South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-23
THE SNOWMAN-By O. Henry

soul gave a genuine cheer. II it's
4 for Lochinvar purposes. so as fsr as
/ you Ike, I said. grandly.
The cook studied me moment
as ~ trying 20 And an insult IN nv
words NO" hs replied 'Tts FOR
mfne and the young lAdy's purpose
and veil so only thres macs -
HicksWlle. Now let me tell you
/ sonlsthin', Rosa suddenly I was
confronted with the cooks chunk
back and I heard a low. ourt CO.
Ing voice shoot through The room a.
my host. George had wheelet ,,,e.
s Ross started 20 speak --Yr-t--.
nutty. That's what's the matter with
you. You can't stand the snou,
cure gettin' nervouser and nuttier
every day. That and this DaEo"-ha
jerked a thumb at the haIf-dear
FreEchman IN the corner-'-has eo-
you 10 the point where I thouglt
better horn IN. I got 20 revolvin' 81
around IN my mind and seen II
somethin' wasn't done. and done
soon, there'd be murder here ana
maybe his head gave an inner
ceptible list toward the gfrVs roorv,
'-''worse~
He stopped hat he held I'd
stubby finger 20 keep any one else
from speaking. Then ne plovved
slowly through the drift az his
ideas About this hero woman.
know you. Ross, and 7 know what
you RELY think about women. II
she hadn't happened in here durin'
this here snow, you'd never have
given two thoughts 10 the whole yo-
man question. Likewise, when tho
storm clears. and you and the bows
/ go Muslin out this here whole
frrH SIS aealrlr
and you won't think OF a skirt again
until Kingdom Come. Just because
o this snow here. don't forget vou'-a
| Twin IN the selfsame world Won VS.
/ IN -FOUR days ago. And you're the
same man, too. Now, what's the
use o gettin' all snaried up over
four days OF stickin' IN the house,
/ That there's what 7 been revoIvin'
In my mind and this here's the de.
cision I've come to-"
/ He plodded 20 the door and shout
ed to one OF the ranch hands to
saddle my horse.
Ross liz a stogy and stood
/ thoughtful in the middle OF tbe
room Then ne began: Eve a 5vr1
good notion, George. TO knock Your
/ confounded head of and throw Won
. into that snOwbank. IT,
you're wrong. mister. That
amt a burned good notion vou'va
got. It's burned bad Look neref''
1 He pointed steadily out OF doors nm
4 III we were both forced To- follow
/ his finger. You're In here for
more n n week yet" After aIIovfnr-
this fact 10 sink in, he barked out at
/ Ross; can YOU cook" Then al
me; can you cook ," Then ho
looked at the wreck OF Euenne and
There was an embarrassing silence
as Ross and i thought solemnly OF
a fOOdless week.
If you just use boss sense" con
/ Guided George, and don't 20 for to
hurt my feelin's. all want 20 do is
( TO take this young gal down To
Hicksvile, and then I'll head bacl,
here and cook for you
The horse and Miss Adams ar
rived simultaneously, both OF them
very serious and quiet The horse
because he knew what he had be
fore him in that weather: the girl
because Of what she had left be-
hind.
Then all at once I awolze 70 a re
alizatiOn OF what the cook was do
ing. My God, mani" erto5
aren't you afraid 10 go out In that
snow 20
Behind my back I heard Ross
mutter Not him"
George lifted the girl daintiIy uB
oehind the saddle, drew on hjs
gloves. put his foot in the stirr1ln-
and turned TO inspect me leisurely,
AS l passed slowly IN his review. 7
saw In my minds eye the alEebraio
equation Of snow. the equals sign,
and the answer in the man before
me.
Snow Is my last Names SAID
George He swung into the saddle
/ ana they started cautiously out in,o
! the darkening swirl Of fresh neuy
/ currency just issuing from the snow
drop mint The girl, 10 keen her
place, chung happily 10 the sturdy
inquire OF the camp cook.
/ brought three things away from
! Ross Curt.ss' ranch house--ea.
four. one was the appreciation of
snow, which I have so humbly tried
/ here 10 render: Cd was a collar
! bone, OF which 7 am extra careful.
/ CD was n memory OF what e is 10
! eat very extremely terribly bad
food for week. and Cd was the
cause Of Cd a little note delivered
At the end OF the week and hand
painted in blue pencil on q sheet u
lmeat paper.
II cannot come hack there 20 that
there job. Mrs Snow say no.
/ George. been revolvin' Il in my
mind, considerin cfTcUms- anceH
she's right"