Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-02-01
FALSELY ACCUSED.

the trees were clothed in their richest
foliage; the birds sang sweetly; the lit
tie lambs frisked 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 ms
the story which am going to relate
happened there, we will ask the reader
to accompany us across the three
thousand miles of water that inter
venes.
Through the center of this village
beautiful river wound its serpentine
course, the banks of which, on either
side, were interspersed by numerous
picturesque mansions, the property of
several rich gentlemen, who were
masters of all the lands over which the
eye roamed.
As our story relates to one of those
mansions, or at least the inmates of
one of them, we will c0nfne ourselves
to il and not mind the rest.
Goefrey Blake was very wealthy
man, his gold could be measured by
the bushel, and yet, with all his i'm
mense wealth, he possessed none of
the arrogance or worldly pride that
some men have when favored by such
good fortune.
He had a lovely daughter named
Molly-lovely in every sense Of the
word, beautiful blonde whose long,
wavey tresses OF golden hair hung
over her finely modelled form. almost
to the ground, and eyes blue as sum-
mer sky of her native home, and whose
tender hearted goodness made her
favorite with rich and poor for miles
around.
Now, as may be supposed, there
we're numerous admirers who looked
with loving eyes on the peerless girl,
some of them sons of the richest men
of the province. but all to no purpose !;
for her love was bestowed ON one,
though he was far below her in world
ly point of ; ". His name was Ger
aid O'Conner. the only son of widow,
and on him she bestowed all the love
of young heart.
Now, there was another young man
in the village who loved, or protessed
to love Molly Blake and tried every
means available to blacken the char
acter of young O'Conner.
On the evening when first we in
troduce 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 pret-
ty 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 could call you mine; but, dar-
ling, you know that am poor, and
your father may object to my suit"
Gerald, don't you know father
better than that? He is not the man
to offer any opposition to my happi-
ness when he knows that he whom |
love is worthy of the best girl in Ire
land"
Bless you, my darling. for your
words have made me very happy"
at is the truth which | have spo-
ken as for your being poor. why,
haven't | got plenty for us both
This was too much Cor the caves
dropper, he ground his teeth with rage,
and an oath escaped his lips, yet he
managed to keep his temper, and
waited to hear more of their conver-
sation, for he lay concealed among
the shrubbery a few feet from where
the lovers were seated and heard
every word of their conversation.
For sometime longer they remained
seated at their conversation, and at
length as the shadows of approaching
night began to steal across the tree
tops they arose and separated, Molly
going towards the house, while O'Con-
ner wandered leisurely through the
sweet scented meadow towards the
river bank.
No sooner had they parted than
Anthony Bell, for such was the lis
tener's name arose from his place of
concealment, and, shaking his clench-
Ell fist at the retreating form OF his
successful rival, hissed through his
clenched teeth
Curse you, you low lived upstart
But | will blacken YOU in her sight !;
aye. even il have to stain my hands
in blood to do sor'
And as he ceased to speak he stuff
ed his hands in his trousers pockets
and strobe fiercely from the place
A month had passed and the shades
Of tranquility rested ever the little
, village of Ballglen, when one autumn
evening its slumbering inhabitants
were awakened from their blissful re.
|; pose by the cry of Murder
Murder. The terrible word seem.
ed to lie echoed from the surrounding
hills and filed the hearts Of the people
with awe.