Page 59 - English Expedition Class 6

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After Twenty Years

O. Henry

Twenty years is a long time and can change a person fundamentally. Where do you think you would
be after twenty years? Which of your present friends would you like to meet at the end of this period?

Let’s read this story and share the experiences of two friends who met after twenty years.

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he policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. Th e impressiveness was
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habitual and not for show, for spectators were few. Th e time was barely ten o’clock at night,
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Tbut chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had well nigh depeopled the streets.
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Trying doors as he went, twirling his club with many intricate and artful movements, turning
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now and then to cast his watchful eye down the pacifi c thoroughfare, the offi cer, with his stalwart 8
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form and slight swagger , made a fi ne picture of a guardian of the peace. Th e vicinity was one that
kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch
counter; but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since been closed.
When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway
of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman
walked up to him the man spoke up quickly.
‘It’s all right, offi cer,’ he said, reassuringly. ‘I’m just waiting • Who is a ‘guardian of the
for a friend. It’s an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds peace’?
a little funny to you, doesn’t it? Well, I’ll explain if you’d like to • Why did the man in the
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make certain it’s all straight . About that long ago there used doorway speak with the
to be a restaurant where this store stands – “Big Joe” Brady’s policeman?
restaurant.’
‘Until fi ve years ago,’ said the policeman. ‘It was torn down then.’
Th e man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. Th e light showed a pale, square-
jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His scarf pin was a large
diamond, oddly set.

1 on the beat: on duty, doing foot patrol of an assigned area 6 intricate: complicated
2 avenue: street 7 pacifi c: (here) peaceful
3 habitual: commonly practised 8 stalwart: (here) strongly built
4 well nigh depeopled: left the streets nearly empty of 9 swagger: arrogant walk
people 10 vicinity: (here) neighbourhood
5 club: a heavy stick, used as a weapon 11 it’s all straight: it’s nothing wrong or unlawful
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