The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-01-15
A Russian COurtShip
[oriEinaL.l

very Weh what sue was going Inefe
for. In Russia among certain classes
u IL customary for the girls to do the
counting A girl who wishes a man
for q husband goes to his house and
begs him to marry her. II he doesn't
want her and turns her out, her rela-
tives win 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 his hoe handle and
scratched his head. He believed all the
Ills that fail upon men come from wO.
men. He had had an uncle whose wife
was shrew and had seen his uncle
under the lash Of her tongue. Conse-
quen1y In 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 q sigh he went to the house.
There stood Sonia by the hearth, on
which she had thrown some fresh
wood. Shc looked up with an embar-
rassed smile, a color overspreadlng her
face
what do you wish, Sonar Ivan
asked.
Il wish TO be your wife. Ivan"
'Do you not know that I have re-
solved never to marry"
eyes have heard that"
'"Then why do you come here?''
To this question the girl made no
reply.
There are better men than I 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
selvesp
II have chosen"
Ivan stood picture Of irresolution.
He was like one drawn into a vortex
without power to resist On the one
hand was the girl, the tlrellght tingelng
her face, pair of neat ankles protrud
Ing below her short skirt On the other
hand was his shrewlsh aunt, whom he
could never Danish from his remem-
branca"
Suppose" he said presently, shat l
make your mother present OF my
best cow"
"shs does not wish a cow"
"And horse for your father"
'aR has already all the stock he can
use"
"Is there nothing can give to gain
immunity3"
Sonia mused awhile before replying.
Then she looked down into the FIRE and
said softly:
EYES. Ivan; there Is one thing Give
me that, and l will depart"
"what is TT" asked Ivan.
"a kiss"
"oh, that Is easily givenT And. ad-
vanelng 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 seant 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
ontlA before the kiss was finished.
Thou Sonia said:
tNuw / win so. Ivan"
ivan followed her to the door and a.
she was about to depart said;
~ kiss Is little thing to pay you
for giving me mp, a very little thing
II you wish viii give you another"
sNa, Ivan. you have paid In full.
viii not take another"
She stood with her hand resting on
the aoorknoh. Ivan very near her.
"If you will give me back the one
; have given" he said, Il win send tn
COW to your mother In exchange"
ssThat's q fair bargain" she replied.
Again Ivan slipped his arm abou
her waist. raised her face and took
lonE kiss,
, She opened the door and was goinI
out when he called her back.
Come to the hearth" he said. "an'
warn yourself before going out Int
the cold"
Again she stood by the tiro, and Iva
: said
Fer another kiss win send hors
TO yCur father"
e II think perhaps father might US
4 another horse"
Z Ths time the kiss was longer tina
any of the others. When It was Of
!, lshec Sonia asked:
why did you bring me back to u
hearIh2 | was not cold"
MY horse Is very valuable, wtsl
ed 20 be within hearing OF the clock