The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-05
She Wooed
 Him
By F. A. MITCHELL

< s < < X X + + + k GYY1N the Ukraine, Russia, the hAb woman does all the courting. RS@1@SS When she falls in love with e7SHs4 man she goes to his house and informs him of the state of her feelings. If he reciprocates, all is well. and the formal marriage is duly ar ranged If, however, he is unwilling, she remains there, hoping to coax him to better mind. The poor fellow can not treat her with the least discourtesy, nor has he the consolation of being able to turn her out, es her friends in such case would feel bound to avenge the insult His remedy, therefore, if determined not to marry her, is to leave his home and stay away as long as she is in it.
 One day Peter Komienzof, bache- for, living in the Ukraine with his moth CT, while doing some work about his little place, heard a light step, looked i up, and there before him stood Anna Avienief, blushing and with her eyes cast down to the ground
 ''What brings you to our cottage, Anna Avienieff?" asked Peter, know ing very well what brought her there. s1 have come, Peter, to make you proposition"
 . ai4- busy AnQd, dnQ nave aO , time to listen to your proposition" :" s1 will wait until you are at 1eisure.'' She went into the house, and, being met by Peters mother, the old woman asked her what she wanted
 s'To help you with your work. You are not so strong as you were formerly and need assistance.''
 tOn the contrary, am in better ] health than for many years. I don't need any one to help me-
 Anna did not appear to mind a rebuff from the woman, though when Peter had shown that he was disposed to get rid of her she shivered a little. She began to sweep. The old woman, knowing the customs of the country and understanding that the girl had come to marry her son and that she 1 must not be treated with discourtesy. ] permitted her to sweep on, while she herself attended to some baking for supper.
 At supper time Peter came in He l spoke to Anna and at the table was careful to serve her from every dish. 1 After supper he went to his room, where he spent some time, and when he came out he carried leather bag.
 ''I am sorry, Anna, to have to leave you, but I must go away for awhile. 1 My mother will be glad to~have you 1 with her during my absence. Goodby, mother. Be good to Anna
 Anna colored, but made no comment on this action, which she knew was in- tended to get rid of her. Peter put out his hand, saying goodby; but, pretend l ing she did not see it, she turned and went into another room. Then Peter went away.
 The customs of Ukraine may be diff ferent from other places, but the femi- nine constitution is the same every where. Anna Avienfeff did not relish the rejection of her suit but she made no complaint. She had one strong point in her favor in having possession of the premises, and possession is said to be nine points of the law. She stayed right where she was, and the next morning when, Peters mother arose to do her chores and get the breakfast she found them all done and 1 the breakfast ready.
 The old woman was wroth with the girl for usurpfng her work, but dared not tell her so, fearing that Anna's l brothers would hold Peter accountable. | Anna did most of the work during that l day, and the old woman, having little to do, sat by the fireplace and dozed. This continued every day for a month, Peters mother gradually sinking into an easy life.
 On the morning of the thirty first day after Peters departure his mother awoke and did not hear the sound of preparation to which she had grown l accustomed. Neither did Anna come into her room with a basin of water | for her, as usual. The house was per 1 fectly still. The old woman got up and looked in the kitchen. No one 1 was there. The fire had gone out. 1 She went to Annals room and looked l In Anna was not there.
 There was nothing for it but to get | her own breakfast and do the usual 1 cleaning. Besides, it was wash day, and the laundering must be done. l During the day she sent for Peter, and 1 when he came home for supper he
 found lis mother tired out.
 The next morning Peter got up early
 and did the chores. He did not know
 how to cook, so he was obliged to lei
 his mother cook the breakfast Dur
 ing the day the old woman tried tc
 do the work, but she had become used
 to oozing before the fire. Besides, she
 missed the hum of the little working
 bee. The house was permitted to gel