Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-05-30
Tim Hargaton's Courtship.

Hargaton. do not know how she
could have managed the farm without
his clear head and sound judgment to
guide her. lie had the name of being
the closest hand at a bargain. and the
best judge of a haste in Innishowen !;
and | think he deserved it for mother
very rarely lost upon her speculations
in cattle, and onr animals were famed
for their beauty. Tim was not wholly
an Innishowen man. BY his mothers
side he claimed descent from the Scot
tish settlers of the opposite coast, and
much of his cautiousness and shrewd-
ness could be traced to this infusion of
kindly 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 delin-
quent 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
flower beds l dare say it was very
good for US that some one was set in
authority over the garden and farm
yard; tor we were allowed quite
enough freedom indoors, tather!css
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 q
little while. When returned, wild
ow, the younger birds had flown from
the nest. Mother had no one left but
me, ard she was growing old; so
east in my own and nv boys lot with
her, aud soon became thoroughly ac-
quainted with Tim liargaton. To him
| was "the young mistress" or Miss
Elem and own felt often at dis
advantage with him. His quiet know
ledge of subjects | was utterly ignor-
ant of, his cool rejection of nv farming
theories. his almost certain success in
all his ventures, oyerawcd me and
after a Struggle or two gave in.
think Tim must have been about
forty at this time but hc looked many
years younger, being fair and tall and
well made, and--a bachelor. He had
a merry twinkle in his gray eyes which
almost contralicted the firm. set mouth
with it, long upper lip and square mas
slve chin from his h1lf-Scottish moth
er he derived a close, calculating dis
position, hard To convince, slow TO re-
celyc new Impressions, strong to retain
them when once received. From his
father. rowing Pat iIargaton from Don
egan. he drew an lrishman's ready wit
and uimhlc tongue, and under all au
lrlshman's tickle heart, but not his
warm affections, which 90 so far to-
wards amending the latter fault.
Another unusual thing among men
of his class, he was well 10 DO. aud
having successfully specuatcd in cat
tie on his own account. he had money
IN the bank and a snug cottage. Yet
year attcr Year, Shrove-tldc after
Shrore-tIde-thc marrying season all
over Roman Catholic Ireland-found
Tim rejoicing in single blesscdness :;
nor could he have had comfortable
home, for his old mother was 4 con-
hrmed invalid; and as Tin was report
Z ed 10 be a tritle near, he only afford.
[ ed her the services of little girl
I scarcely in her teens. More than once
/ mother spoke To him about lnatrimonv.
I aud as often Tim met her with the un-
/ answerable argument: as il as easy
/ 10 pick for two as for one, ma am Z"
I SO she ceased bothering him about il.
Now 1t befcll that one bright frosty
/ November day had dispatched Tim
( 10 the county town on very important
/ business ; and tue better TO assure nv
sci: Of the favorable issue of it, | walk
ed 10 meet him on his return. As the
time Of his return was overdue, | be-
gan 70 feel rather uneasy, and quick
cned my steps along the winding sea-
side road but a turn in it soon reveal
ed the reason of Tins delay. He was
walking beside very pretty country
| lass; and another, not 50 Young or
nearly so pretty, Jagged little be-
hind.
20 ho, Master Tim" | thought;
''are we to hear news Of you this
Shrove-tide -
AS came forward, the girls fell
back, Tim FASTENED to meet me. He
looked shy and sheepish enough as he
advanced and the pretty lass whom |
at once recognized as pretty Mary Do
herty. the acknowledged belle of the
oarony, hung her head in bushng con-
fusion as she passed me by.
Tim was all business and stolidty
once the girls were out of sight. He
had lodged money for me in the county
bank settled my own and mothers
account with 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 nv
walk. Twilight was falling when l re-
turned home; bet although more than
an hour elapsed since Tim had preced-
ed me on the road, he was just enter
ing the gate as turned from the sea-
road for the same purpose. | made !
mother smile that evening when | told |
her of my encounter.
But" she said. .'poor little Mary
has no fortune. Tim will look for one |
with any girl he marries.'
A few days afterwards Tim took Inc
into his confidence. We were making
our winter arrangements in the green
house, putting away summer plants
whose Towering days were done, and
filling up gaps in our shelves with
bright chrysanthemums and other win
ter-blooming plants. An hour sufficed
to weary mother at this work, SO Tim
and l were left alone amongst the flow
ers. For some time he worked away
10 silence, but l could easily see he
was longing to speak, and so | deter
mined to give him an opportunity but
he forestalled me.
Twas fine day the day | was i'm