Amador ledger., 1907-04-05
A Russian Courtship
lOriginal.1

GOriginall
Ivan Shouvalief, a small Russian
farmer, was one morning hoeing in his
little patch of ground when he saw
Sonia Nichaelovitch come in at the
gate and go to his house. Ivan knew
very we'll what she was going there
for. In Russia among certain classes
it is customary for the girls to do the
courting. A girl who wishes a man
for a husband goes to his house and
begs him to marry her. If he doesn't
want her and turns her out, her rela-
tives will take revenge upon him for
what Is considered an insult. Ivan was
a bachelor and knew that Sonia was
coming to ask him to marry her. She
saw him working In his field, but pre-
tended that she did not. Her object
was to get into the house, knowing
that once there she would have every
advantage. Going to the door, she
knocked and, receiving no response,
opened it and went in.
Ivan leaned on Ais hoe handle and
scratched his head. He believed all the
Ills that fall upon men come from wo-
men. He had had an uncle whose wife
was a shrew and had seen his uncle
under the lash Of her tongue. Conse-
quently he had not only resolved that
he would never marry, but lived in
dread lest some woman should get him
in spite Of his resolve. And now one
had effected All entrance into his cita-
del, and he saw defeat staring him in
the face.
With sigh he went to the house.
There stood Sonia by the hearth, on
which she had thrown some fresh
wood, She looked up with an embar-
rassed smile, color overspreading her
face.
what do you wish, sonia?" Ivan
| asked.
II wish to be your wife, Ivan"
do you not know that I have re-
solved never to marry2"
"Yes; / have heard that"
"Then why do you come hereT
To this question the girl made no
reply.
/
| you. Some Of them have ten times the
land have, with many cattle besides"
"And there are better girls than
want you, girls with much more dowry
than NINE"
"Then why not both choose for our
selvesT
II have chosen"
Ivan stood a picture of irresolution.
He was like one drawn into vortex
without power to resist. On the one
hand was the girl, the freight tingeing
her face, pair Of neat ankles protrud-
ing below her short skirt On the other
hand was his shrewish aunt, whom he
could never Danish from his remem-
brance."
Suppose" he said presently, "that !
make your mother a present of my
best cow"
"She does not wish cow"
"And horse for your father"
"He has already all the stock he can
USE"
i. ais there nothing can give to gain
immunity?"
Sonia mused awhile before replying
Then she looked down into the fire and
said softly:
"Yes, Ivan; there is one thing. Give
me that, and will depart"
"What is it?" asked Ivan.
"a kiss"
"Oh. that Is easily givenw And, ad
vancing toward her, he slipped his
arm around her waist and, raising hel
face, put his lips to hers. He had in
tended to give her scant measure, but
! somehow when his lips had got into
; position he lost power to take then
J away The consequence was that the
, clock on the mantel licked many sec
, onds before the kiss was finished
Then Sonia said:
"Now l will go, Ivan"
Ivan followed her to the door and as
she was about to depart said:
"a kiss Is little thing to pay yol
for giving NE up. very little thing
If you wish I will give you another"
"No. Ivan; you have paid in full.
I will not take another"
She stood with her hand resting OF
the doorknob. Ivan very near her.
'If you will give me back the one
have given,' he said, II will send tn
, COW to your mother in exchange"
: "That's n fair bargain" she replied.
Again Ivan slipped his arm abou
her waist, raised her face and took {
long kiss.
She opened the door and was goinl
: out when he called her back.
, "Come to the hearth" he said, "an'
! warm yourself before going out int
the cold"
Again she stood by the fire, and Ival
said:
"For another kiss l will send hors
to your father"
81 think perhaps father might US
another horse"
/, This time the kiss was longer thai
any of the others. When 1t was fin
: ished Sonia asked:
"Why did you bring me back to tn
hearth? l was not cold"
my horse Is very valuable. l wish
ed to be within hearing of the clock t
count its beats and be sure 1 was ge1
ting good measure"
would you like your horse and COY
backT
"How could l get them?"
She looked down into the flame.