The Portland daily press., 1881-12-01
Gertrude Gilhooley's Romance.
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| lOAiSaSO AAADunC.l
"And do you discard me forever, Gertrude
! Gilhooley?"
81 do" was the answer in low sweet voice,
while a pair of soft, brown eyes suffussd with
tears looked tenderly up at Sebastian Nc
Carthy. "You know that my heart is yours,
and that would gladly give thee my hand,
but papa says nay, and when he twitters the
procession is apt to move''-and, saying this,
the girl buried her face in her hands and sob
bed convulsively.
S"But think again, Gertrude" said the young
man in eager, anxious tones "See IL thy
woman wit may not discover aught that will
avail to make our future pathway bright. l
have loved you too long, too earnestly, to resign
the prize so eagerly sought without strug
gle."
"Let me think" said the Lady Gertrude.
brushing back from her fair forehead the bang
which SO gracefully o'erhung its pearly surface,
and placing carefully on the toe of statue OF
Mercury which stood in the conservatory gen.
erous hunk Of chewing-gam for which she had
no immediate use, standing silently by mar
BILE Psyche for moment, she turned suddenly
to Sebastian.
"You know the Mulcaheys?' she said.
Archer avenue?"
"Aye, the same"
''I do"
Get thee thither with all speed, and when
you have crossed the draw-bridge and ththared
your palfrey in the terraced court, knock boldly
on the front door, but relax not your vigilance
an you love me, for the Mulcaheys come OF Nor
man blood and keep dog. When the portal
shall be opened, and you are admitted to the
presence Of nv aunt, the lady Constance Null
cahey, say to her that her favorite niece, Ger
trude, seeks her aid; that cruel father would
wed her to one she loves not. Tell her that
about O'Clock tomorrow afternoon, when the
sun is gliding the shot tower, cassocked JUS
tice-of-the- Peace will appear at Castle Mulca-
hey, and that shall soon follow with my
bonny bridegroom. Do you understand2"
II am on,'' replied Sebastin, "and by my
halidom the plan is good one" and kissing
Gertrude trustfully under the left ear he went
down the front steps and was soon lost to
view.
"And so my pretty niece would faln marry
you?"
1t was the Lady Constance Mulcahey who
spoke these words, and the one TO whom she
addressed them was Sebastian Mccarthy.
1.-THE plan is a good one, 'she continued, tap
ping gently with broom-hsndle the dainty
foot that peeped from beneath her robe. "The
Earl is working on the North Side this week,
and shall not hear the claDk Of his dinner-
pail until nearly 7 p. M so that all will be
over ere he comes. You may tell Cert that
will be fixed for her,"
A cold, clear afternoon in the festal Christ
mss-.ide Up Archer avenue came with merry
tinkle of bell and proud prancing OF blooded
steeds drawing-room horse-car No 176. In one
corner of the vehicle sat Gertrude and Sebas-
tian nestled close TO each other like little birds
in the merry, agueish springtime. Presently
the car stopped. Sebastian was on his feet at
once, his face expressing plainly the indisns-
tion that swept over his soul.
81 prithee, do not leave me, said Gertrude,
grasping his ulster with convulsiye clutch.
Fear not, sweetest. L 60 but TO see what
bastard has dared to stop my faithful steeds."
He soon came back, and saying with merry
sigh, "It is freight-train on the Burlington
crossing" again casped Gertrude TO his vest.
The car moved on anon, and soon the happy
couple were safe in the Castle Mulcahey.
The words that bound Gertrude and sebas-
tian together with the silken tether OF matri-
mony had been said, and the happy groom had
planted on the lips OF his bride large three
story-and-basement nuptial kiss, when sudden
ly the door of the room was opened, and Phyth-
agoras Gilhooly, Duke of Galway, stood before
the happy couple.
Forgive me- father said Gertrude. placing
her soft white arms about his neck and looking
wistfully into his eyes.
Removing from his mouth two inch pipe,
and setting mis- dinner-pail on the etdgere, the
Duke of Galway said in clear, calm tones;
"Yez are al forgiven. Devil much do
care if ye were iined year ago"-and with
these words he silently took a chew of hard to
bacoo and was gone-From "The Siren and
tho Sucker" by Murat Halstead.