The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1913-10-17
She WOOed
Him
By =. A. Mitchell

Ehuktu ~. UlN tNtTs Nv " NllWiiuhks
she remains there. hoping to coaK him
to a better mluG The poor fellow can.
not treat her with the least discourtesy,
not has he the consolation Of being
able 10 turn her out AZ her friends In
sucff a ease would feel bound to Avenge
the insult Ills remedy. therefore. II
determined not to marry her, 10 70
leave his home and stay away as long
az she Is In II.
One day Peter Komienzoff. a bache.
Tor. living In the Ukraine with his moth
er, while doing some work about his
little place. heard q light step. looked
up. and there before him stood Anna
Avienietf, blushing and with her eyes
cast down to the ground.
What brings you 10 our cottage,
AnnH A~vienieffT" asked Peter, know
ing Ssry we'll what brought her there.
81 have come. Peter. to make you a
proposition"
II am busy today, Anna. and have no
time to listen to your proposition"
II will wait until you are at leisure"
She q 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"
y the contrary. ! am In better
health than for many years. don't
need any one 10 help me-"
Anna did not appear TO mind a rebuff
from the woman. though when Peter
had shown that he a 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 10 marry her son and that she
must not bee treated with discourtesy,
permitted her to sweep On. while she
herself attended to some baking for
supper.
At supper time Peter ca me IN. He
spoke to Anna and at the table Ia
careful TO serve her from every SiSh.
After supper he went to his room.
where he spent some time. and when
he came out he carried a leather bag.
III am sorry, Anna. to have 20 leave
you. but | must go away for awhile.
My mother will be- glad to have you
with her during my absence. Goodby.
mother. Be good To Anna"
Anna colored. but made no cOmmeni
OH this action. which she knew was In
tended TO get rid Of her. Peter'put out
his hand. saying goodby: hut. pretend.
Ing she did not see Il, she turned and
vent into another room. Then Peter
Eel away.
The customs OF Ukraine may be dir
ferent from other places. but the femi
nine constitution IL the same every.
where. Anna Avienien did not relish
the rejection OF her suit. but she made
no complaint. She had II strong
point in her favor In having possession
OF the premises. and possession IN 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 10, fearing that Annn's
brothers would hold Peter accounta BILE
Anna did most " the work during thai
day, and the old woman, having little
to do, sat by the fireplace and doEed
This continued every day for a month
Peters mother gradually sinking int
an easy life.
On the morning Of the thirty-hrst
day after Peters departure his mother
awoke and did not hear the sound Of
preparation 10 which she had grown
accustomed. Neither did Anna come
into her room with a basin OF water
for her. at usual. The house wa per.
fectly still. The old woman got up
and looked In the kitchen. No one
was there. The dre had rome out
She went 10 Annals room and looked
In. Anna was not there.
There was nothing for II but TO get
her W breakfast and do the usua
cleaning. Besides, IL was wash day.
and the laundering must he done.
During the day she sent for Pete- 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 be was Obliged 10 let
his mother coOk the breakfast Dur.
ing the day the old womnn tried 10
do the work. but she had become uasd
TO doing before the ire. Besides. she
missed the hmm OF the little working
bee. The house was permitted 10 get
dirty, and things that the old woman
had before kept In repair we're wear.
Ing out, Peter found that bis mother
so dlsllked to get up In the early morn.
ing that he learned To cook the break.
fast himself, hut he did not like do
ing so and liked the breakfasts he
cooked still less
One morning who should come up
the walk hut Anna. Peter. radiantly
happy, went Ia meet her. Leading her
In. bis old mother put her arms around
the girls neck.