acce(ted the revelation in vario%s ways someincred%lo%sly, some with con#rat%lations$ others t%rned %(on herthe stream of badina#e that had hitherto been directed at Aileenalone! And Tildy's heart swelled in her bosom, for she saw at lastthe towers of Romance rise above the hori"on of the #rey (lain inwhich she had for so lon# travelled!7or two days +r! Seeders came not a#ain! *%rin# that time

Tildy established herself firmly as a woman to be wooed! Shebo%#ht ribbons, and arran#ed her hair lie Aileen's, and ti#htenedher waist two inches! She had a thrillin# b%t deli#htf%l fear that+r! Seeders wo%ld r%sh in s%ddenly and shoot her with a (istol!He m%st have loved her des(erately$ and im(%lsive lovers arealways blindly Cealo%s!Even Aileen had not been shot at with a (istol! And then Tildyrather ho(ed that he wo%ld not shoot at her, for she was alwaysloyal to Aileen$ and she did not want to overshadow her friend!At fo%r o'cloc on the afternoon of the third day +r! Seederscame in! There were no c%stomers at the tables! At the bac end ofthe resta%rant Tildy was refillin# the m%stard (ots and Aileen wasB%arterin# (ies! +r! Seeders waled bac to where they stood!Tildy looed %( and saw him, #as(ed, and (ressed the m%stards(oon %(on her heart! A red hairbow was in her hair$ she woreO HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 29en%s's Ei#hth Aven%e bad#e, the bl%e bead neclace with theswin#in# silver symbolic heart!+r! Seeders was fl%shed and embarrassed! He (l%n#ed one hand

into his hi( (ocet and the other into a fresh (%m(in (ie!'+iss Tildy,' said he, '/ want to a(olo#i"e for what / done theother evenin'! Tell yo% the tr%th, / was (retty well taned %( or /wo%ldn't of done it! / wo%ldn't do no lady that away when / wassober! So / ho(e, +iss Tildy, yo%'ll acce(t my '(olo#y, and

believe that / wo%ldn't of done it if /'d nown what / was doin' andhadn't of been dr%n!'


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.ith this handsome (lea +r! Seeders baced away, andde(arted, feelin# that re(aration had been made!6%t behind the convenient screen Tildy had thrown herself flat%(on a table amon# the b%tter chi(s and the coffee c%(s, and wassobbin# her heart o%t o%t and bac a#ain to the #rey (lainwherein travel they with bl%nt noses and haycolo%red hair! 7romher not she had torn the red hairbow and cast it %(on the floor!Seeders she des(ised %tterly$ she had b%t taen his iss as that of a

(ioneer and (ro(hetic (rince who mi#ht have set the clocs #oin#and the (a#es to r%nnin# in fairyland! 6%t the iss had beenma%dlin and %nmeant$ the co%rt had not stirred at the false alarm$she m%st for evermore remain the Slee(in# 6ea%ty!Yet not all was lost! Aileen's arm was aro%nd her$ and Tildy'sred hand #ro(ed amon# the b%tter chi(s till it fo%nd the warm

#ras( of her friend's!'*on't yo% fret, Til,' said Aileen, who did not %nderstandentirely! 'That t%rni(faced little clothes(in of a Seeders ain'tworth it! He ain't anythin# of a #entleman or he wo%ldn't ever ofa(olo#i"ed!'P///

*earts and Crosses

6A8*Y .OO*S REA)HE* for the bottle, and #ot it! .henever6aldy went for anythin# he %s%ally b%t this is not 6aldy's story!He (o%red o%t a third drin that was lar#er by a fin#er than thefirst and second! 6aldy was in cons%ltation$ and the cons%ltee isworthy of his hire!'/'d be in# if / was yo%,' said 6aldy, so (ositively that his holstercreaed and his s(%rs rattled!2 > > > >6illy +c+ahan had a wife, and %(on her visitin# cards wasen#raved the name '+rs! .illiam *arra#h +c+ahan!' And therewas a certain veation attendant %(on these cards$ for, small asthey were, there were ho%ses in which they co%ld not be inserted!6illy +c+ahan was a dictator in (olitics, a fo%rwalled tower in

