Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-12


plants. An hour sufficed to weary
mother at this work, so Tim and l were
left alone amongst the flowers. For
some time he worked away in silence,
but | could easily see he was longing to
speak, and so l determined to give him
an opportunity but he forestalled me.
"Twas fine day, the day l was in
Derry, Mrs. Grace" he said, as he pass
ed me, carrying huge coronella from
one end of the greenhouse to the other.
at was indeed, Tim. Had you many
people on board the steamer ?" replied.
'No, ma'am not to say many. Them
officer gentlemen from the fort
"Had, you many of the people from
about here % l asked.
"Hugh Dogherty and his sister, and
Susie Connor, ma'am."
"Ah you walked home with tie girls.
What became of Hugh %
"Troth, ma'am, he just got overtaken
with drop of drink, and I thought twas
but friendly to see the girls home
Il am sorry to hear Hugh was so bad
as that, Tim"
"Well, sorra much was on him, Miss
Ellen; but he was 10th to quit Mrs
Gallagher's when we got off the boat, 50
we just left him there. Hem /! Miss
Ellen. I've thought to change my life"
'Tm very glad to hear it. Tim"
"Yes, Miss" (Tim always forgot my
matronly title in confident talk),-'yes
miss. 'Tis lonely work, growing old
with nobody to take care of you."
That's selfish way of looking at
things, Tim," replied.
"Begorra, miss, what else would a
man marry for but to have himself took
care of?''
81 suppose liking the girl he marries
would be kind of reason, too," l re-
sponded.
"Oh, ay. I'd still like to have the
one I'd fancy, if she was handy"
'And who are you thinking of?'' L
asked, as Tim bent over box of geran-
ium cuttings. 81 hope she is Lice and
good, and will be kind to your POOR
mother, and good manager
Faith, l wouldn't take one that
wasn't that Miss Ellen" he replied
without raising his head. But it's
hard to tell how these young ones II
turn out"
"She is young then p
Young enough, and settled enough, {"
he responded. There's too Pm think
in OF"
"Two!" exclaimed. "Why, that
is not right of you, Tim. You are sure
ly old enough to know the kind of a
wife would suit you best; and ii is un-
fair to the girls. Those two young wo-
men you were walking with on Satur-
day ?"
Just SO, replied Tim, utterly una
Dashed. MARY Dogherty an Susie
ConnOr. Mary's the purtiest." he added
in half soliloquy.
81 have always heard she was as good
as she looked" said. ''She's been such
a dutiful daughter, and good sister to
those wild boys, she cannot fail to make
a good wife,
MAY. be-" quoth Tim. "But the
Dogertys is down in the world these
times"
81 know they are not rich but they
are comfortable
"They aren't begging. Miss, axing
your pardon but, musha it's little
softness there is about the house."
"Well, suppose she has known what
it is to want. she will know better how
to take care of plenty when she gets it. u
"Troth. l don't know. May be when
she'd get her two hands full, she'd be
THROWN away, for them that's reared in
poverty seldom knows how to guide
plenty when it comes.
"Well, I've always heard Mary ex
tolled for being the prettiest and bes
girl in Innishowen; and am sure yor
may think yourself happy man if 20,
can get her for wife, [ said rathe
sharply.
'Sorra word lie in that, Miss Ell
len, replied Tim, as he placed the las
young geranium in its pot. She's {
good girl, and as purity one as you'(
see in a summers day; but I'm thinking
I'll step up and see them before l spak
to her."
"Why Tim, have things gone so ia
as that q
"Well, | may say I've courted her u
to the akin, Miss"
, "And the other, Tim ?" I asked, in
tensely amused.
"Troth, L don't know but l have lie
on my hands, too"
s'Now, is that fair to either ?' aske
| rather Indignantly.
"Begorra, ] don't know. A man ha
to look before him sharp"
"And who is the other? Mary
r cousin ?''
"Yes, Miss, long Tom Connor's daugh
ter, from Shruve. She's up with Mar