Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-04-16
FALSELY ACCUSED.

| II
It was the beautiful summer time; the
trees We're clothed in their richest foliage;
the birds sang sweetly; the little lambs
| frjsked about merrily in the green fields;
everything looked bright and happy.
Prosperity reigned over the little village
of Ballyglen, which nestles among the
hills, in beautiful valley, in the western
part OF Ireland, and as the story which l
am going to relate happened there, we will
ask the reader to accompany US across the
three thousand miles Of water that inter-
veDeS. j..
Through tie centre of this village a
beautiful river wound its serpentine
course, the banks of which, on either side,
were interspersed by numerous picturesque
mansions, the PROPERTY Of several rich gem
tlemen, who We're masters Of all the lands
over which the eye roamed.
AS our story relates to one of those man.
sitns, OF at least the inmates of one of
them, we will confine ourselves to it and
not mind The rest.
Godfrey Blake was very wealthy man,
his gold could be measured by the bushel,
a>I yet, with all his immense wealth, he
possessed none Of the arrogance or worldly
pride that some men have when favored by
such good fortune.
He had lovely daughter named Molly
lovely in every sense of the word, beauti-
full blonde whose long, wavey tresses If
golden hair hung over her fne-modeled
folm almost to the ground, and eyes blue
as the summer sky of her native home,
and whose tender-hearted goodness made
her favorite with rich and Door for miles
around.
Now, as may De supposed, there were
numerous admirers who looked with low
ing eyes on the peerless girl, some of them
sons of the richest men in the province,
but all to no purpose; for her love was be-
slowed on one, though he was far below
her in worldly point Of view. His name
was Gerald O'Conner, the only son of a
widow, and on him she bestowed all the
love of her young heart
| Now, there was another young man in
the village who loved, or professed to love
| Molly Blake, and tried every means avail
able to blacken the character of young
| O'Conner.
| On the evening when first we introduce
them to the reader, the pangs of jealousy
had great cause to arouse the ire of his
nature.
They were seated side by side under the
branches Of an elm tree, her pretty hand
was nestled on his shoulder, as she listened
| to his words of love-.
"Molly, love you dearly, and it would
be the happiest day of my life when 7
could call you mine; but, darling. YOU
know that l am poor, and your father NAV
object to my suit"
"Gerald, don't you know father bette,
than that? He is not the man to offer
any oppos ton to my happiness when he
knows that he whom I love is worthy Of
the best girl in Ireland.''
"Bless you, my darling, for your words
have made me very. happy.'
sit is the truth which [ have spoken
and as for your being poor, why, havn't ]
SOt plcuGy 1OT us DOGn."
This was toe much for the eayesdropper
he ground his teeth with rage, and an oath
escaped his lips, yet he managed to kee,
his temper and waited to hear more Of
their conversation, for he lay concealed
among the snrubbery few feet from where
the lovers were seated, and heard every
word OF their conversation.
| For some time longer they remained
seated at their conversation, and at length
as the shadows of approaching night be-
gan to steal across the tree tops they arose
and separated, Molly going towards the
house, while O'Conner wandered leisurely
through the sweet-scented meadows to-
ward the river bank.
No sooner had they parted than Antho
ny Bell, for such was the listeners name
arose from his place of concealment, and
shaking his clenched fist at the retreatine
form of his successful rival, Kissed through
his clenched teeth:
Curse you, you low-lived upstartl Blu
l will blacken you in her sight; aye, ever
If have to stain my hands in blood t,
40 so!''
And as he ceased to speak he stuffed hi
hands in his trowsers pockets and strod