b%siness, a mo#%lG dreaded, loved and obeyed amon# his own(eo(le! He was #rowin# rich$ the daily (a(ers had a do"en menon his trail to chronicle his every word of wisdom$ he had beenhono%red in caricat%re holdin# the Ti#er crin#in# in leash!6%t the heart of 6illy was sometimes sore within him! Therewas a race of men from which he stood a(art b%t that he viewedwith the eye of +oses looin# over into the -romised 8and! He,too, had ideals, even as had /ey Sni##lefrit"$ and sometimes,

ho(eless of attainin# them, his own solid s%ccess was as d%st andashes in his mo%th! And +rs! .illiam *arra#h +c+ahan wore aloo of discontent %(on her (l%m( b%t (retty face, and the veryr%stle of her sils seemed a si#h!O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 1


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charms! At one table sat 6illy +c+ahan and his wife! +ostlysilent they were, b%t the accessories they enCoyed little needed theendorsement of s(eech! +rs! +c+ahan's diamonds were o%tshone

by few in the room! The waiter bore the costliest brands ofwine to their table! /n evenin# dress, with an e(ression of #loom%(on his smooth and massive co%ntenance, yo% wo%ld loo in vainfor a more striin# fi#%re than 6illy's!7o%r tables away sat alone a tall, slender man, abo%t thirty,with tho%#htf%l, melancholy eyes, a an *ye beard and (ec%liarlywhite, thin hands! He was dinin# on filet mi#non, dry toastand a(ollinaris! That man was )ortlandt an *%ycin, a manworth ei#hty millions, who inherited and held a sacred seat in theecl%sive inner circle of society!6illy +c+ahan s(oe to no one aro%nd him, beca%se he new

no one! an *%ycin e(t his eyes on his (late beca%se he newthat every eye (resent was h%n#ry to catch his! He co%ld bestowni#hthood and (resti#e by a nod, and he was chary of creatin# atooetensive nobility!And then 6illy +c+ahan conceived and accom(lished the moststartlin# and a%dacio%s act of his life! He rose deliberately andwaled over to )ortlandt an *%ycin's table and held o%t hishand!'Say, +r! an *%ycin,' he said! '/'ve heard yo% was talin#abo%t startin# some reforms amon# the (oor (eo(le down in mydistrict! /'m +c+ahan, yo% now! Say, now, if that's strai#ht /'lldo all / can to hel( yo%! And what / says #oes in that nec of thewoods, don't it Oh, say, / rather #%ess it does!'an *%ycin's rather sombre eyes li#hted %(! He rose to hislan hei#ht and #ras(ed 6illy +c+ahan's hand!'Than yo%, +r! +c+ahan,' he said in his dee(, serio%s tones!'/ have been thinin# of doin# some wor of that sort! / shall be#lad of yo%r assistance! /t (leases me to have become acB%aintedwith yo%!'

6illy waled bac to his seat! His sho%lder was tin#lin# from theaccolade bestowed by royalty! A h%ndred eyes were now t%rned%(on him in envy and new admiration! +rs! .illiam *arra#h+c+ahan trembled with ecstasy, so that her diamonds smote theeye almost with (ain! And now it was a((arent that at many tablesthere were those who s%ddenly remembered that they enCoyed +r+c+ahan's acB%aintance! He saw smiles and bows abo%t him! He


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1 > > > >The bi# (ale#rey a%to with its shinin# metal wor looed o%t of

