Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-18
The siren and the sucker.

Chicago Tribune.
And do you discard me forever.
Gertrude Gilhooley?"
Il do" was the answer, in a low,
sweet voice, while a pair Of soft brown
eyes, suffused with tears. locked
tenderly up at Sebastian Mccarthy.
"Yon know that my heart is yours,
and that | would gladly give thee my
hand, but papa says nay, and when be
twitters tho procession is apt to
move" And, saying this, the girl
buried her face in her hands and
sobbed convulsively.
But think again, Gertrude" said
the young man in eager, anxious
tones. See if thy woman's wit MAY
not discover aught that will avail to
make our future pathway bright. /
have loved you too long, too earnestly
to resign the prize so eagerly sought
without a struggle"
Let me think" said the Lady Ger
trude, brushing back from her fair
forehead the bangs which so grace
fully O'erhung its pearly surface, and
placing carefully on a toe of the statue
of Mercury which stood 10 the con
servatOFy a generous hunk of chewing
gum for which she had no immediate
use; standing silently by a marble
Psyche for a moment, she turned sud.
denly TO Sebastian.
You know the Mulcaheys2" she
said.
They whose mosted castle frets the
sky on the ayenue2'
IL do"
Get thee there with all speed, and
when you have crossed the draw
bridge and tethered your palfrey in
the terraced court, knock boldly on the
front door, but relax not your vigilance,
as you love me, for the Mulcaheys
come Of Norman blood and keep a dog.
When the portal shall be opened, and
you are admitted to the presence Of
my aunt, the Lady Constance Mulca.
hey, say to her that her ~fayorite niece,
Gertrude, seeks her aid; that a cruel
father would wed her to M she loves
not. Tell her that about four o'clock
tomorrow afternoon, when the sun is
guiding the shot tower, and cassocked
justice Of the peace will appear at
the Castle Mulcahey, aud / shall
soon follow with my bonny bride
groom. Do you understand
VI am on" replied Sebastian, "and,
by my haildom, the plan is a good
one" And kissing Gertrude trust
fully under the left ear, be went
down the front steps and was soon
lost to view.
And so my pretty niece would fain
marry your
1t was the Lady Constance Null.
cahey who spoke these words, and the
one 10 whom she addressed them was
Sebastian Mccarthy.
THE plan IS a good one" she con.
tinued," tapping gently with a broom
handle the dainty foot that peeped
from beneath her robe. THE Earl il
working 10 the suburbs this week, and
shall not hear the clank Of his dinner
pail until nearly seven PM, 30 that
all will be over ere he comes. You
may tell Cert that l will be fixed fol
her"
= = y =
A cold, clear afternoon in the festal
Christmas.tide. Up the avenue came
with merry tinkle of bell and proud
prancing Of blooded steeds, drawing.
room horse car, No. l76. In one corner
Of the vehicle sat Gertrude and Sebas.
tian, nestled close to each other, like
little birds in the merry, agueisL
spring time. Presently the car stopped
Sebastian was on his feet at once, hi,
face expressing plainly the indignation
that swept over his soul.
Il prithee, do not leave me, " said
Gertrude, grasping the ulster with Q
conyulsiye clutch.
Fear not, sweetest. | 70 to sec
what bastard has dared to stop my
faithful steeds."
He soon came back, and saying,
with a merry sigh, ITS a freight train
on the crossing again closed Ger
trude to his vest. The car moved on
anon, and soon the happy couple were
safe In the Castle Mulcahey.
y \ y y
The words that bound Gertrude
and Sebastian together with the silken
luther Of matrimony had been said,