Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-12
Tim Hargaton's Courtship.

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head and sound judgment to guide her.
He had the name of being the closest
hand at bargain, and the best judge of
a "baste" in Innishowen, and | think
he deserved it; for mother very rarely
lost upon her speculations in cattle, aud
our animals were famed for their beauty.
Tim was not wholly an Innishowen man.
By his mothers side he claimed decent
from the Scottish settlers of the opposite
coast, and much of his cautiousness and
shrewdness could be traced to this infu-
sion of kindly Scottish blood. We chill
dren had rather an awe of Tim. He
ruled the outer world of our homestead
with rod of iron. Woe betide the de-
linquent who ventured into the garden
before the "bouse'' 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 l dare say it was very good for
US that some one was set in authority
over the garden and farm yard; for we
were allowed quite enough freedom in
doors, fatherless tomboys that we were.
But years passed by; one by one we
grew to womanhood. l, the eldest, left
home frst-to return first; more alone
for having been so happy, too happy for
a little while. When l returned, wild
ow. the younger birds had flown from
the nest. Mother had no one left but
me, and she was growing old; so I cast
my own and my boys lot with her, and
soon became Thoroughly acquainted with
Tim Hargaton. To him 1 was "the
young mistress" or "Miss Elem" and
own | felt often at disadvantage
with him. His quiet knowledge of SUBJ
jects l was utterly ignorant of, his cool
rejection of my farming theories, his al
most certain success in all his ventures
overawed me; and after a struggle or
two l gave in.
think Tim must have been about
forty at this time; but he looked many
years younger, being fair and tall and
we'll made, and-a bachelor. He had
merry twinkle in his gray eyes which
almost contradicted the frm-set mouth
with its long upper lip and square mas
sive chin; from his half Scottish mother
he derived close, calculating disposi-
tion, hard to convince, slow to receive
new impressions. strong to retain them
when once received. From his father,
rowing Pat Hargaton from Donegan, he
drew an Irishman's ready wit and nim-
BILE tongue, and under all an Irishman's 8
tickle heart. but not his warm affections,
which 60 so far towards amending the
latter fault.
Another unusual thing among men of
his class, he was we'll to do, and, having
successfully speculated in cattle on his
own account, he had money in the bank
and snug cottage. Yet year after
year, Shrove-tide after Shrove- -tide-the
marrying season all over Roman Catho-
lie lreland-found Tim rejoicing in sin
gle blessedness nor could he have had
a comfortable home; for his old mother
was a confirmed invalid, and, as Tim
was reported to be "a trife near" he
only afforded her the services of little
girl scarcely in her teens. More than
once mother spoke to him about matri-
mony, and as often Tim met her with
the answerable argument: "Is it easy to
pick for two as for one ma am ?" So she
ceased bothering him about it.
Now it befell that one bright frosty
November day had dispatched Tim tc
the country town on very important bus
iness, and the better to assure myself Of
the favorable issue of it, 1 walked tc
meet him on his return. As the time Of
his return was overdue, l began to feel
rather uneasy and quickened my steps
along the winding seaside road but g
turn in it soon revealed the reason Of
Tins delay. He was walking beside q
very pretty country lass; and another
not so young or nearly so pretty, Jagged
little behind.
"Oh ho! Master Tim," 1 thought
"are we to hear news of you this Shrove
tide %
AS l came forward the girls fell back
Tim hastened to meet me. He looked
shy and sheepish enough as he advanc
ed; and the pretty lass whom at one
recognized as pretty Mary Dogherty. tn
acknowledged belle of the barony, hun,
her head In blushlng confusion as sh
passed me by.
Tim was all business and stolidit
once the girls were out of sight. H
had lodged money for me in the countr
bank; settled my own and my mother
account with butcher, baker and grocer
: transacted all our various business wit
care and correctness and, having give
up his accounts into my hands, he hui
ried on while l continued my wall
, Twilight was falling when / returne
/ home; but although more than an hou
elapsed since Tim preceded me on th
, |, road, he was just entering the gate as
|