AN INTERVIEW WITH SIDNEW GARTON

 By Caroline Clemmons

Dear Readers, please help me welcome today’s guest, Sidney Garton, owner of Garton’s Mercantile in Harrigan Springs, Texas.

He is over six feet tall with brown hair showing a few strands of gray. His piercing ice blue eyes sparkle with mirth and echo his friendly smile. I’d guess his age to be in his late twenties.

He sits across from me.

 CC: Welcome, Mr. Garton. Thank you for agreeing to an interview today.

SG: Please call me Sid. I’m honored to be here, though I’m not sure why you invited me.

CC: We’re eager to learn more about you. Where did you grow up?

SG: St. Louis, Missouri is where my grandparents settled, and my folks still live there. It’s a nice place. Have you been there?

CC: Yes, and I agree it’s a nice city. What does your family do there?

SG: Grandpa established his mercantile and sold merchandise to folks moving West as well as to the local residents. Papa added a wholesale dry goods business to other, smaller stores. I started working in the retail store when I was old enough to push a broom.

CC: Sounds industrious, Sid. How did you come to move to Texas?

SG: You see, I’ve always understood my older brother—his name is Caleb—will inherit the St. Louis store. I dreamed of having my own store. Ben Hathaway and Papa were childhood friends who’ve kept in touch. Ben wrote Papa that the store in Harrigan Springs was going to be up for sale and needed improving. Ben suggested Papa buy it, but I sure wanted to be the one who purchased it.

CC: You’re young to be setting yourself up in such a large business.

SG: Yes, ma'am, but I’d saved all I could from my salary. Papa paid me to work in the store after I turned thirteen, but I lived at home and didn’t have many expenses. I had enough to make the down payment. The place was in pretty bad shape but includes spacious living quarters upstairs. I’ve had to make a lot of improvements and changes on the store and living space, plus I added a large warehouse.

CC: That must have been difficult for you. How did you manage it?

SG: I worked long hours but couldn’t have managed if the bank hadn’t loaned me more money to expand. I’ve had to pinch every cent. Now, I’m finally at a place where I feel more comfortable financially.

CC: What about your personal life, Sid?

SG: (Sid chuckles.) Not much of one, especially since my wife Bethany died.

CC: My condolences, Sid. When and how did she pass?

SG: Of Cancer a  little over two years ago. Sure was hard to watch her suffer. We’d known each other all our lives. Can’t tell you how much I’ve missed her calm presence and sweet smile.

CC: That would have been very difficult. You must have some hobbies or outlets to relieve the effects of your hard work. What are they?

SG: People in Harrigan Springs are friendly, or most of them are. I enjoy talking to customers or those who stop by just to say hello and drink a cup of coffee. On Tuesday evening I host a card game. We play for pennies. (He chuckles again.) Mostly we just talk to each other. Usually the players include my three best friends, sometimes two or three more. Once or twice a week, I take my horse Blackjack for an hour’s ride. I attend church on Sunday morning, but don’t always make the other meetings. I take part in church and civic activities when I can. There’s always something happening in town.

CC: Sounds like a busy schedule. How many people help you in the store?

SG: So far, it’s just me, but my friends have been nagging me to remarry, and then a wife could help me in the store and cook meals, and such. There isn’t anyone locally who is the right age and disposition. Levi Iverson gave me the name of a matchmaker in New Orleans. So, I sent away for a mail order bride. I don’t know whether to be eager for her to arrive or afraid of whom I might end up marrying. (He pulls out his pocket watch.) I’m sorry, Mrs. Clemmons, but I have to get to the store and open for the day.

CC: Of course, Sid. Thank you for coming in so early and for answering my questions.

Sid smiles and gives a half-bow before hurrying out the door.

Readers, to learn about Sid’s mail order bride, Antoinette Fournier, and their adventures and romance, get your copy of SIDNEY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE, Book 6 of the Texas Hill Country Mail Order Bride Series. You’ll find it in e-book and paperback at Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNTP95FD

 It is also enrolled in Kindle Unlimited.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and be kind to others and yourself.