The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-14
LOVES RIVALRY.
Village Bellies Attempt to Blind an Exult-
ing and Triumphant Rival.

NORWICH, Conn, Dec. 13.-The course of love
flowed serenely with Miss Susan Twomey, the
petite blue-eveG seventeen year old daughter Of
a weil-to do farmer on the Long Society road in
the old country village of Preston, two or three
miles east of this city, until Miss Florence Miner
eighteen years old. the handsome rown-eyed
daughter of a rich farmer of Bendleton Hill, in
North Stonington, crossed her path three or
four weeks ago Miss Florence has been visit
ing at the home of Cyrus Chapman, the viii
lage blacksmith Of Preston, whose house is dag
onally across the road from Mr.. Twomey's. A
sharp rivalry sprang up between the girls in gain
ing the attention of the village beaux and the dan
difed young fellows were drawn into the tide.
Each night IN the week kerosene lamps burned
in the front windows of the ''best room in each
dwelling, and suitors crossed their legs before
the rival tete-a- teteS, ate red-cheeked Preston
apples and drank Preston cider at the expense
of Mr. Chapman and Mr. Twomey The girls
had been warm friends at the outset but within
a day for two their relations became seriously
strained. Each had all the beaux she needed,
but the contest had narrowed down to a eovetous
struggle for the heart of Horace c. Corning,
spruce young man Of the neighborhood who wore
tight trousers, a rakfsh Derby hat and gorgeous
neekties. Early this week Miss Susan led in the
race of love, bat she was not sat
ished with her success. To give force to her
triumph, it is said. she went to the front of her
rivals house after dark and peeped in the win
dow. and threw sand and gravel at the panes be-
hind which Miss Miner was entertaining her
lovers. Miss Florence threw a desultory glance
at small bottle of creosote on the mantel, be-
longing to Mr.. Chapman, as the gravel ratified
on the window glass, but she gave no other lndi-
cation that she was disturbed After supper last
night Mr.. Horace c. Corning put on his showiest
necktie, took his slimmest cane and went over
to call on Miss Susan, not half dozen rods
from his own house That young lady was just
setting ont to visit h.er sister i'm this town. and
she asked Horace to go with her. ''Pll go and
get my overcoat," said he, and he left Miss Susan
in the dusty street as he went to his house. He
returned in a moment. A loud cry from
across the street ID front Of the Chapman dwell
ing called him quickly thither The cry had
been uttered by Susan. who, with her hands
before her eyes was screaming They have
blinded mel They have blinded mel" lie
helped the girl into his mothers house. DR..
Brewer, of this city, found large white spots on
her face and on the whites of her eyes. He
called again at midnight He said it was too
early to tell whether Miss Susan's eyeSight was
seriously impaired. Creosote or earbolic acid
had caused the spots he said Miss Twomey
made no accusation against her assailant except
that contained in her cry-'they have blinded
me-" Policeman Corcoran, of Preston, arrested
Miss Miner, and she spent last night in the
police station in this city. When seen last
evening she was dressed III the extreme of fash
ion She was in rollicking good humor, appar-
entity unconscious of the gravity of the ofense,
for which the penalty under the laws of this
State is Imprisonment in State prison for not
less than seven and not more than ten years.
Her eyes sparked as she said that she had no
ticed the vial of cPeosote on the mantel and
thought it would be good thing to punish Susie
with for peeping in the window and throwing
gravel and sticks at the house. Handsome col
ored Grand Juror Joshua @. Anderson, black
smith, prosecuted Miss Miner before Justice of
the Peace u. D. Bates, in john Gallagher's neat
little town hall in the Preston village at P N.
to-day, charging her with malicious attempt to
MAIN and disfgure. She was defended by S. A.
Crandall, of this city, who introduced no evil
dence. Miss Florence was in court smiling. Miss
Twomey was too i'll to appear. The haI was
crowded, and among the spectators were score
Miss Miner in 81, 900 for trial before the next
term of the Superior Court. She was committed
to the Norwich Jail this afternoon. Her father
will furnish bail as soon as he can be cemmnpi-
Gated with.