Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-03-13
A Russian COurtship
[Original.1

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
1t is customary for the girls to do the
counting. A girl who wishes man
for 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 1t and went in.
Ivan leaned on his 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 an entrance into his cita-
del, and he saw defeat staring him in
the face.
With a 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
raised smile, color Overspreading her
| face
What do you wish, SONIA" Ivan
asked.
Il wish to be your wife, Ivan"
do you not know that / have re-
| solved never to marry?"
Yes: l have heard that"
''Then why do you come here?"
To this question the girl made no
replys
"There are better men than | want
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 mine"
"Then why not both choose for our
| selves?'
Il 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''
us there nothing can give to gain
immunityT'
Sonia unused awhile before replying
Then she looked down into the fire and
said softly:
Eyes, Ivan; there is one thing Give
me that, and will depart"
what is it," asked Ivan.
"a kiss"
"Oh, that is easily givenw And, adj
vancing toward her. he slipped his
arm around her waist and, raising her
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 them
away. The consequence was that the
clock on the mantel licked many sec
0nds before the kiss was finished.
Then Sonia said
Nov will CO. Ivan"
Ivan followed her to the door and as
she was about to depart said:
"a kiss is little thing to pay you
for giving me up, a very little thing.
If you wish-I will give you another"
mo, Ivan; you have paid in full. /
will not take another"
She stood with her hand resting on
the doorknob, Ivan very near her.
IF you will give me back the one i
have given" he said, 81 will send the
cow to your mother in exchange"
That's fair bargain" she replied.
Again Ivan slipped his arm about
her waist, raised her face and took a
long kiss.
She opened the door and was going
out when he called her back.
"Come to the hearth" he said, land
warm yourself before going out into
the cold"
Again she stood by the fire, and Ivan
said:
For another kiss will send horse
to your father"
II think perhaps father might use
another horse"
This time the kiss was longer than
any Of the others. When 1t was fin
ished Sonia asked:
why did you bring me back to the
hearth? | was not cold"
my horse Is very valuable. | wish
ell to be within hearing Of the clock to
count It's beats and be sure I was get
| ting good measure"
would you like your horse and cow
backT