The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein (Henry)

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O. Henry

The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein

 

Summary of the book
from the Collection «The Four Million»

Microsummary: A night clerk at a drugstore created a sleeping powder for a man planning to elope with the clerk's crush. The man changed his mind, using the powder on the girl's father, and successfully eloped.

Ikey Schoenstein was the night clerk at the Blue Light Drug Store, located between the Bowery and First Avenue.

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Ikey Schoenstein — night clerk at the Blue Light Drug Store; knowledgeable, respected, timid, and secretly in love with Rosy; wears glasses, has a corniform nose, and often smells of chemicals.

He was well known in the area for his knowledge and wisdom, and was a confidant to many of his customers. One of his customers, Chunk McGowan, was also a friend of his.

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Chunk McGowan — Ikey's friend and customer; suitor of Rosy; smooth-faced, hard, indomitable, good-natured; earns $20 a week and plans to elope with Rosy.

Chunk was in love with Rosy, the daughter of Mrs. Riddle, who Ikey also roomed and breakfasted with.

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Rosy Riddle — Mrs. Riddle's daughter; object of Ikey's affection and Chunk's girlfriend; subject of the elopement plan; her appearance and personal traits are not described in the story.

Ikey was also in love with Rosy, but was too timid to act on his feelings. Chunk and Rosy had been planning to elope that night, but Chunk was worried that Rosy might change her mind. He asked Ikey for a drug that would make Rosy like him better.

Ikey made a powder containing a quarter of a grain of morphia, which would induce a deep sleep if taken by an adult. He gave it to Chunk, who decided to put it in Mr. Riddle's coffee instead.

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Mr. Riddle — Rosy's father; disapproves of Chunk; stout, brick-dusty complexion, sudden in action; protective and armed when he learns of the elopement plan.

Ikey then sent a messenger to Mr. Riddle to warn him of Chunk and Rosy's plans.

That night, Chunk and Rosy successfully eloped. The next morning, Ikey went to Mrs. Riddle's to find out what had happened. Chunk was there, and told Ikey that he had decided not to use the powder, as he wanted to win Rosy's heart honestly. He had instead put the powder in Mr. Riddle's coffee, which had allowed them to elope without any trouble.