Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-02-18

came the time when he used to squeeze
little Miss Halligan's hand as he walk
ed along the Riverside. with his eyes
closed. on his half days on. trying to
imagine her at his side. He no longer
bumped trucks of the track without
warning. but considerably gave the
alarm, like a rattlesnake before coiling
to strike. Unless he was behind time he
never ran by corners. but always gra-
ciously stopped at the sign Of the wav-
ing umbrella. And so from the most
reckless grjpman on the line Andy Nc
Chunk became the most oonsiderate. the
most polite.
Then came his great Disappointment
One Sunday afternoon in the early fall
when he was off work he fixed himself
up in his best. and for the first time on
day Off started out without the little
Halligans But he did not go for stroll
In the park. he journeyed down town
instead, intent ON enduring no further
suspense. but to know both her name
and address and to talk to her. He had
purchased chrysanthemum to give her
as a token of his regard. He left the
train at Rector street all Joy and ex-
peotancy and rushed through the ar
cade. He reached Broadway and looked
up the pavement. Then his heart sank,
for she was not there. The stand, too,
was gone. She did not do business on
Sunday.
So the relentless cable rolled ON and
carried him by her day by day. Some
times it stopped, but it always left
Gripman McChunk at Union square or
at some other spot on the line In which
he had no interest. How he used to
long that some day it would break down
when his car was in front of the church.
yardi Then he would be able to talk to
her, to find out her name, and. perhaps
that would be the beginning of an ac-
quaintance to end--in moments of rev.
erie like these pleasant smile adorned
the face of Andrew McChunk, smile
that not all his growth of stubbly red
beard could conceal. He would strain
his eyes as If to see her from the post
Office. "Plinkety, plung, plung, would
go the gong. She would look mp and
smile, and he would smile. Then the
relentless cable would carry him on, a
dark look would come into his face, and
he would dance viciously on the alarm.
and perhaps if an opportunity offered
would vent his anger on the unfortunate
wagon that might happen to intercept
his passage
At last the meeting and the separa-
tion. 1t was disagreeable, rainy day
In early November when his car ratified
along lower Broadway. He made out
the great green umbrella from Cedar
street and saw the lower part Of the inn
itation seal plush cloak beneath it. Then
mail wagon intercepted his view for
q moment.
"Plunkety, plung. plung, went the
gong. His eyes were riveted upon the
stand. She was not there. His astonish-
ment knew no bounds, for never before
had she been absent from her post SC
early in the day. ''Plunkety, plung,
geplung, geplung, b-r-rung- .
went the gong. Perhaps she was behind
the stand.
Gripman McChunk's bones were chill
ed to the marrow. Up from under the
very platform upon which be was stand.
ing came scream. He jumped on the
gong, and it sounded one single tri-
umphant clang. Round whirled the
grip wheel. round whirled the brake
wheel, and the car came to standstill
They picked her off the fender and
carried her away in an ambulance. Sc
Gripman Andrew McChunk's heart was
broken.
A big policeman stood beside him on
the platform ON the trip up town. The
gong sounded seldom on that mournful
journey. When it did ring, it bad lost
all former life, and the notes came
forth in a mournful toll as they gave
expression to the players feeling
Next day the police justice decided
that the whole affair was an accident
and discharged Andrew McChunk with
a warning. The company discharged
him, too. but without warning. He
got job as q street cleaner, and one
bleak day in the following February, as
be was shoveling the snow out of the
cutters on Columbus avenue. he CHANGED
to look up, and his eyes fell upon q
blue and gold sign over q small but neat
looking store. Upon It read, Miss
Wilkins, Delicatessen. " He looked
through the window and saw her stand
ing there behind the counter. Their
eyes met. but she gave him no smile Of
recognition.
AS he bent down over his shovel he
muttered, IF I'd "a KEEP my eyes down
tn track, wouldn't be here, and she
wouldn't "a got damages an be there,
but then I'd "a never know'd what ei
was ter have thet queer wishin ter see
her from three blocks up tn street. "
He leaned on his shovel and gazed
blankly into the brown snow. New
York Sun.