The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-11-05
Andy Claims New Girl.

Andy Claims promotion from the Of
fee of poster Of advertisements on tn
IL" road to that of gateman was cele
bratcd by his friends Of Seventh avenue
with much enthusiasm, at great length
and at Andy's expense.
Instead of travelling over the line ever,
day with heavy canvas bag full O
Autographs and a paste bucket, he re
ceIved 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 bt
trying to catch the last ferryboat a
Cortlandt street.
The new job pleased Andy immensely.
He did not mind the rain, aud he did
enjoy the sun and 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 he slammed the iron gate
upon him and turned his back in such a
way as to hide his badge number and
whistled "Annie Rooney" while the citi-
zen painted and ragged.
He sooa made the acquaintance of many
of the regular passengers, and gathered
. in tEeir 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 Ardy Clafn, and his uniform was
new and fitted him we'll. He wore his
hat in a most knowing and jauaty man
per over one eye and winkcd pleasantly
with with the other His grin was most in
gratiating, and before he had been at
the gate 4 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 plump, blond German girl
in Bleecker street who sewed buttoIs on
mems coats, and Jewess with brilliant
black eyes and black hair, just above
Eighth street, aud a very naughty beauty
at Fourteenth.
These were his especial favorites, and
he was most particularly careful not to
miss any of these three, although the
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 so many
innocent maidens. "It 'tain't right" he
would soliloquise solemnly. sit 'tain't
right. There's no use putting foolish
ideers in those girls heads and making
'em think of matrimony when they amt
out of their teens. They might just as
veil 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 ore block at a time. It '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 glance of deep and urutterable pas
sion, which is a very difficult thing to do
effectively, as you will see if you try it,
ON az L train going at the average rate
of speed.
One day the naughty beauty above
Fourteenth street disappeared, and hel
place was taken by another. This new
,coner did not look up as the train passed.
b., but Andy could see her profile bent
over her sewing machine, and he thought
it the daintiest, sweetest face he had eve
seen. 1t 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 o
beauty and industry when lie reached
Eighteenth street, and quite forgot t.
open the gates. She was there on the re
turn trip, but as she was on the furthe
side he could not see her so we'll. Sh
was just as beautiful though at that dis
tance, and he wondered why anything 81
fragile and pretty should have to work.
1t seemed long time before the.
reached Rector street and came up towl
again, but he was rewarded for the lon!
wait by her glancing up and looking a
him calmly as he swept by. He tried tt
throw all his admiration into that on
feetirg glance, but doubted if it hat
beer successful, for she did not look af
ter hi:a but continued sewing.
II as week Ec:c-c re coaid get Ec
to sow the least Interest III his progrc,
by the window. This pi9ued bin, az
he determined to smile at an imagirar,
girl IN the window above, and see if h
could rot awaken her jealousy. But tn
window above was occupied by an ole
woman at least sixty years old, and HI
dinghy gave up the idea aul threw
the handle of morning papers 10 her in
stead. They hit liz: on the shoulder,
and he could not see what size did, 4;
they we're behind time aul going rapidly
On the next trip she looked u2 and
bowed ever 50 slightly and flushed as
slightly. Andy made deep al /
reverent 10 ' which was not fiuishcl be
fore he l1i relcae! E.ght.;l:l street.