comment upon the unexpected ending of the story hearts and hands (400 words)
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Answer:
All about the Story Hearts and Hands:
The story, ‘Hearts and Hands’ describes the chance encounter on a train, between two acquaintances – Miss Fairchild and Mr Easton. The story presents an ironical situation with a surprise ending.The irony at the end of the story makes the story interesting.
The story ‘Hearts and Hands’ is set in a train to Denver. At Denver there is an influx of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B & M. express. An elegantly attired woman named Miss Fairchild is seated on the train when two men arrive and take the seat facing her. It quickly becomes apparent that the woman knows one of them. She speaks to the man, Mr Easton, and then she is surprised to discover that he is handcuffed to the man seated beside him. As Easton greets the young woman, he raises his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining ‘bracelet’ to the left one of his companion. The man with Easton senses Easton’s embarrassment and gives an explanation. He says that Easton is the marshal, and the two are headed for Leavenworth prison. “It’s seven years for counterfeiting,” he adds.
The young woman continues to chat with her acquaintance, but she continues to stare at the handcuffs. “Don’t you worry about them, miss,” said the other man. “All marshals handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr Easton knows his business.” As the two men stand to go to the smoker car, the young woman bids Mr Easton goodbye.
All the while two passengers seated nearby have listened to the conversation. One says that he seems too young to be a marshal. The other says, “Mr Easton is not a marshal; he is the counterfeiter. Did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand ?” The comments of these two characters reveal the irony at the end of the story. This surprise ending makes the story interesting.