The Other Side of it

"The Other Side of It" is a short story by O. Henry that showcases the author's signature wit and clever storytelling. The narrative revolves around themes of love, fate, and the unexpected twists of life. It follows the experiences of characters who encounter surprising circumstances that challenge their perceptions and expectations. O. Henry's hallmark style, characterized by ironic turns and a reflective tone, invites readers to consider the complexities of human relationships and the often-unforeseen consequences of our choices.

• Short story

								
There is an item going the rounds of the press relative to the
well-known curiosity of woman. It states that if a man brings a
newspaper home out of which a piece has been clipped his wife will
never rest until she has procured another paper to see what it was
that had been cut out.

A Houston man was quite impressed with the idea, so he resolved to
make the experiment. One night last week he cut out of the day's paper
a little two-inch catarrh cure advertisement, and left the mutilated
paper on the table where his wife would be sure to read it.

He picked up a book and pretended to be interested, while he watched
her glance over the paper. When she struck the place where the piece
had been cut, she frowned and seemed to be thinking very seriously.

However, she did not say anything about it and the man was in doubt as
to whether her curiosity had been aroused or not.

The next day when he came home to dinner she met him at the door with
flashing eyes and an ominous look about her jaw.

"You miserable, deceitful wretch!" she cried. "After living all these
years with you to find that you have been basely deceiving me and
leading a double life, and bringing shame and sorrow upon your
innocent family! I always thought you were a villain and a reprobate,
and now I have positive proof of the fact."

"Wh--wha--what do you mean, Maria?" he gasped. "I haven't been doing
anything."

"Of course you are ready to add lying to your catalogue of vices.
Since you pretend not to understand me--look at this."

She held up to his gaze a complete paper of the issue of the day
before.

"You thought to hide your actions from me by cutting out part of the
paper, but I was too sharp for you."

"Why that was just a little joke, Maria. I didn't think you would take
it seriously. I--"

"Do you call that a joke, you shameless wretch?" she cried, spreading
the paper before him.

The man looked and read in dismay. In cutting out the catarrh
advertisement he had never thought to see what was on the other side
of it, and this was the item that appeared, to one reading the other
side of the page, to have been clipped:

  A gentleman about town, who stands well in business
  circles, had a high old time last night in a certain
  restaurant where he entertained at supper a couple of
  chorus ladies belonging to the comic opera company now in
  the city. Loud talking and breaking of dishes attracted
  some attention, but the matter was smoothed over, owing to
  the prominence of the gentleman referred to.

"You call that a joke, do you, you old reptile," shrieked the excited
lady. "I'm going home to mamma this evening and I'm going to stay
there. Thought you'd fool me by cutting it out, did you? You sneaking,
dissipated old snake you! I've got my trunk nicely packed and I'm
going straight home--don't you come near me!"

"Maria," gasped the bewildered man. "I swear I--"

"Don't add perjury to your crimes, sir!"

The man tried unsuccessfully to speak three or four times, and then
grabbed his hat and ran downtown. Fifteen minutes later he came back
bringing two new silk dress patterns, four pounds of caramels, and his
bookkeeper and three clerks to prove that he was hard at work in the
store on the night in question.

The affair was finally settled satisfactorily, but there is one
Houston man who has no further curiosity about woman's curiosity.
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