Question

describe in 200 words how you would have given an ending to the short story ‘Hearts and Hands’ written by O. Henry if you were the writer.

Answer 1

Answer:

The story “Hearts and Hands” is set on a train, eastbound B. M. Express, where an elegantly dressed, luxurious pretty young woman Miss Fairchild meets by chance one of his old acquaintances Mr. Easton. Mr. Easton greets her with his left hand as his right hand is handcuffed with the left hand of another glum-faced, heavily built and roughly dressed man seated next to him.

Miss Fairchild is surprised to see that they are handcuffed. Sensing Mr. Easton’s embarrassment, the second man comes to the rescue by explaining that Mr. Easton is a marshal who is taking him to Leavenworth prison as he has got seven years of jail term for counterfeiting.

This gives Miss Fairchild some relief, as she started to think something bad about her old friend. Then, they continue the conversation further. Fairchild comes to know that Mr. Easton has given up his luxurious life in Washington and has taken the job of a marshal in the west. Then the woman says she also loves the west and wants to live there.

At that point the second man demands that he must be taken to the smoker now as he hasn’t had a smoke all day. So, Mr. Easton rises and leaves with that man bidding good-bye to the woman.

Two other passengers in a nearby seat heard the entire conversation. One of them comments that the man (Mr. Easton) holds such a prestigious post of a marshal at a very young age. Then the other man comments that he has never seen an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand.

So, at the very end of the story, we come to know that actually the glum-faced man is the officer and Mr. Easton is the prisoner.