The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-21
THE MIRROR.


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 an officer OF
the law stepped up to Ttena and laid
a rough hand on her shoulder she,
the groom, the peasant attendants,
stood aghnst But the officer. never
faltering in his duty, led her away and
locked her up in cell.
Instead of becoming bride Rena
1ecame 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 word of either sym
pathy or reproach from him. Only her
poor mother befriended her, wept over
her encouraged her.
REM in prison fell into stupor. She
hardly knew when Il was day and
when II was night. she hardly
thought. After awhile she began to
realize her position. She raved ara
tried TO dash out her brains against
the wall of her cell But sudden
thought came over her--a thought with
which was allied heaven born hope.
Her beauty-woud she destroy It?
What use would It ever be to her?
Then 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, 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 We're still
without n sweetheart? All, then she
would need her beauty. She would not
mar 1t by striking her head against the
wall
From that moment her looks were
all TO her But there 0'as no way of
watching It TO note II 1t waned. One
article of toilet was denied the women
prisoners. n mirror. Often they would
plead with their jailers for the coveted
glass, but II was never granted them.
AS the years passed Rena more and
more longed to see reflection Of her
features. She asked her fellow pris-
oners IL her comeiness were growing
less. The most kindly of them told her
that she was every day more beauti-
full A few inhuman beings told her
she was growing homely. Which
should she believe? Oh, for q bit of
mirror, even the tinlest. to get one
glimpse of her face!
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 It, One day a
hair came out In her hand. II 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 streaming eyes implored him to
bring her 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 n possible vindication when one
day an official came TO her and told
her that the girl who had committed
the crime was dead and before her
death she had confessed all to a priest
AS soon as the formal legal papers
could be executed the innocent one
would be permitted to leave the prison
Thep came word from Johan that he
had Eed Resa always. though he had
believed her guilty. He had tried tc
conquer his love. but 1t had grown
stronger eafh year. He would not be
free to come to her till the next day
but he would come then.
Rena dreaded the meeting. When
her lover would see that her beauty
had gone. that her hair was white. he
would surely turn away from her
She did not ask for a mirror now; she
dreaded TO see what her face was like
She would wait and note by her lovers
expression when he saw her whether Il
was pleasing or disagreeable.
The hours TIL he came were hours oi
torture She had but little hope thai
any Of her beaHty remained and be
lleved that her face was as wrlnkled
as her hair was white. But wait. She
would see what it was In Johan's eyes
She sent word to him TO bring a mir
ror when he came
Johan was there at last A jailel
came TO Rena's cell and said she was
wanted. He led her to a reception
room. where she stood alone. A dool
opened. and man with grizzly hail
and habitual melancholy stamped OF
bis face entered. He stopped looked
at Rena eagerly as though confused
between two pictures pictures Of the
then and the now. Presently pleas
urable expression began TO steal Owe
his features as a pleasing dawn risei
in tae sky. and. starting forward. HI
TOOK her in his arms.
sMy-my"-she sasped-'is 1t al
gone. Johan? For the love of God tel
me, aud tell me truly"
'It is different. sweetheart. Ther'
Is a splendid contrast Of young fac'
and snowy hair. Here. look for your
self