Evening journal., 1908-11-17
THE MIRROR.

Copyright 1908. by American Press Asso-
ciaton.l
Rena Yeoti was to be married to
Johan Tephold. Rena was pretty as
n picture and was the envy Of all the
girls Of the village, and all the young
men envied Johan his possession Of
her.
But on the day Of the wedding as
the young pair were leading a process
sion to the little church On officer Of
the law stepped up to Rena and laid
a rough hand on her shoulder. She,
the groom, the peasant attendants,
stood aghast. But the officer, never
faltering in his duty. led her away and
locked her up In cell.
Instead of becoming a bride Rena
became a convict Her lover. con-
vinced Of her guilt turned away from
her when the judge pronounced the
sentence, and she went TO her prison
home without a word Of either sym
pathy or reproach from him. Only her
poor mother hefriended her, wept over
her. encouraged her.
Rena in prison fell into a stupor She
hardly knew when 1t was day and
when It was night. She hardly
thought. After awhile she began to
realize her position. She raved and
tried TO dash out her brains against
the wall of her cell. But a sudden
thought came over her-a thought with
which was allied a heaven born hope.
Her would she destroy III
What use would it ever be TO her;
Then a possible future reunion with
the lover who had come so near being
her husband occurred to her. In ten
years she would be free.
She knew that she was innocent and
she knew the girl who had committed
the crime for which she was accused.
/ But what could she. a prisoner, do TO
prove the real criminal? For ten years
her hands would be tied. Then per
/ haps she could begin TO weave the
thread Of evidence. And II she sue
ceeded? Suppose Johan were still
without a sweetheart? All. then she
would need her beauty. She would not
mar it by striking her head against the
wall
From that moment her looks were
all to her But there was no way Of
watching it to note II 1t waned. One
article of toilet was denied the women
prisoners. a mirror. Often they would
plead with their jailers for the coveted
glass, but it was never granted them.
AS the years passed Rena more and
more longed TO see q reflection Of her
features. She asked her fellow pris-
oners II her comeliness were growing
less. The most kindly Of them told her
that she was every day more beauti-
ful. A few inhuman beings. told her
she was growing homely Which
should she believe? Oh. for a bit OF
mirror, even the tlniest, to get one
glimpse Of her facet
Rena was seventeen when she was
sentenced and had served nine years
without ever having had that glimpse
Her hair had been cut when she en-.
tered the prison and was not long
enough for her to see II. One day a
hair came out in her hand. It was
white. She pulled out another. 1t. too,
was white. They were all white. A
prison official came along the corridor
She stretched forth her hands and
with strear'ing eyes implored him tc
bring heF-for just one moment mir.
ror He shook his head and passed on
The tenth year had half passed and
Rena was looking forward to freedom
and a possible vindication when one
day an official came to her aud told
her that the girl who had committed
= the crime was dead and before her
death she had confessed all to priest
AS soon as the formal legal papers
could be executed the innocent one
would be permitted to leave the prison
Then came word from Johan that hC
had loved Rena always. though he haC
believed her guilty. He had tried t
conquer his love. but It had growI
stronger each year. He would not bC
free to come to her till the next day
but be would come then.
Rena dreaded the meeting WheT
her lover would see that her beauty
had gone. that her hair was white, h'
: would surely turn away from her
She did not ask for mirror now; she
] NItAQtu ~ ret MndA htA AtlNt was lAAN
She would wait and note by her lover''
expression when he saw her whether 4
was pleasing or disagreeable.
The hours TIL he came were hours o.
torture. She had but little hope tina
any Of her beauty remained and be
lieved that her face was as wrinkleC
as her hair was white But wait Sh'
would see what It was In Johan's eyes
She sent word 70 him to bring a mir
TOR when he came.
Johan was there at last A jailel
came to Rena's cell and said she wal
wanted. He led her to a reception
room, where she stood alone. A doc
opened. and a man with grizzly hai
and habitual melancholy stamped oil
his face entered. He stopped, looked
at Rena eagerly as though confuse,
between two pictures-pictures Of thu
then and the now. Presently a pleas
urable expression began 10 steal owe
his features as a pleasing dawn rise
IN the sky, and. starting forward, b.
took her in his arms.
"Nly-my"-she gasped-"is It nj
gone, Johan? For the love Of God tel
me, and tell ne truly
1T IS different. sweetheart. Their
IS a splendid contrast Of young fac
and snowy hair. Here. look for your