The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-02


scratched his head. He believed all the
MS that fall 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-
quently he had not only resolved that
he would never marry. but lived in
dread lest some woman should get him
inl spite Of his resolve. And now one
had. effected an entrance into his clta-
del, and he saw defeat staring him in
the face.
With sigh he went 10 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.
"waat do you wish, Sonar Ivan
asked.
II wish to be your wife. Ivan"
do you not know that have re-
solved never to marry?"
Eyes: have heard that"
+Tlieni why do you come here?"
To- this question the girl made no
reply.
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:r
"Then why NOT both choose for our.
selyesT'
81 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 firelight tlngeingl
her-face: pair Of neat ankles protrud-
ing below her short skirt. On the other
hand was, his shrewish aunt. whom hd
could never Danish from his rememi
brance"
Suppose" he said presently. ''that
make your mother a present Of my
best cow"
''slie does not wish cow"
''And a lhorse for your father"
''He has already all the stock he can
use."
rs there nothing ] can give to gai4
immunity1-
Sonia unused awhile before replying
Then she hooked down into the fire ami
said softly:
Yves, Evan; there is one thing. GiYs
me. that, and win DEPART
what IS itF' asked Ivan.
go kiss
"On. that Is easily gfveng'a And. adj
vancing toward her, he slipped his
arm around her waist and. raising her
face, put his hips to hers. He had in.
tended to give her scant measure. but i
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
onds before the kiss was finished.
Then Sonia said:
Now will go. Ivan"
Ivan followed her to the door ana .as
she was aboUt to depart said:
"a kiss is little thing to pay You
for giving me up, very little thing
II you wish win give you another
mo. Ivan; you have paid In full.
will not take another
She stood with her hand resting on
the doorllnob. Ivan very near her.
IF you viii give, me back the one
have given" he said, II viii send the.
COW to your mother In exchange
"That's fair bargain" she.repIled.
Again Ivan slipped his arm abouk
her waist. raised her face ANA to ok .,
long kiss.
She opened the door and, was kolng.
out. when he called her back.
Come to the hearth" be said Rand
warm yourself before going OUT into
the cold"
Again shessOod by The nre. and Ivan
said:
For another kiss, L will send a horse
to your father"
q think perhaps father might use
another horse"
This time. the k5ss was longer than
any Of the others When Il was fin
ished Sonla asked: sc tt-s
why did yon bring me back 10 the
hearth2 Yves not cold"
Ny horses very valuable. / wish
ed to be within hearing Of the clock TO
count its beats and be sure waa get.
ting good measure
'Would You like your horse and COW.
backY'
"How could / get themr
She looked down into the dame.
kiss"
lido not mean that
'What DO you meanP'
"You may have them back il you
win marry me-"
Ivan repurchased his horse and his
COW BY giving himself for them. For
tnnately for him, he did nbt get .
Shrew. but an excellent wife.
r. A. mitchell.