River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-11-20
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BY F. A. Mitchell

EG[SNT When she tails III I0Te %i.II
G=sHs1J 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 IT, 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, as 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 Komienzoff, bache-
lor, living in the Ukraine with his moth
err, while doing some work about his
little place, heard a light step, looked
up, and there before him stood Anna
Avienieff, biushing 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.
II have come, Peter, to make you a
proposition"
Il am busy today, Anna and have no
time to listen to your proposition"
81 will wait until you are at leisure
She went into the house, and, being
met by Peters mother, the old woman
asked her what she wanted
ITO help you with your work. You
are not so strong as you were formerly
and need assistance"
"On the contrary, l am in better
health than for many years. 1 don't
need any one to help me-"
| Anna did not appear to mind 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
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
| spoke to Anna and at the table was
careful to serve her from every dish.
| After supper he went to his room,
where he spent some time, and when
he came out he carried leather bag.
81 am sorry, Anna, to have to leave
you, but l must go away for awhile.
My mother will be glad to have you
with her during my absence. Goodby
mother Be good to Anna"
| Anno ooIorod h11f roa6n M comment
on this action, which she knew was in
! tended to get rid Of her. Peter put out
his hand, saying goodby; but, pretend
| 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 Avienieff 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
| the breakfast ready.
The old woman was wroth with the
girl for usurping her work, but dared
not tell her so, fearing that Annals
brothers would hold Peter accountable.
| Anna did most Of the work during that
| day, and the old woman, having little
to do, sat by the fireplace and dozel
This continued every day for a month.
Peters mother gradually sinking into
| an easy life.
On the morning of the thirty-frst
day after Peters departure his mother
| awoke and did not hear the sound of
| preparation to which she had grown
| accustomed. Neither did Anna come
into her room with a basin of water
| for her, as usual. The house was per-
| fectly STILL The old woman got up
and looked in the kitchen. No one
was there. The fire had gone out.
| She went to Annals room and looked
| in. Anna was not there.
There was nothing for it but to get
| her own breakfast and do the usual
| cleaning. Besides, it was wash day,
| and the laundering must be done.
| During the day she sent for Peter, and
when he came home for supper he
| found his 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 let
| his mother cook the breakfast Dur
| ing the day the old woman tried to
do the work but she had become used
to doing before the fire. Besides, she
missed the hum of the little working
| bee. The house was permitted to get
dirty, and things that the old woman
had before kept in repair were wear
ing out. Peter found that his mother
so disliked to get up in the early morn
ing that he learned to cook the break
fast himself. But he did not like do
ing so and liked the breakfasts he
cooked still less.
One morning who should come up
the walk but Anna. Peter, radiantly
happy, went to meet her. Leading her
in, his old mother put her arms around
the girls neck.
And then and there a marriage was
arranged to take place soon, but not
too soon for Peter.