O. Henryana: Seven Odds and Ends, Poetry and Short StoriesHenry, O.
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O. Henryana: Seven Odds and Ends, Poetry and Short Stories
Henry, O.
American fiction; American poetry; American wit and humor; Short stories, American
When the spell was removed Miss Rankin sat up, looking a little
bewildered at first, and then rose to her feet, walking straight
across the room with the grace, the sureness and the ease of a Diana,
a Leslie-Carter, or a Vassar basketball champion. Miss Annabel's sad
face was now lit with hope and joy. Mrs. Rankin of Southern
susceptibility wept a little, delightedly, upon a minute lace
handkerchief. Miss Annabel continued to walk about firmly and
accurately, in absolute control of the machinery necessary for her so
to do. Doctor Prince quietly congratulated Professor Adami, and then
stepped forward, smilingly rubbing his nose glasses with an air. His
position enabled him to overshadow the hypnotizer who, contented to
occupy the background temporarily, was busy estimating in his mind
with how large a bill for services he would dare to embellish the
occasion when he should come to the front.
Amid repeated expressions of gratitude, the two professional gentlemen
made their adieus, a little elated at the success of the treatment
which, with one of them, had been an experiment, with the other an
exhibition.
As the door closed behind them. Miss Annabel, her usually serious and
pensive temper somewhat enlivened by the occasion, sat at the piano
and dashed into a stirring march. Outside, the two men moving toward
the elevator heard a scream of alarm from her and hastened back. They
found her on the piano-stool, with one hand still pressing the keys.
The other arm was extended rigidly to its full length behind her, its
fingers tightly clenched into a pink and pretty little fist. Her
mother was bending over her, joining in the alarm and surprise. Miss
Rankin rose from the stool, now quiet, but again depressed and sad.
"I don't know what did it," she said, plaintively; "I began to play
and that arm shot back. It wouldn't stay near the piano while the
other one was there."
A ping-pong table stood in the room.
"A little game, Miss Rankin," cried Professor Adami, gayly, trying to
feel his way.
They played. With the racquet in the refractory arm, Miss Annabel
played in fine style. Her control of it was perfect. The professor
laid down his racquet.
"Ah! a button is loose on my coat," said he. "Such is the fate of
sorrowful bachelors. A needle and thread, now. Miss Rankin?"
A little surprised, but smiling acquiescence, Annabel brought the
articles from another room.
"Now thread the needle, if you please," said Professor Adami.
Annabel bit off two feet of the black silk. When she came to thread
the needle the secret was out. As the hand presenting the thread
approached the other holding the needle that arm was jerked violently
away. Doctor Prince was first to reduce the painful discovery to
words.
"Dear Miss and Mrs. Rankin," he said, in his most musical
consolation-baritone, "we have been only partially successful. The
affliction, Miss Rankin, has passed from your--that is, the affliction
is now in your arms."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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