(lace movin# slowly amon# the (%shcarts and trashhea(s on thelower East Side! So did )ortlandt an *%ycin, with his aristocraticface and white, thin hands, as he steered caref%lly between the #ro%(sof ra##ed, sc%rryin# yo%n#sters in the streets! And so did +iss )onstanceSch%yler, with her dim, ascetic bea%ty, seated at his side!'Oh, )ortlandt,' she breathed, 'isn't it sad that h%man bein#shave to live in s%ch wretchedness and (overty And yo% hownoble it is of yo% to thin of them, to #ive yo%r time and money toim(rove their conditionI'an *%ycin t%rned his solemn eyes %(on her!'/t is little,' he said sadly, 'that / can do! The B%estion is a lar#eone, and belon#s to society! 6%t even individ%al effort is notthrown away! 8oo, )onstanceI On this street / have arran#ed to

b%ild so%( itchens, where no one who is h%n#ry will be t%rnedaway! And down this other street are the old b%ildin#s that / shallca%se to be torn down, and there erect others in (lace of those

deathtra(s of fire and disease!'*own *elancey slowly cre(t the (ale#rey a%to! Away from ittoddled coveys of wonderin#, tan#lehaired, barefooted, %nwashedchildren! /t sto((ed before a cra"y bric str%ct%re, fo%l and awry!an *%ycin ali#hted to eamine at a better (ers(ective one ofthe leanin# walls! *own the ste(s of the b%ildin# came a yo%n# manwho seemed to e(itomi"e its de#radation, sB%alor and infelicity a


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narrowchested, (ale, %nsavo%ry yo%n# man, (%ffin# at a ci#arette!O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 1


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1


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drin b%t r%m! The natives and forei#ners lay down with chillsand #et %( with fevers$ and a #ood mied drin is nat%re's remedyfor all s%ch tro(ical inconveniences!O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 1


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'.ell, we started %( b%siness with that one line of drins, and itwas eno%#h! The (iebald #entry of that co%ntry st%c to it lie ahive of bees! /f that barrel had lasted that co%ntry wo%ld have

become the #reatest on earth! .hen we o(ened %( of mornin#swe had a line of &enerals and )olonels and e-residents and revol%tionistsa bloc lon# waitin# to be served! .e started in at fifty1


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'/ mind,' said +c%ir, slowly, ' 'twas in the second barrel weo(ened! / mind the bl%e (iece of (a(er (asted on the side of it!''.e've #ot it now,' cried Riley! ' 'Twas that we laced! 'Tis thewater that does the tric! Everythin# else we had ri#ht! H%rry,man, and #et two bottles of '(ollinaris from the bar, while / fi#%reo%t the (ro(ortionments with me (encil!'An ho%r later )on strolled down the sidewal toward Fenealy'scaf! Th%s faithf%l em(loyees ha%nt, d%rin# their recreation ho%rs,the vicinity where they labo%r, drawn by some mysterio%s attraction!O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 1


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'-%t me down, sirI' she cried indi#nantly, 'or / will Oh, )on,where, oh, wherever did yo% #et the nerve to say it'PPP/

A *arlem Tragedy

HAR8E+!+rs! 7in has dro((ed into +rs! )assidy's flat one fli#ht below!'Ain't it a bea%t' said +rs! )assidy!She t%rned her face (ro%dly for her friend +rs! 7in to see!1


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before! Now she and her man occ%(ied the flat above +ame andher man! Therefore she co%ld not (%t on airs with +ame!'*on't it h%rt when he soas yo%' ased +rs! 7in c%rio%sly!'H%rtI' +rs! )assidy #ave a so(rano scream of deli#ht! '.ell,say did yo% ever have a bric ho%se fall on yo% well, that's C%stthe way it feels C%st lie when they're di##in# yo% o%t of ther%ins! @ac's #ot a left that s(ells two matinees and a new (air ofOfords and his ri#htI well, it taes a tri( to )oney and si

(airs of o(enwor, sil lisle threads to mae that #ood!''6%t what does he beat yo% for' inB%ired +rs! 7in, withwideo(en eyes!O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 1


