By O. Henry
In the northern part of Austin there once dwelt an honestfamily by the name of Smothers. The family consisted of JohnSmothers， his wife， himself， their little daughter， five years ofage， and her parents， making six people toward the populationof the city when counted for a special write-up， but only threeby actual count.
One night after supper the little girl was seized with a severecolic， and John Smothers hurried down town to get somemedicine.
He never came back.
The little girl recovered and in time grew up to womanhood.
The mother grieved very much over her husband’s disappearance，and it was nearly three months before she married again， andmoved to San Antonio.
The little girl also married in time， and after a few years hadrolled around， she also had a little girl five years of age.
She still lived in the same house where they dwelt when herfather had left and never returned.
One night by a remarkable coincidence her little girl wastaken with cramp colic on the anniversary of the disappearanceof John Smothers， who would now have been her grandfatherif he had been alive and had a steady job.
“I will go downtown and get some medicine for her，” saidJohn Smith （for it was none other than he whom she hadmarried）.
“No， no， dear John，” cried his wife. “You， too， mightdisappear forever， and then forget to come back.”
So John Smith did not go， and together they sat by thebedside of little Pansy （for that was Pansy’s name）.
After a little Pansy seemed to grow worse， and John Smith againattempted to go for medicine， but his wife would not let him.
Suddenly the door opened， and an old man， stooped andbent， with long white hair， entered the room.
“Hello， here is grandpa，” said Pansy. She had recognizedhim before any of the others.
The old man drew a bottle of medicine from his pocket andgave Pansy a spoonful.
She got well immediately.
“I was a little late，” said John Smothers， “as I waited for astreet car.”