Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-02-22
TIM HARGATON's C0URTSHIP

He was mothers factotum. big Tim
Hargaton. I do not know how she coult
have managed the farm without his cleal
head and sound judgement 10 guide her
He had the name Of being the closest han(
at bargain and the best judge of {
haste, in Innisho wen; and I think HI
deserved it for mo Their very rarely lost or
her speculations on cattle, and our ami
mails were famed for their beauty. Tin
was not wholly an Innishowen man. By
his mothers side he claimed descent from
the Scottish settlers of the opposite coast,
and much of bis cautiousness and shreWd
ness could be traced to this infusion OF
Scotch blood. We children had rather al
awe of Tim. He ruled the outer world OF
our homestead with rod of iron. Woe
oetide the delinque nt who ventured into
the garden before the house had beer
supplied with fruit preserves! Woe be tc
US if with profan4 hands we assaulted his
beloved grapes or ravaged his trim flower
beds [ dare say it was very good for us
that some one was set in authority over the
garden and farmYard. for we were allowed
quite enough freedom ind oors, fatherless
tombOyS that we were. ut years passed
by one by one we grew to womanhood. l
the eldest, left home tirst-to return first
more alone for having been so happy, too
happy for little while. When returned,
IA widow, the younger birds had flown
from the nest. Mother had no one left but
me, and she was growing old; so cast in
my own and my boys lot with her, and
soon became thoroughly acquainted with
Tim Hargston. To him | was the
young mistress'' or "Miss Ellcn,'' and ]
own often felt at a disadvantage with
him. His quiet knowledge of subjects was
utterly ignorant Of, his cool rejection of
my farming theories, his almost certain
success in all his ventures, overawed me
and after a struggle or two l gave in.
think Tim must have been about forty
this time; but he looked many years young
er, being far and tall and we'll made, and
"a bachelor. He had a merry twinkle il
his gray eyes which almost contradicteC
The firm-set mouth with it's long upper liz
and square massive chin; from his half
Scotch mother he derived close calcula-
ting disposition. hard to convince, slow to
| receive new Impressions, strong to retain
them when received. From his father, row
ing Pat Hargaton from donegal, he drew
an Irishman's ready wit and nimble ton
que, and under all an Irishman's tickle
heart, but not his warm affections. which
| go so far toward amending the latter
fault.
Another unusual thing amongst men of
his class, he was Well-to-do, and having
| successfully specialized in cattle on his
own account, he had money in the bank
and snug Cottage. Yet year after year,
Shrove-tide- the marrying season all over
Roman Catholic Ireland-found Tim re-
joicing in single blessedness nor could he
nave a comfortable home, for his mother
| was confirmed invalid and as Tim was
reported to be "a trifle near" he only at
forded her the services of little girl scarce
| ly in her teens. More than once his moth
Ell spoke to him about matrimony, and as
often Tim met her with the unansWerable
| argument, rs it as easy to peck FOR two
| as for one, ma am 20 SO she ceased bother
| ing him about it.
Now it befell that one bright frosty N ov-
ember day l had dispatched Tim to the
county town on very important business;
and the better to assure myself Of the IA
yorable issue of it, walked to meet him
on his return. AS the time of his return
was overdue, | began to feel rather uneasy,
and qulckened my steps along the wind
ing seaside road but a turn in it soon re-
vealed the reason of Tins delay. He was
walking beside very pretty country lass,
and another, not so young nor nearly so
] pretty, Jagged little behind.
go no, Master Tim,' 1 thought; "are
we to hear news of you this Shrovetide 2.
AS came forward, the girls fell back,
Tim fastening on to meet me. He looked
shy and sheepish enough as he advanced
and the pretty lass, whom | at once recog-
nized as Mary Dogharty, the acknowled
ged belle OF the barOnv, hung her shapely
head in blushing confusion as she passed
me by.
Tim was all business an q stolidity once
the girls were out of sight. He had lodg
ed money for me in the county bank; set
tied my own and mothers accounts with
butcher, baker and grocer. transacted all
our various business with care and cor
RICHNESS; and having given his accounts
in my hands, he hurried on, whilst L con-
tinued my walk. Twilight was falling
when returned home but although more
than an hour had elapsed since Tim had
preceded me on the road, he was inst en-
tering the gate as l turned from the sea
road for the same purpose. made moth.
er smile that evening when l told her OF