# Annie Williams — Short Fiction character guide > Annie Williams in Short Fiction by O. Henry. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Annie Williams of Philadelphia, Miss Williams, Miss Nancy, Nancy, Nance **First appearance:** 0000-lord-oakhurst-s-curse ## Snapshot A Philadelphia city girl weighing a suitor's promise of suburban comfort against her fear of quiet, and against another man who has no claim on her at all. ## Who they are Annie — called Vivienne in the parlor — is the woman Hartley is pressing to marry, and she answers him with disarming frankness: she could be content, but she was born a city girl and dreads a quiet suburban life. Her blush when Townsend's name comes up exposes the real complication. Her honesty and her hesitation drive the courtship's middle, forcing Hartley to confront what he's actually offering. ## In the story ### [A Strange Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-strange-story) The little girl who had colic and later grows up to marry John Smith. ### [A Universal Favorite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-universal-favorite) The most popular young lady in the United States, whose profile was used for the head of Liberty on the silver dollar. ### [His Doubt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/his-doubt) The wife, young and sentimental, who speaks poetically about the responsibilities of parenthood and the future. ### [A New Microbe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-new-microbe) The wife of the scientist, who identifies the bucket as containing Galveston oysters, revealing the error. ### [Convinced](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/convinced) The beautiful young lady who seeks a way to identify genuine suitors and recites a poem poorly to test them. ### [The Duplicity of Hargraves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-duplicity-of-hargraves) Miss Lydia Talbot, the major's practical daughter, manages their finances and discovers Hargraves's secret. ### [Hearts and Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/hearts-and-hands) Referred to as Miss Fairchild, she is a pretty young woman who recognizes Easton and converses with him on the train. ### [A Ghost of a Chance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-ghost-of-a-chance) Referenced as Mrs. Bellamy Bellmore, the guest who claims to see the aristocratic ghost. ### [The Main Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-main-road) Referred to as Yvonne, David's wife, who becomes increasingly frustrated with his neglect of their flock and household. ### [One Dollar's Worth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/one-dollar-s-worth) Referred to as Nancy Derwent, the judge's daughter and Littlefield's fiancée, who accompanies him on the shooting trip. ### [Out of Nazareth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/out-of-nazareth) Mrs. Blaylock is the Colonel's wife, a poetess whose verses about Nazareth inspire Bloom's final act of generosity. ### [The Whirligig of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-whirligig-of-life) The wife, Ariela Bilbro, who demands alimony and later reconciles. ### [The Pimienta Pancakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-pimienta-pancakes) Miss Willella Learight, the niece of Uncle Emsley Telfair, who is courted by both Jud and Jackson Bird. ### [The Ferry of Unfulfilment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-ferry-of-unfulfilment) The Girl from Sieber-Mason's is Miss Claribel Colby, a Jersey commuter who works at the department store and is weary from lack of sleep. ### [A Newspaper Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-newspaper-story) The 'Penitent' who places a personal ad in the newspaper, leading to a reunion with Jack at the corner of Madison. ### [The Enchanted Kiss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-enchanted-kiss) Referenced as Miss Peek (Katie Peek), the object of Tansey's silent adoration; she calls for his help and is kissed by him. ### [The Romance of a Busy Broker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-romance-of-a-busy-broker) Miss Leslie, the stenographer and Maxwell's wife, who patiently endures his work-driven amnesia. ### [A Lickpenny Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-lickpenny-lover) Masie is the central character, a shrewd and beautiful saleslady at the Biggest Store. ### [One Thousand Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/one-thousand-dollars) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Rathskeller and the Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-rathskeller-and-the-rose) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Church with an Overshot-Wheel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-church-with-an-overshot-wheel) Miss Rose Chester, the young guest who is revealed to be Father Abram's lost daughter Aglaia. ### [A Ramble in Aphasia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-ramble-in-aphasia) A lady with reddish bronze hair and handsome eyes who mistakes the narrator for Elwyn Bellford and speaks of white roses. ### [The Making of a New Yorker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-making-of-a-new-yorker) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Girl and the Habit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-girl-and-the-habit) Miss Merriam is the cashier at Hinkle's, later adopted and renamed Rosa McRamsey. She is the central character. ### [The Unknown Quantity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-unknown-quantity) Mary Boyne, the daughter of ruined baker Thomas Boyne, who sews shirts for a living and later marries Dan Kinsolving. ### [Springtime à la Carte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/springtime-la-carte) Sarah is the protagonist, a freelance typist who cries over a menu card and longs for her farmer love, Walter. ### [Sisters of the Golden Circle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/sisters-of-the-golden-circle) Hattie Chalmers, bride of James Williams, who helps another bride by encouraging her husband to submit to arrest. ### [An Adjustment of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-adjustment-of-nature) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Lost Blend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-lost-blend) Katherine Kenealy, the boss's daughter, is the object of Con's affection; she teases him about the weather. ### [An Unfinished Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-unfinished-story) Dulcie, a department store worker earning six dollars a week, who is tempted by a dinner invitation from Piggy but ultimately declines due to her conscience. ### [The Skylight Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-skylight-room) Miss Leeson, the young working girl who rents the skylight room and names a star Billy Jackson. ### [The Gift of the Magi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-gift-of-the-magi) Della is the protagonist who sells her hair to buy Jim a Christmas present; she is deeply in love and self-sacrificing. ### [The Buyer from Cactus City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-buyer-from-cactus-city) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Handbook of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-handbook-of-hymen) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Trimmed Lamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-trimmed-lamp) Nancy is a shopgirl who works for $8 a week, lives frugally, and aspires to marry a wealthy, refined man. She rejects a proposal from a millionaire's nephew due to his dishonesty. ### [Calloway's Code](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/calloway-s-code) Not directly present; the story focuses on the Enterprise staff. ### [The Country of Elusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-country-of-elusion) Mary Adrian is a princess of Bohemia who dines with Grainger and later returns to her strict family home. ### [Proof of the Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/proof-of-the-pudding) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-halberdier-of-the-little-rheinschloss) The young woman who recognizes the halberdier and later shows him affection, referred to as 'the girl' in the story. ### [The Fifth Wheel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-fifth-wheel) Lady's maid to the Van Smuythes, searches for Thomas and brings him home. ### [The Memento](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-memento) Mentioned as Miss Lynnette D'Armande, the ex-leading lady listening to Rosalie's tale. ### [The Discounters of Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-discounters-of-money) Referenced indirectly as 'Alice von der Ruysling', a proud aristocrat who rejects Pilkins' proposal. ### [No Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/no-story) Not present in this chapter. ### [A Poor Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-poor-rule) Not present in this chapter. ### [Rus in Urbe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/rus-in-urbe) Referred to as Annie Ashton, the actress the narrator is staying in town for; she played Nannette in 'The Silver Cord'. ### [A Technical Error](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-technical-error) Ella Baynes is Sam's girl, described as tolerably pretty with a heavy mass of brown hair. She is abducted by Ben Tatum. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/annie_williams - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters