Extension of a story : Jimmy Valentine
Extension of Jimmy Valentine .
H.S. English project : Jimmy Valentine .
O Henry's story '' Alias Jimmy Valentine '' speaks us about the tale of a safe-cracker Jimmy Valentine who has recently been freed from prison . He skillfully watches out a town bank at Elmore as he wants to rob it later on . But as the the fortune smiles , he walks up to the door and his eye meets that of the banker's beautiful daughter Annabel. H invariably falls in love with Annabel and decides to give up his criminal career for good . Jimmy takes up the identity of Ralph Spencer , a shoe-maker . Jimmy was planning to hand over his safe cracking instruments to one of his old associates. At this juncture when Mr Adams , Annabel's father , was showing him his new vault , an accident came to light . A child fell arrested within the vault . There was very possibility that the little child might die as there was very little here within it . Annabel fell on Jimmy's bosom and begged the life of her sister's daughter . Jimmy was aware of the possibility of being traced out as the safe cracker in case he displays his old skill . But Jimmy did not ponder much about the consequence ; he immediately started his own work and within a few minutes broke the vault and freed the innocent girl from within . Jimmy could then note out Ben Price , the detective getting ready to arrest him , sadly smiled at him and told him to take him wherever he wishes as he thinks that makes little difference to his prospect . But to the endless surprise of Jimmy , Ben price declared not to recognise him allowing Jimmy to settle down in his new identity .
Jimmy could not believe his ears and started moving forward without looking at anybody's eye . A voice was floating in the air :
'' Where are you going Ralph ? Look at me . I am your Annabel .''
Jimmy did not stop yet and continued to move on his own way forward . Annabel than caught him by hands and give him a strong jerk .
'' Are you in your sense , Ralph ? Why are you going away from me ? Are you ok ? Please speak , do speak my Ralph, '' Annabel said .
'' Don't you catch what my real identity is ? Jimmy said.
'' No, I don't know anything save and except that you saved a life . In fact I need not know anything more .''
'' But you must know my past . Do you know I am a safe cracker ? I got into prison several times for cracking safes . I came to your town for looting out your bank . And then I fell in love with you . But believe me , I love you more than myself . You are someone for whom I can do anything in this world. And still I am helpless . I cannot cheat you . Please marry someone else and be happy . Leave me alone'' Jimmy said .
'' I am not all that selfish woman . You possibly have no faith in my love . Ralph , whatever you may be in the past, you are now my love , my dream , my existence . I cannot think even a bit of my life without you . I still believe , my Ralph cannot do anything wrong . You are like an angel .'' Annabel embraced Jim with her eyes filled with tears .
Meanwhile Mr Adams and the mother of the rescued child came to the spot and saw the two arrested in each other's arms . '' Who this man Ralph Spencer might be ? He may be that safecracker about whom I was made alert by the police . May be he has saved the life of the baby ; but still I cannot accept a criminal as my son-in-law . Anyway , let us interrogate this Spencer . I cannot just let it proceed further. I may not have this man over to the police but at the same time I must make sure that this relationship does not proceed anymore .''
'' Who are you Spencer ? Speak out who you are actually . I have doubts in my mind about your true identity . Can you prove that you are in reality a gentleman of a good origin ? Come on , speak out Ralph,'' Mr. Adams went on speaking .
'' Oh my father , whom are you accusing ? Is he not an angel ? Did he not save your granddaughter's life ? Father , don't for Heaven's sake accuse a man without understanding his immense value . I simply love Ralph and whoever he may be , he is the man I love . I don't just care if you accept him or not , but for sure I am going to marry Ralph at the earliest .No force in this world can obstruct or delay our marriage .
'' Oh dear , listen to me . I am not possibly the right man you are going to tie your knot . May be your father has spoken the right thing . I don't deserve you with so much darkness behind . You are the infinite source of light . You have a dazzling future that awaits you out . Why are you wasting your life for me , a safe-cracker , a man having criminal record . Oh dear listen to me . Please marry someone your father chooses . I will have you in the deepest corner of my mind , '' said Jimmy being emotionally charged up .
Annabel started crying in public . Mr. Adams got even more resolute about his decision . He told Jimmy to leave the place as early as possible . He also claimed that his daughter would very soon detect her mistake and come to realize the difference between fantasy and reality. He , however , expressed his gratitude to Jimmy for saving an innocent baby's life .
'' Hello Ralph , listen to me . May be my daughter is doing the mistake but you should correct her . You love her , don't you ? So to give her a healthy life , you should leave the place as early as possible without letting the matter proceed .''
'' Please have faith on me . I will go away to a distant place - a place where neither you nor Annabel will be able to trace me out . But believe me , whatever it may turn out to be I love your daughter possibly more than anybody in this world and I can do anything for her , even if that costs my life , it's better ,'' Jimmy said .
'' That sounds like a man ,'' said that Mr. Adams . Jimmy went back to his residence at Elmore pondering as to when to leave out the place . Mr. Adams , Annabel and her sister all went to their residence .