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man to come home and ic their slats in once a wee, and thenmae it %( in isses and chocolate creams! That'd #ive 'em someinterest in life! .hat / want is a masterf%l man that sl%#s yo%when he's Ca##ed and h%#s yo% when he ain't Ca##ed! -reserve mefrom the man that ain't #ot the sand to do neitherI'+rs! 7in si#hed!The hallways were s%ddenly filled with so%nd! The door flewo(en at the ic of +r! )assidy! His arms were occ%(ied with

b%ndles! +ame flew and h%n# abo%t his nec! Her so%nd eyes(arled with the loveli#ht that shines in the eye of the +aorimaid when she recovers conscio%sness in the h%t of the wooerwho has st%nned and dra##ed her there!'Hello, old #irlI' sho%ted +r! )assidy! He shed his b%ndles andlifted her off her feet in a mi#hty h%#! '/ #ot ticets for 6arn%m

1306ailey's, and if yo%'ll b%st the strin# of one of them b%ndles /#%ess yo%'ll find that sil waist why, #ood evenin#, +rs! 7in, /didn't see yo% at first! How's old +art comin# alon#''He's very well, +r! )assidy thans,' said +rs! 7in! '/ m%st

be #oin# alon# %( now! + a r t ' l l be home for s%((er soon! /'llbrin# yo% down that (attern yo% wanted tomorrow, +ame!'+rs! 7in went %( to her flat and had a little cry! /t was a meanin#lesscry, the ind of cry that only a woman nows abo%t, a cryfrom no (artic%lar ca%se, alto#ether an abs%rd cry$ the most transientand the most ho(eless cry in the re(ertory of #rief! .hy had+artin never thrashed her He was as bi# and stron# as @ac )assidy!*id he not care for her at all He never B%arrelled$ he camehome and lo%n#ed abo%t, silent, #l%m, idle! He was a fairly #ood

(rovider, b%t he i#nored the s(ices of life!+rs! 7in's shi( of dreams was becalmed! Her ca(tain ran#ed

between (l%md%ff and his hammoc! /f only he wo%ld shiver histimbers or stam( his foot on the B%arterdec now and thenI Andshe had tho%#ht to sail so merrily, to%chin# at (orts in the *electable

/slesI 6%t now, to vary the fi#%re, she was ready to throw %(the s(on#e, tired o%t, with a scratch to show for all those tamero%nds with her s(arrin# (artner! 7or one moment she almosthated +ame +ame, with her c%ts and br%ises, her salve of (resentsand isses, her stormy voya#e with her fi#htin#, br%tal,lovin# mate!+r! 7in came home at seven! He was (ermeated with the c%rse


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of domesticity! 6eyond the (ortal of his cosy home he cared not toroam! He was the man who had ca%#ht the streetcar, the anacondathat had swallowed its (rey, the tree that lay as it had fallen!'8ie the s%((er, +art' ased +rs! 7in, who had strivenover it!'+mmye(,' #r%nted +r! 7in!After s%((er he #athered his news(a(ers to read! He sat in hisstocin#ed feet!Arise, some new *ante, and sin# me the befittin# corner of

(erdition for the man who sitteth in the ho%se in his stocin#edfeetI Sisters of -atience who by reason of ties or d%ty haveend%red it in sil, yarn, cotton, lisle thread or woollen does notthe new canto belon#The net day was 8abo%r *ay! The occ%(ations of +r! )assidy

and +r! 7in ceased for one (assa#e of the s%n! 8abo%r, tri%m(hant,wo%ld (arade and otherwise dis(ort itself!+rs! 7in too +rs! )assidy's (attern down early! +ame hadO HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 131on her new sil waist! Even her dama#ed eye mana#ed to emit aholiday #leam! @ac was fr%itf%lly (enitent, and there was an hilario%sscheme for the day afoot, with (ars and (icnics and -ilsenerin it!A risin#, indi#nant Cealo%sy sei"ed +rs! 7in as she ret%rned toher flat above! Oh, ha((y +ame, with her br%ises and her B%icfollowin#

balmI 6%t was +ame to have a mono(oly of ha((inessS%rely +artin 7in was as #ood a man as @ac )assidy! .as hiswife to #o always %nbelabo%red and %ncaressed A s%dden, brilliant,

breathless idea came to +rs! 7in! She wo%ld show +amethat there were h%sbands as able to %se their fists and (erha(s to

