Expressive means and stylistic devices

     The metaphor a thousand well-bread voices; the rustle of crisp garment; doubtful erudition; pride and hurt vanity is used to describe the surroundings of the main character in which he lives.

  Such epithets as innermost, unmitigated, arid unbedecked self; the indulgent, confident victor are used to describe the personality of the main character. To describe the woman, who Trysdale loves, the author used the following epithets poor consolation; swift, limpid, upward look; careless wave of her hair; the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words; a very sweet incense. To show her tenderness, softness and feminity O. Henry used simile (she is) so modest, so childlike and worshipful, and (he would once have sworn) so sincere; How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! Also author uses repetition to show Trysdale's attitude to this woman How glad, how shy, how tremulous she was!

     The periphrasis the drawling words of the minister irrevocably binding her to another is used to show how hard it was for Trysdale to see that the wonam, he loves, married another man.

    The polysyndeton She had invested him with an almost supernatural number of high attributes and excellencies and talents, and he had absorbed the oblation as a desert drinks the rain that can coax from it no promise of blossom or fruit. is used to depict woman's attitude to Trysdale.

    The personification he saw all the garbs of pretence and egoism that he had worn now turn to rags of folly; his conceit had crumbled describes the negative features of Trysdale's temper, which broke his happiness.

    The oxymoron unworthy, sullen exultation describes the complicated feelings which Trysdale had when he saw his woman, who had slowly moved up the aisle toward the altar.

    The aposiopesis And how free from either she had always been -- But why --; There had been no quarrel between them, nothing --; If-- is used to show unwillingness to finish the sentences because it is very hard for him to tell about something important and close.