Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-09-02
She Wooed
Him
By +. A. Mitchell

MVN the Ukraine. Russia, the
I8 woman does all the counting.
S~SI When she falls in love with a
AS& man she goes to his house
and informs him of the state Of her
feelings. If he reciprocates, all is we'll.
and the formal marriage il duly ar
ranged If. however. he Is unwilling.
she remains there. hoping to coax him
to a 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. II
determined not to marry her. is to
leave his home and stay away as long
as she Is in It.
One day Peter Komienzoff. a bache-
lor, living In the Ukraine with bis moth
er, while doing some work about his
little place. heard light step. looked
up. and there before him stood Anna
Ayienieff, blushing and with her eyes
cast down to the ground.
What brings you to our cottage.
Anna AvienieffT asked Peter. know.
Ing very we'll what brought her there.
1T have come. Peter, to make you a
proposition"
II am busy today. Anna. and have no
lime to listen to your proposition"
IT will wait until You are at leisure"
or. 11ko thu hny,oo and hQinQ
met by Peters mother. the old woman
asked her what she wanted
ITO help you with your work. You
are not 80 strong as you were formerly
and need assistance"
ION the contrary. am in better
health than for many years. l don't
need any one to help me-"
Anna did not appear to mind rebun
from the woman. though when Peter
had shown that he was disposed to
get rid of her she shivered q 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 Tor
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.
~ am sorry. Anna. to have to leave
You, but I must 60 away for awhile.
NV mother will be glad to have you
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
bis hand, saying goodby; but. pretend
Ing she did not see 1t, she turned and
went into another room. Then Peter
went away.
The customs of Ukraine may be dif-
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
40 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 ne
girl for usurplng her work. but dared
not tell her 80. 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 dozed
This continued every day for month
Peters mother gradually sinking Into
IN easy life.
On the morning of the thirty first
day after Peters departure his mother
lwoke and did not hear the sound OF
preparation to which she had grown
accustomed. Neither did Anna come
Into her room with 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 1t but to get
her own breakfast and do the usual
cleaning. Besides. 1t 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
-