The Somerset reporter., 1895-02-07


day off started out without the little
Halligans. But he did not 90 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 chrysanthomum 10 give her
as token of his regard. He left tho
train at Rector street all joy and ex-
pectancy and rushed through tho ar
cade. He reached Broadway and looked
up the pavement. Then his heart sank,
for she was not there The stand, too.
was gone. Shetdid 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
yard 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 a pleasant smile adorned
the face Of Andrew McChunk, smile
thar not all his growth of stubbly red
beard could conceal. He would strain
his eyes as if to see her from tho post
office. "Plinkety, plung, plung, would
90 the gong She would look up and
smile, and he would smile. Then tho
relentless cable would carry him on, n
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-
ton. 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 i'm
itation seal plush cloak beneath it, Then
mail wagon intercepted his view for
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 so
early in the day. ''Plunkety, plung,
geplung, geplung, b.r-rung- 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 tho
very platform upon which he was stand
ing came a scream. He jumped on tho
gong, and it sounded one single tri-
umphant clang Round whirled tho
grip wheel round whirled the brake
wheel, and the car came to standstll.
They picked her off the fender and
carried her away III an ambulance So
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 mourntul
journey. When it did ring it had lost
all former life, and the notes came
forth i'll 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 a warning. He
got Job as street cleaner, and one
bleak day in the following February, as
he was shovoing tho snow ont of the
cutters on Columbus avenue he CHANGED
to look up, and his eyes fell upon IL
blue and gold sign over small but neat
looking store Upon it read, Miss
wilkins, DaIicatessen. He looked
through the window and saw her stand.
ing there behind the counter Their
eyes met, but she gave him no smilo Of
recognition
AS he bent down over his shovel ha
mutterod "Gf I'd IA KEEP my eyes down
til track, | wouldn't be here, and she
wouldn't "a got damages an be there,
but then I'd "a never know d what ct
was ter have tibet queer wishin ter see
her from three blocks up tn street. "
He leaned on his shovel and gazed
hlankly into the brown snow. New
York Sun