LA WEB DE READING COMPREHENSION PREFERIDA POR LOS HISPANOHABLANTES

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WHILE THE AUTO WAITS

William Sydney Porter "O. Henry"

O. Henry was the pen-name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910) one of the most famous North American short-story writers. His life was a tragic one because he was sentenced to five years in prison accused of fraudulent appropriation of funds at the bank where he worked as a cashier. In spite of this, life gave him a profound knowledge of human character, especially of inhabitants in big cities who are unfortunate in life.

 

As a story-teller, O. Henry is remarkable for his ingenuity in the use of ironical coincidences, for his skilful plots and unexpected endings.

 
 

While the Auto Waits
PAGE 1/3

Mientras el Auto Espera
PAGINA 1/3

Promptly at the beginning of twilight, came again to that quiet corner of that quiet, small park the girl in gray. She sat upon a bench and read a book, for there was yet to come a half hour in which print could be read.

A principios de primavera la joven vestida de gris volvió, como de costumbre, al quieto rincón del pequeño y silencioso parque. Se sentó sobre un banco y comenzó a leer un libro, porque faltaba media hora, para lo que ella sabía.

To repeat: Her dress was gray, and plain but perfect in style and fit. A large-meshed veil, imprisoned her hat and a face that shone through it with a calm and unconscious beauty. She had come there at the same hour on the previous day, and on the day before that; and there was one who knew it.

Repitámoslo: vestía de gris. Y tan sencillo que así lograba ocultar su impecabilidad de estilo y corte. Un amplio velo semiocultaba su sombrero en forma de turbante, y su rostro, que irradiaba una serena y no buscada belleza. Había ido allí los dos días anteriores. Y una persona  no lo ignoraba.

The young man who knew it was waiting near by. His impatience was rewarded, for, in turning a page, her book slipped from her fingers and bounded from the bench a full yard away.

 

El joven que no lo ignoraba se acercaba allí ofreciendo mentales sacrificios en el ara de la suerte. Y su piedad fue recompensada porque, al volver la mujer una página, el libro se le deslizó de las manos y cayó al suelo, a un paso de distancia del banco.

The young man seized it with great audacity, returning it to its owner with a look of gallantry and hope. In a pleasant voice, he risked a simple remark upon the weather - that introductory subject responsible for so much of the world's unhappiness - and stood by for a moment, awaiting his fate.

 

El hombre lo recogió con instantánea avidez y lo devolvió a su propietaria con galantería y esperanza. Con placentera voz, aventuró un comentario sobre el tiempo -ese manido tema que ha causado tantas infelicidades en este mundo- y luego permaneció inmóvil un momento, esperando su destino.

The girl looked him over leisurely; at his ordinary neat dress and his features that showed no particular expression.

 

La muchacha lo miró despaciosamente. En el vestido corriente de aquel hombre y en sus facciones no se distinguía nada de extraordinario.

'You may sit down, if you like,' she said, in a full, slow contralto. 'Really, I would like to have you do so. The light is too bad for reading. I would prefer to talk.'

 

'Puede sentarse si gusta' dijo con lenta y llena voz de contralto. 'Por mi parte no me molesta. Hace muy poca claridad para seguir leyendo y preferiría un rato de charla.'

He slid upon the seat by her side with politeness. 'Do you know,' he said, speaking the formula with which park chairmen open their meetings, 'that you are quite the most beautiful girl I have seen in a long time? I had my eye on you yesterday. Didn't know somebody was knocked down by those pretty lamps of yours, did you, honeysuckle?'

 

El vasallo de la suerte se sentó al lado de la mujer, muy satisfecho. Y habló en seguida, empleando la fórmula que los conquistadores de parque eligen para sus parlamentos. '¿Sabe que es usted la mujer más asombrosamente guapa que he conocido? Me fijé en usted ayer. ¿No hay nadie, nena mía, que viva deslumbrado por esos dos faros que tiene usted en la cara?'

'Whoever you are,' said the girl in icy tones, 'you must remember that I am a lady. I will excuse the remark you have just made because the mistake was, doubtless, not an unnatural one - in your circle, I asked. you to sit down; if the invitation must make me your honeysuckle, consider it withdrawn.'

 

La muchacha habló con tono glacial: 'Quienquiera que sea usted, ha de empezar por saber que yo soy una dama. Le excuso sus palabras porque, sin duda, son muy naturales en su ambiente. Le autoricé a que, se sentara a mi lado, pero si la, autorización va a constituirme en nena suya, considérela retirada.'

'I earnestly beg your pardon,' pleaded the young man. 'It was my fault, you know, - I mean, there are girls in parks, you know - that is, of course, you don't know, but...'