Jimmy was evidently very much disturbed . He was restless . He had been thinking all the evening about Annabel . He could not find it easy to resist his inward temptation to meet Annabel once more . Possibly , he thought , he would not meet her again this life . Tear started trickling down his eyes . How cruel time can be ! Even this morning his word was full of dream , full of possibilities , full of hopes and expectations . The moments that he had spent with his Annabel come to his mind . He was also thinking that Annabel might come to his house that evening shortly with all her smiles , her hopes and aspirations . While thinking all this things he fell asleep only to awake with the repeated sound of the calling bell . Jimmy got restless . He thought the worst possible thing - possibly the police have to come to arrest him . However , he had no mental strength to resist anything from taking place in reality . He quiet passively opened the door only to find the fairy , the sweet dream he could possibly dream to the best of his liking , Annabel .
'' Ralph , my dear , don't leave me for heaven's sake . Who is my father to settle about my future ? I cannot simply exist without you . Do you want me to die ? If you want , I shall be talking to my father about it . He will definitely realise that my love for you is universal ; it is not a mere infatuation . Moreover it is because of your knowledge in safe-cracking that you could save a life . So whatever you are thinking as a dark spot that cannot be erased . , has turned out to be a mellowing , serene light in future .''
'' Oh my dear , believe me , I cannot live without you . But still I must have the place bearing you in the safest corner of my heart . Please help me to bear the pain .''
'' No Ralph , that cannot be . If you still refused to listen to me , maybe I shall be safely secured in heaven .''
'' I cannot resist you anymore . Let me talk to your father about our marriage .''
'' Oh Ralph , you are so cute . I love you , for heaven's sake , I love you .''
Annabel went back home . Jimmy met Mr. Adams the next day and begged his daughter's hand for him , a proposal to which Mr. Adams , after a night's serious thinking , agreed . Jimmy and Annabel got married to each other on the fixed day . They started living a happy conjugal life thereafter . Jimmy settled at Elmore with his shoe business flourishing day by day . Annabel was helping Jimmy in every possible way in his business . In this way two years passed . Annabel gave a birth to a male child . They named him Tim . Tim looked like a blossomy flower . Jimmy and Annabel had to spend a lot of time to take care of the baby. Everything was going well . But then something alarming come to lite . A rival businessman of Jimmy was trying to destroy him . He was airing all rubbish about Jimmy , about his past and even made contacts with the local hooligans to drive Jimmy out . The name of his rival businessman was Robert Franklin . One day he came to the shop of Jimmy along with some hooligans and and threatened to kill him if he had not closed down his shop . Jimmy got furious but anticipating the danger got subdued and for the time being promised to to do accordingly . As soon as Robert Franklin left Jimmy went to Mr. Adams along with his wife Annabel . They discussed the matter and after through discussion went to the police station . The police officer knew Robert . And he promised Mr. Adams , who was a local business magnet , that he would within a day or two arrest Robert . But as long as Robert was not arrested , he offered police protection to Jimmy.
However , within twenty-four hours Robert was arrested . And Jimmy and Annabel breath a sigh of relief . Jimmy had his old association but he promised not to contact them ever in his life . So , he informed the local people about the the hooliganism of Robert . All the people assured him of his safety .
After the arrest of Robert , two - three years went on smoothly . And Jim turned out to be a business magnet . He bought a huge bungalow and spent time happily with Annabel .
'' Dear , you remain always busy . Don't you have time for me ? At times I feel lonely . All businesses and no Annabel - it is your life's aim ? Look Ralph , you have to have time for Tim and me as well ,'' Annabel said.
'' Well my sweetheart , you know everything is dark and meaningless if you are not with me. I promise to appoint a manager in my shop and would like to spend more time with you in future . What about the party ? Is evening OK ?'' Said Jimmy .
'' Yea , my dear , all are ok . You please go to my father and invite him . He may feel hurt if you , yourself don't go to him .''
'' Yea , I am going just now . I have to invite some other industrialists as well to my son's birthday party . Dear, look about the other arrangements .''
On 23rd June , the party started . In front of everyone Jimmy declared that hence forth the name of his company would be Annabel Industry .'' Mr. Adams felt overjoyed . He declared, '' I am happy to have such a son-in-law . Let the people of Elmore and the country have inspiration from Ralph and follow his ideas .''
Things were moving smoothly . All of a sudden a letter come to his residence addressing Jimmy . Jimmy opened the letter and started reading it . The latter had the following lines - ''Dear Ralph , I wanted to destroy you . I don't know if I would survive anymore . I am very ill in the police custody . Please forgive me for my offence . Best of luck . - unfortunate Robert . ''
Jimmy and Annabel both got melted . They decided to pray for the release of Robert . Jimmy met the Governor and withdraw his charge . Very soon Robert was freed. Jimmy helped him to recover from his illness . Robert got dramatically changed and turned out to be the best friend of Jimmy .
Jimmy , Annabel and their little baby - all started living peacefully with no air of cloud anywhere .
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