The original cause of the trouble was about twenty years in growing.You can listen to the story read to you:
At the end of that time it was worth it.
Had you lived anywhere within fifty miles of Sundown Ranch you would have heard of it. It possessed a quantity of jet-black hair, a pair of extremely frank, deep-brown eyes and a laugh that rippled across the prairie like the sound of a hidden brook. The name of it was Rosita McMullen; and she was the daughter of old man McMullen of the Sundown Sheep Ranch.
There came riding on red roan steeds -or, to be more explicit, on a paint and a flea-bitten sorrel- two wooers. One was Madison Lane, and the other was the Frio Kid, But at that time they did not call him the Frio Kid, for he had not earned the honours of special nomenclature- His name was simply Johnny McRoy.
It must not be supposed that these two were the sum of the agreeable Rosita's admirers. The bronchos of a dozen others champed their bits at the long hitching rack of the Sundown Ranch. Many were the sheeps'- eves that were cast in those savannas that did not belong. to the flocks of Dan McMullen. But of all the cavaliers, Madison Lane and Johnny MeRoy galloped far ahead, wherefore they are to be chronicled.
Madison Lane, a young cattleman from the Nueces country, won the race. He and Rosita were married one Christmas day. Armed, hilarious, vociferous, magnanimous, the cowmen and the sheepmen, laying aside their hereditary hatred, joined forces to celebrate the occasion.
Sundown Ranch was sonorous with the cracking of jokes and sixshooters, the shine of buckles and bright eyes, the outspoken congratulations of the herders of kine.
But while the wedding feast was at its liveliest there descended upon it Johnny MeRoy, bitten by jealousy, like one possessed.
Thursday, December 06, 2018
A Chaparral Christmas Gift
A Chaparral Christmas Gift is a short story by O. Henry. You can read it online here. It begins,
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This was an interesting story. I listened to it while I was doing other work in the office. Thanks for sharing it. That last line was the one that made the entire story, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThose O. Henry stories are priceless, aren't they! They never go where you think they're going lol
DeleteLove what few pieces I have read by O Henry and this was no exception. :)
ReplyDeleteI read my first by him because it was assigned in a class, but I've read more since. He has a distinctive way with a story :)
DeleteO Henry is such a great writer. His short stories are amazing. I need to check this one out. Happy Friday-hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThey are always such a surprise, even when you know to expect a surprise :)
DeleteThis sounds good, I will listen to it this evening before I go to sleep, thanks! Valerie
ReplyDeleteHis stories are always interesting. I hope you get a kick out of it :)
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