Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-14
ANDY Claims New Girl.


Andy Claims promotion from the Of
fee of poster Of advertisements on the
IL" road to that of gateman was cele'
brated by his friends of Seventh avenue
with much enthusiasm, at great length
and at Andy's expense.
Instead Of travelling over the line every
dav with a heavy canvas bag full OF
Autographs and a paste bucket, he re-
celved a uniform and the responsibility
Of deciding whether or not he should
bang the gate IN the face Of an over
heated and excited citizen who might be
irving to catch the last fcrryboat at
Cortlandt street.
The new job pleased Andy immensely.
He did not mind the rain, and he did
enjoy the sun aud the big double pano-
rama that rolled past him so many times
day from the Battery to Fifty eighth
street. He soon learned to look as if he
had not seen the wild rush of his latest
victim when be slammed the iron gate
upon him and turned bis back in such a
way as to hide his badge number and
whistlcd "Annie Rooney" while the citi-
zen painted and ragged.
He soon made the acquaintance Of many
Of the regular passengers, and gathered
in their morning papers and cigars with
a readiness and easy grace that made him
popular. His greatest success, however,
and his greatest pleasure lay with the
beautiful young women along Sixth ave-
nue., who sat sewing at the second story
windows. He was very handsome lad,
was Andy Claim, and his uniform was
new and fitted him well. He wore his
hat in a most knowing and jaunty man
ner over one eye and winked pleasantly
with the other. His grin was most in
gratiatiug, and before he had been at
the gate month he had so many girls
waiting to smile at him that it kept him
busy lodging from one side of the plat
form to the other. They were Of
every age and appearance and nationality,
for Andy was most impartial. All he
asked was that they should be pretty.
There was a plump, blond German girl
in Bleecker street who sewed OuttoJs on
mems coats, and a Jewess with brilliant
black eyes and black hair, just above
Eighth street, and very naughty beauty
at Fourteenth.
These were his especial favorites, and
he was most particularly careful not to
miss any of these three, although Che
others were little less attractive.
Occasionally he would shake his head
and take himself to task for so heedlessly
devastating the peace of mind OF 50 many
innocent maidens. ut 'tain't right, he
would soliloquise solemnly. 'lt 'tain't
right. There's no use putting foolish
ideers in those girls heads and making
'em think of matrimony when they aiu't
out of their teens. They might just as
well fall in love with sailor as an L
road brakeman, for we've girl at every
station, and we're never stuck on one for
more'n one block at a time. 1t 'taint
right, and next trip I'll keep me eyes in
side the car"
But on the next trip it seemed so
harmless just to nod and say Good morn
ing, my dear, " that Andy always nodded,
and could not help throwing with the
nod a glance Of deep and unutterable pas
sion, which is very difficult thing to dc
effectively, as you will see if you try it,
on an L train going at the average rate
Of speed.
One day the naughty beauty above
Fourteenth street disappeared, and heI
place was taken by another. This new
conner did not look up as the train passed
by, bat Andy could see her profile bent
over her sewing machine, and he thought
it the daintiest, sweetest face he had evei
seen. II made him gasp it surprised hin
so, and then he whistled, which was hi
way of expressing his deep admiration
He was still wondering over this vision ot
beauty and industry when he reached
Eighteenth street, and quite forgot t.
open the gates. She was there on the re-
turn trip, but as she was on the further
side he could not see her so well. sh'
was just as beautiful though at that dis
tance, and be wondered why anything 81
fragile and pretty should have to work.