be as tender afterward as any @ac!The holiday (romised to be a nominal one with the 7ins! +rs!7in had the stationary washt%bs in the itchen filled with a twowees' wash that had been soain# overni#ht! +r! 7in sat in his

stocin#ed feet readin# a news(a(er! Th%s 8abo%r *ay (resa#edto s(eed!@ealo%sy s%r#ed hi#h in +rs! 7in's heart, and hi#her stills%r#ed an a%dacio%s resolve! /f her man wo%ld not strie her ifhe wo%ld not so far (rove his manhood, his (rero#ative and hisinterest in conC%#al affairs, he m%st be (rom(ted to his d%ty!+r! 7in lit his (i(e and (eacef%lly r%bbed an anle with a


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stocin#ed toe! He re(osed in the state of matrimony lie a lim(of %nblended s%et in a (%ddin#! This was his level Elysi%m to sitat ease vicario%sly #irdlin# the world in (rint amid the wifelys(lashin# of s%ds and the a#reeable smells of breafast dishesde(arted and dinner ones to come! +any ideas were far from hismind$ b%t the f%rthest one was the tho%#ht of beatin# his wife!+rs! 7in t%rned on the hot water and set the washboards in thes%ds! ?( from the flat below came the #ay la%#h of +rs! )assidy!/t so%nded lie a ta%nt, a fla%ntin# of her own ha((iness in theface of the %nsl%##ed bride above! Now was +rs! 7in's time!S%ddenly she t%rned lie a f%ry %(on the man readin#!'Yo% la"y loaferI' she cried, 'm%st / wor my arms off washin#and toilin# for the %#ly lies of yo% Are yo% a man or are yo% aitchen ho%nd'

+r! 7in dro((ed his (a(er, motionless from s%r(rise! Shefeared that he wo%ld not strie that the (rovocation had beenins%fficient! She lea(ed at him and str%c him fiercely in the facewith her clenched hand! /n that instant she felt a thrill of love forhim s%ch as she had not felt for many a day! Rise %(, +artin 7in,and come into yo%r in#domI Oh, she m%st feel the wei#ht of his13:hand now C%st to show that he cared C%st to show that he caredI+r! 7in s(ran# to his feet +a##ie ca%#ht him a#ain on the

Caw with a wide swin# of her other hand! She closed her eyes inthat fearf%l, blissf%l moment before his blow sho%ld come shewhis(ered his name to herself she leaned to the e(ected shoc,h%n#ry for it!/n the flat below, +r! )assidy, with a shamed and contrite face,was (owderin# +ame's eye in (re(aration for their C%net! 7romthe flat above came the so%nd of a woman's voice, hi#hraised, a

b%m(in#, a st%mblin# and a sh%fflin#, a chair overt%rned %nmistaable so%nds of domestic conflict!'+art and +a# scra((in#' (ost%lated +r! )assidy! '*idn't

now they ever ind%l#ed! Shall / trot %( and see if they need as(on#eholder'One of +rs! )assidy's eyes s(arled lie a diamond! The othertwinled at least lie (aste!'Oh, oh,' she said softly and witho%t a((arent meanin#, in thefeminine eCac%latory manner! '/ wonder if / wonder ifI .ait,@ac, till / #o %( and see!'


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?( the stairs she s(ed! As her foot str%c the hallway above, o%tfrom the itchen door of her flat wildly flo%nced +rs! 7in!'Oh, +a##ie,' cried +rs! )assidy, in a deli#hted whis(er$ 'didhe Oh, did he'+rs! 7in ran and laid her face %(on her ch%m's sho%lder andsobbed ho(elessly!+rs! )assidy too +a##ie's face between her hands and lifted it#ently! Tearstained it was, fl%shin# and (alin#, b%t its velvety,

(inandwhite, becomin#ly frecled s%rface was %nscratched,%nbr%ised, %nmarred by the recreant fist of +r! 7in!'Tell me, +a##ie,' (leaded +ame, 'or /'ll #o in there and findo%t! .hat was it *id he h%rt yo% what did he do'+rs! 7in's face went down a#ain des(airin#ly on the bosom ofher friend!

