The Cactus Page: 391
[24], 305-400, [72] p., 2 leaves of plates : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this prose (fiction).
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
ber of high attributes and excellencies and
talents, ani he had absorbed the oblation
as a desert drinks the rain that can coax from
it no promise of bIlossoin or fruit.
As Trysdale grimly wrenched apart the
seam of his hlast glove, the crowmling instance
of his fatuous and tardily mointled egi ism
(came vividly back to him.
The scene was the night when he had asked
her to come up on his pedestal with him and
share his greatness. Ile could not, now-, for
the pain of it, allow his mind to dwell upon
the memory of her convincing beauty that
night-the careless wave of he: hair, the
tenderness and virginal charm of her looks
anld words. Bit they had Ibeen enough, and
they had brought him to speak. During
their conversation she had said
"And ('aptain (arruthers tells me that
y eou spak the Spanish language like a native.
hy have you hidden this accomlplish:lment
frim me? Is there anx-thing you do not
know ?"
Now, ('arruthers was an iliot No dloubt
he ('lrydalt) had been guilty (he some-
times did such things) of airing at the club
some old, canting (astilian proverb ldug from
the hotch-potch at the back of dictionaries.
('arruthers, who was one( of his incontinent
admirers, was the very man to have magni-
tied this exhibition of doubtful erudition.
But, alas! the incense of her admiration
hail Ieen so sweet and flattering. 1ie al-
lo ed the imnutation to pass without denial.
Without protest, he allowed her to twinei
ailout his brow this spurious blay of Spanish
scholarship. lIe let it grace his coniluering
heal, and, among its soft convolutions, he
dlid lnot feel the prick of the thorn that was
to pierce him later.
IloW gladl, hox shy, 1 hoxy tremulous she
was! Ioxow she fluttered like a snared bird
whn he laid his mightiness at her feet! lIe
could have sworn, and he coulil swear now,
that unmistakable consent was in her eves,
lbut, eo'yly', she would give himi no diir'ect
answ 'er. "I will stenid you my answer to-
mirrow," she said; anti he, the indulgent,
confident victor, smnilingl granted the delay.
TIhe next dlay he waited, impatient, in his
rooms for t]:he word. At noon01 her grlooml
ean to the door and left the strange cactus
in the red earthen jar. There was no note,
no llss'age, mIerely a tag upon the plant bear-
ing ;a barbarous foreign or botanical name.
I1 ', a;lited until night, lbut her an. er lid t il
cone, Ilis large pri ide and hurt J! 'him from seeking her. Tiwo evenings later
they met lt a dinner. Their greetings were
conventional, but she looked at himi, bIreath-
lSit, wonideriinr eagir. l '.' cilrteols
adamant, waiting her explanation. 'Wit h
womanly swiftness she took her cue from his
maneriii, aid turned to snow and ice. Thus,
and ideler from this on, the had drifted
apart. liere Was his faui \11ho hadl
the answer amid thi uii:s of his self-c'iieit.
If--
lThe voic (of the other mian in the roomll
(Iuerous iins ru'ang upon his thoughts
aroustled hIim.
"I say, T'rystale, wl t thle detce is lthe
m att er With 'ou'? YOU loolk as unhappy as
if oOU Volrself had been lmarried instead of
having act-ed nierely as an a.conlplice. L()ok
miles on a g1arlicky, co'kroa'cli' I;an;aia
steamer all the wax' from Suth i\ll:(ri(:a to
connive at the si(tice 1p'ase lo oisi'r
how lightlli guilt r st' upon mi hlioitii'"s.
()nly little sister I had, too, and noel she's
gone. ('ome11( now! take soiithiniil toase
Yeur coLnscience. "
"I on't Idrinlk just now, thanks," said
xTre sdale.
" ioulr br'iandy ," resuiiimed the other, com-ii
ing over and joining him, "is abominablel,.
Iun lio n to see me Sme tol ime at IPunllit
Iedoindla, and try some of our stuff that OhlI
(iarcia smuggles in. It's worth the trip.
IHallo! here's an old acquainlance. WIere-
ever did you rake upii this eieatus, Tr'isiale"'
"A presentt" said TrysdIale, "i'fronm a
friend. Know the species?"
"\ery well. It's a tropical concern. See
hundreds of 'em around lPuiinta ever' day
IIlen's (the mnme on this. tag tied to it. Know
any Spanish, Trsdale?,
"No," siid Trysdale, with the( bitter
wraitli of a smile, ,-"Is it Spanish ?"
"Yes. The natives imagine the leaves are
reaching out and beckoning it you. T'hey'
call it by this name lentlorInrlnr.' Name
means in English, 'Come and take nme.'"
THE BUTTON.
By MARY STIw.T CUTTINGG.
LICKY, elick;', clicky, clicky, clicky-it
;was the sewing-machine goin g at full
tilt upstairs. She was reeling off yard
after yard of muslin ruffles while the western
sun o (d1 ;, :t, inr' ,fw r O -onll'ny .H1 II' 'tll 'I _ L -cl
- I I
LI. TT'.E 'T(I ES, 1 (r)F li l II''
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This writing can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Prose (Fiction).
Henry, O., 1862-1910. The Cactus, prose (fiction), October 1902; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139464/m1/4/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.