 

El joven se expresó suplicantemente. 'Le pido perdón. A su expresión satisfecha había sucedido otra de penitencia y humildad. La culpa ha sido mía' dijo. 'Ya sabe que hay muchachas en los parques... Bueno, usted no lo sabe, pero... Porque yo...'

'Abandon the subject, if you please. Of course I know. Now, tell me about these people passing and crowding, each way, along these paths. Where are they going? Why do they hurry so? Are they happy?'

 

'Dejemos eso. Desde luego, sé lo que pasa con las muchachas de los parques. Pero prefiero que hablemos de otra cosa. Por ejemplo, de la gente que va y viene por estos senderos. ¿Adónde se dirigen? ¿Por qué tienen tanta prisa? ¿Serán felices?'

The young man could not guess the role he would be expected to play. 'It is interesting to watch them,' he replied. 'It's the wonderful drama of life. Some are going to supper and some to - er - other places. One wonders what their histories are.'

 

El joven abandonó casi en el acto sus aires de donjuan plebeyo. No sabía el papel que le indicaban que jugase y lo más prudente era esperar. 'Desde luego, es interesante examinarlos' respondió, pesando bien sus palabras. 'Al fin y al cabo, representan, el maravilloso drama de la vida. Algunos van a cenar y otros... a otros sitios. Pero no conocemos sus respectivas historias...'

'I do not,' said the girl; 'I am not so curious. I come here to sit because here, only, can I be near the great, common, beating heart of humanity. My part in life is played where its beats are never felt. Can you guess why I spoke to you, Mr...

 

'Yo tampoco lo sé' dijo la muchacha 'y, por otra parte, no soy demasiado inquisitiva. Si vengo aquí es para sentirme más cerca del grande, vibrante y común corazón de la humanidad. Porque vivo en un ambiente al que no llegan, los latidos de la gente. ¿Comprende por qué deseo hablarle, señor...?'

'Parkenstacker,' said the young man. Then he looked eager and hopeful.

 

'Parkenstacker' completó el joven. Parecía, animoso y esperanzado.

'No, said the girl, holding up a slender finger, and smiling slightly. 'You would recognize it immediately. It is impossible to keep one's name out of print. Or even one's portrait. This veil and this hat of my maid's hide my identity. You should have seen the chauffeur stare at it when he thought I did not see. Frankly, there are five or six names that belong in the holy of holies, and mine, by accident of birth, is one of them. I spoke to you, Mr Stackenpot...

 

La joven alzó el dedo índice y esbozó una ligera sonrisa. 'No. Lo hubiera reconocido inmediatamente. Es imposible disfrazar el nombre de uno. La misma cara lo dice. Este velo y este sombrero son de una doncella mía y me proporcionan un relativo incógnito. Sí, ¿verdad? Pues mi chofer, cuando piensa que no lo veo, me dirige unas miradas... Porque ocurre, sinceramente hablando, que entre esos cuatro o cinco apellidos que pueden considerarse incluidos en el santuario de los santuarios, el mío es uno de ellos. Como le decía, señor Stackenpot...'

'Parkenstacker,' corrected the young man, modestly.

 

'Parkenstacker' corrigió, modesto, el joven.

 

GLOSSARY

 

PHRASAL VERBS & ADVERBIAL PARTICLES
sat upon: sat on (se sentó sobre, se ubicó sobre)
looked him over: inspected him, scrutinised him (lo observó con detenimiento)
knocked down: attracted (deslumbrado, encandilado)
holding up: raising, keeping up (levantando)

 
     
 

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS & GENERAL GLOSSARY
the girl in gray: this is the subject of came. It is put at the end of the sentence to give emphasis. This kind of inversion is rather too melodramatic for modern tastes (la joven vestida de gris)
one: one person (una persona)
risked: the young man was not certain whether the girl would be willing to answer him or whether she would be offended at being spoken to by a stranger (arriesgó, aventuró)
the formula with which park chairmen open their meetings: this phrase shows the realism and sophistication of O. Henry. Both words chairmen and meeting are used in a punning (humorous play on words) sense. The title of a person who presides formally at a public meeting (chairman) is here transferred to the kind of man who sits down beside unaccompanied girls and tries to get or scrape up an acquaintance with them
(la fórmula que los conquistadores de parque eligen para sus parlamentos)
in a long time: a colloquial, American usage. In British English it would be for a long time (durante mucho tiempo)
didn't know: (colloquial) you didn't know (¿no sabías que...?)
lamps: slang for eyes. This, and the word honeysuckle in the same line, are the kind of language the young man believes suitable for a girl who would be willing to let him make advances to her (faros, faroles)
one's name ... one's portrait: the use of one's for my is intended by the girl to emphasise her high position in life  (el nombre de una ... el retrato de una)
the holy of holies: the very small and select group of people who are the leaders of society (lo mejor de lo mejor, lo más selecto)

 
 

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