'7or &awd's sae don't o(en that door, +ame,' she sobbed!'And don't ever tell nobody ee( it %nder yo%r hat! He henever to%ched me, and he's oh, &awd he's washin' theclothes he's washin' the clothesI'O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 13;PPP//(The Guilty ,arty(

A RE*HA/RE*, ?NSHAEN, %ntidy man sat in a rocin#chair by awindow! He had C%st li#hted a (i(e, and was (%ffin# bl%e clo%dswith #reat satisfaction! He had removed his shoes and donned a (airof bl%e, faded car(etsli((ers! .ith the morbid thirst of the confirmeddaily news driner, he awwardly folded bac the (a#es of anevenin# (a(er, ea#erly #%l(in# down the stron#, blac headlines, to

be followed as a chaser by the milder details of the smaller ty(e!/n an adCoinin# room a woman was cooin# s%((er! Odo%rsfrom stron# bacon and boilin# coffee contended a#ainst thec%t(l%# f%mes from the ves(ertine (i(e!O%tside was one of those crowded streets of the East Side, inwhich, as twili#ht falls, Satan sets %( his recr%itin# office! A

mi#hty host of children danced and ran and (layed in the street!Some in ra#s, some in clean white and beribboned, some wild andrestless as yo%n# haws, some #entlefaced and shrinin#, someshriein# r%de and sinf%l words, some listenin#, awed, b%t soon,#rown familiar, to embrace here were the children (layin# in thecorridors of the Ho%se of Sin! Above the (lay#ro%nd for ever hovereda #reat bird! The bird was nown to h%morists as the stor!


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6%t the (eo(le of )hrystie Street were better ornitholo#ists! Theycalled it a v%lt%re!A little #irl of twelve came %( timidly to the man readin# andrestin# by the window, and saidG'-a(a, won't yo% (lay a #ame of checers with me if yo% aren'ttoo tired'The redhaired, %nshaven, %ntidy man sittin# shoeless by thewindow answered, with a frownG')hecersI No, / won't! )an't a man who wors hard all dayhave a little rest when he comes home .hy don't yo% #o o%t and

(lay with the other ids on the sidewal'The woman who was cooin# came to the door!'@ohn,' she said, '/ don't lie for 8i""ie to (lay in the street!They learn too m%ch there that ain't #ood for 'em! She's been in

the ho%se all day lon#! /t seems that yo% mi#ht #ive %( a little ofyo%r time to am%se her when yo% come home!''8et her #o o%t and (lay lie the rest of 'em if she wants to be13=am%sed,' said the redhaired, %nshaven, %ntidy man, 'and don't

bother me!'> > > > >'Yo%'re on,' said Fid +%llaly! '7ifty dollars to D:9 / tae Annieto the dance! -%t %(!'The Fid's blac eyes were sna((in# with the fire of the baited andchallen#ed! He drew o%t his 'roll' and sla((ed five tens %(on the bar!The three or fo%r yo%n# fellows who were th%s 'taen' more slowly

(rod%ced their stae! The bartender, eofficio staeholder, too themoney, laborio%sly wra((ed it, recorded the bet with an inchlon#

(encil and st%ffed the whole into a corner of the cash re#ister!'And, oh, what'll be done to yo%'ll be a (lenty,' said a better,with antici(atory #lee!'That's my looo%t,' said the Fid sternly! '7ill 'em %( allaro%nd, +ie!'

After the ro%nd 6%re, the Fid's s(on#e, s(on#eholder, (al,mentor and &rand i"ier, drew him o%t to the bootblac stand atthe saloon corner, where all the official and im(ortant matters ofthe Small Ho%rs Social )l%b were settled! As Tony (olished theli#ht tan shoes of the cl%b's -resident and Secretary for the fifthtime that day, 6%re s(ae words of wisdom to his chief!')%t that blonde o%t, Fid,' was his advice, 'or there'll be tro%ble!


