Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-12-27

TIM HARGAT0N'S COUUTSHIP.

He was mothers factotum, big Tom
Hargaton. | do not know how she could
have managed the farm without Ills
clear head and sound judgment To guide
her. He had the name of being the
closest hand at 8 barge Tin and the best
Judge of a +" haste in InniShowen, and
| think he deserved it, for mother very
rarely lost upon her specuations III
cattle, and our animals were famed for
their beauty. Tim was not wholly an
Innishowen man. BY his mothers side
he claimed descent from the Scottish
settlers of the opposite coast, and much
of his cautiousness and shreWdness
could be traced to this infusion of kind
~ Scottish blood. We children had
rather an awe of Tim. He ruled the
outer world of our homestead with a
rod of iron. Woe betide the delinquent
who ventured into the garden before
the "house had been supplied with
fruit for preserving. Woe be to us if
with profane hands we assaulted his
beloved grapes or ravaged his trim flow
er-beds. / dare say it was very good
for us that some one was set i'll author
ity over the garden and farm-yard, for
we were allowed quite enough freedom
indoors, fatherless tomboys that we
were. But years passed by; one by one
we grew to womanhood /, the eldest,
left home iirst--tO return first, more
alone for having been SO happy, too
happy for II while. When returned y
widow, the Younger birds had flown
from the nest. Mother had no one left
but me, and she was growing old; 50
cast in my own and my boys lot with
her, and soon became thoroughly ac-
quainted with Tim Hargaton. To him
was the young mistress, or" Miss
Elem and | own / felt often at dis
advantage with him. His quiet knowl-
edge 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
u struggle or two | gave III.
think Tim must have been about
forty at this time; but he looked many
years younger, being fair and tall and
well made, and-a bachelor. lie had
merry twinkle III his gray eyes, which
almost contradicted the firm set mouth
with its long upper lip and square,
massive chin; from his half Scotch
mother he derived a close, calculating
disposition, hard to convince, slow to
receive new impressions, strong to re-
tain them when once received. From
his father, rowing Pat Hargaton from
Donegal, he drew an Irishman's tickle
heart, but not his warm affections, which
90 so far towards iamending the latter
fault.
Another unusual thing among men
Of his class, he was well to do, and hay
ing successfully speculated in cattle on
his own account, he had money in the
bank and snug cottage. Yet year
after year, Shrovetide after Shrovetide-
the marrying season over all Roman
Catholic Ireland-found Tim rejoicing
in single blessedncss; nor could he
have ha comfortable home, for his
old mother was confirmed Invalid;
and as Tim was reported to be a "trifle
near" he only afforded her the services
Of little girl scarcely IN her teens.
More than once mother spoke to him
about matrimony, and as often Tim
met her with the unan,werable argu-
ment: "Is it as easy to peck for two as
for one, ma'amY 80 she ceased both
ering him about it.
Now it befel that one bright frosty No
vember day / had dispatched Tim to
the county town on very important
business; and the better to assure my
self of the favorable issue of il, ! walk
cd to meet him on his return. Az the
time of his return was overdue, | began
to feel rather uneasy, and qulckened
my steps along the winding seaside
road but turn III il soon revealed the
reason Of Tins delay. He was walk
inc beside very pretty country lass;
and another, not 10 young or nearly 50
pretty, Jagged little behind.
"Oh. 10, Master Tim thought,
''are we TO hear news OF you tins 5hrove-
tide?'
AS came forward, the girls fell back,
Tim Fastening to meet me. He looked
shy and sheepish enough az he advanc-
ed. and the pretty lass, whom | at once
recognized as pretty Mary Dogherty, the
acknowledged belle OF the barony, hung
her head in blushing confusion A. she
passed me by. -.
Tim was all business and stoldlty
once tie Girls we're out OF sight. He
had lodged money for me III the county
bank; settled my own and mother az
count with the butcher, baker and gro.
Ger, transacted all our various business
with care and correctness; and having
given Up his accounts into my hands,
he hurried on, whilst | continued my
walk. Twilight was falling when re-,
Turned home; hut although an hour lad
elapsed since Tim had preceded me on
tn road, he was just entering the gate
Is turned from the sea road for the
same purpose. | made mother smile
that evening when tod her of my en-
counter.