The cactus by O Henry Summary English 12......

 

The cactus

O Henry

Oliver Henry was born in 1862 and died in 1910 in United States. When he was three his mother was died and he was raised up by his grandmother and his aunt. He left his school at the age of 15 and searched for job. He was accused of embezzlement (act of falsely getting property of other) and remains in jail for five years. He published 12 stories by changing his name for not letting his readers know he was in jail. His stories are very popular, which has twist in the ending. His story 'The Cactus' is also impressive story having twist in the end. The story depicts a symbolic meaning of a cactus. Main character 'Trysdale' is impressed with a greatness, tenderness, and beauty of a girl. He proposes her but she doesn't answer him. But there was a tag in a cactus having its Spanish name. When he translatesand he finds her response that she loves him.

Trysdale is young bachelor who lives in a bachelor apartments. He is standing by the table and observes a green looking  plant in a red earthen jar. On the table stood a singular-looking green plant in a red earthen jar. The plant was one of the species of cacti, which is very attractive, it has long tentacular (flexible) leaves that perpetually (constantly) swayed with the slightest breeze with a peculiar beckoning motion. Trysdale's friend, the brother of the bride, stood at a sideboard complaining at being allowed to drink alone. Both men were in evening dress. He removes gloves from his hand.

He remembered last few hours before when a beautiful lady got married with a man. The scene moved around his eyes. There was the scent of the flowers that had been bankedin odorous masses about the church. He recalled hearing the low-pitched hum of a thousand well-bred voices, the rustle of crisp garments and, most insistently recurring, the words of the minister irrevocably.

Trysdale was not willing to see all the scene where his beloved was going to get married and he was being witness of her wedding. As she had slowly moved up the aisle (a middle part of a church) toward the altar he had felt an unworthy, sullen (ill-tempered) exultation (victory) that had served to support him. He had told himself that she was not happy and looking pale because of other man than the man to whom she was about to give herself. He glades to her because she gave a glance to him. But even that poor consolation had been wrenched (violently move in a turn) from him. For, when he saw that swift, limpid, upward look that she gave the man when he took her hand, he knew himself to be forgotten. Once that same look had been raised to him, and he had understood its meaning. Indeed, his conceit had crumbled; its last prop was gone. Why had it ended thus? There had been no quarrel between them, nothing. In this way Trysdale surprises to her decision. Why did she didn't like to marry with him. What weakness did he have?

 As Trysdale grimly wrenched apart the seam of his last glove, the crowning instance of his fatuous and tardily mourned egoism came vividly back to him. He used to think himself as a superior man. He didn't find any weakness in him. The scene was the night when he had asked her to come up on his pedestal with him and share his greatness. He 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 her hair, the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words. He had found everything was perfect on her. During their conversation she had said, " Captain Carruthers tells me that your can speak the Spanish language like a native." Trysdale used to speak some phrases of Spanish to his friends. He can't deny that he doesn't know Spanish language in front of her. He wanted to be superior as knowing many languages in front of his girlfriend. 

            How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! They were in deep love and have not decided when to get married. He could have sworn, and he could swear now, that unmistakable consent (state of in love before marriage) was in her eyes, but, coyly, she would give him no direct answer. He was waiting her responses for marriage. He was confident that she would answer next day. The next day he waited, impatient, in his rooms for the word. But, he never got any response from her. At noon her groom came to the door and left the strange cactus in the red earthen jar. There was no note, no message, merely a tag upon the plant bearing a botanical name. He waited until night, but her answer did not come. His large pride and hurt vanity kept him from seeking her. Two evenings later they met at a dinner. Their greetings were conventional, but she looked at him, breathless, wondering, eager. He was courteous, adamant, waiting her explanation. With womanly swiftness she took her cue from his manner, and turned to snow and ice.

            One friend has come to his room and tells about cactus. And there was a tag with its botanical name in Spanish language. It was written 'Ventomarme'. This word means in English, 'come and take me'. Trysdale didn't understand that she had answered him to come and take her in Spanish. He couldn't do anything she got married to another man. He got cactus in his room, which gives only prickly pain in his life.