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.hat do yo% want to throw down that #irl of yo%rs forYo%'ll never find one that'll free"e to yo% lie 8i" has! She's wortha hallf%ll of Annies!''/'m no Annie admirerI' said the Fid, dro((in# a ci#arette ashon his (olished toe, and wi(in# it off on Tony's sho%lder! '6%t /want to teach 8i" a lesson! She thins / belon# to her! She's been

bra##in# that / daren't s(ea to another #irl! 8i" is all ri#ht insome ways! She's drinin# a little too m%ch lately! And she %seslan#%a#e that a lady o%#htn't!''Yo%'re en#a#ed, ain't yo%' ased 6%re!'S%re! .e'll #et married net year, maybe!''/ saw yo% mae her drin her first #lass of beer,' said 6%re!'That was two years a#o, when she %sed to come down to thecorner of )hrystie, bareheaded, to meet yo% after s%((er! She was

a B%iet sort of a id then, and co%ldn't s(ea witho%t bl%shin#!''She's a little s(itfire, sometimes, now,' said the Fid! '/ hate Cealo%sy!That's why /'m #oin# to the dance with Annie! /t'll teach hersome sense!'O HENRY 100 SE8E)TE* STOR/ES 139'.ell, yo% better loo a little o%t,' were 6%re's last words! '/f8i" was my #irl and / was to snea o%t to a dance co%(led %( withan Annie, /'d want a s%it of chain armo%r on %nder my #ladsomera#s, all ri#ht!'Thro%#h the land of the storv%lt%re wandered 8i"! Her blaceyes searched the (assin# crowds fierily b%t va#%ely! Now andthen she h%mmed bars of foolish little son#s! 6etween times sheset her small, white teeth to#ether, and s(ae cris( words that theEast Side has added to lan#%a#e!8i"'s sirt was #reen sil! Her waist was a lar#e brownand(in

(laid, wellfittin# and not witho%t style! She wore a cl%ster rin# ofh%#e imitation r%bies, and a locet that ban#ed her nees at the

bottom of a silver chain! Her shoes were r%n down over twistedhi#h heels, and were stran#ers to (olish! Her hat wo%ld scarcely

have (assed into a flo%r barrel!The '7amily Entrance' of the 6l%e @ay )af received her! At atable she sat, and (%nched the b%tton with the air of milady rin#in#for her carria#e! The waiter came with his lar#echinned, lowvoicedmanner of res(ectf%l familiarity! 8i" smoothed her silensirt with a satisfied wri##le! She made the most of it! Here sheco%ld order and be waited %(on! /t was all that her world offered


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her of the (rero#ative of woman!'.hisy, Tommy,' she said as her sisters f%rther %(townm%rm%r, ')ham(a#ne, @ames!''S%re, +iss 8i""ie! .hat'll the chaser be''Selt"er! And say, Tommy, has the Fid been aro%nd today''.hy, no, +iss 8i""ie, / haven't saw him today!'7l%ently came the '+iss 8i""ie,' for the Fid was nown to beone who reB%ired ri#id %(holdment of the di#nity of his fiance!'/'m looin' for 'm,' said 8i", after the chaser had s(%ttered%nder her nose! '/t's #ot to me that he says he'll tae Annie Farlsonto the dance! 8et him! The (ineyed white ratI /'m looin'for 'm! Yo% now me, Tommy! Two years me and the Fid 've

been en#a#ed! 8oo at that rin#! 7ive h%ndred, he said it cost! 8ethim tae her to the dance! .hat'll / do /'ll c%t his heart o%t!

Another whisy, Tommy!''/ wo%ldn't listen to no s%ch re(orts, +iss 8i""ie,' said thewaiter smoothly, from the narrow o(enin# above his chin! 'Fid+%llaly's not the #%y to throw a lady lie yo% down! Selt"er on theside''Two years,' re(eated 8i", softenin# a little to sentiment %nderthe ma#ic of the distiller's art! '/ always %sed to (lay o%t on the13

Documents

Povestiri O.Henry