The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-01-22
THE MIRROR.

Rena Yeoti was to be married to
Johan Tephold. Rena was pretty as
Il 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 process
sion to the little church an officer OF
the law stepped UPS 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 convict. Her lover. con-
WINGED 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.
Rena in prison fell into stupor. She
hardly knew when 1t was day and
when 1t 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 sudden
thought came over her-a thought with
which was allied heaven born hope.
Her beauty-would she destroy 1t?
What use would it ever be to her?
f,Jtr
the lover who had come so near being
her husband occurred to her. In ten
wears 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 If she sue
ceedcd? Suppose Jchan were still
without 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. mirror. Often they would
plead with their iailers for the coveted
glass. but 1t was never granted them
AS the years passed Rcna more and
more longed to see reflection of hel
features She asked her fellow pris
oners If her comeliness were growing
less. The most kindly Of them told he1
that she was every day more beauti
full A few inhuman beings told he
she was growing homely. Which
should she believe? Oh, for bit o
mirror. even the tiniest. to get on
glimpse of her face!
Rena was seventeen when she wa
sentenced and had served nine year
without ever having had that glimpse
Her hair had been cut when she er
tered the prison and was not Ion
enough for her to see 1t. One day
hair came out in her hand 1t wa
white She pulled out another. 1t. tot
was white. They were all white.
, prison official came along the corridor
: She stretched forth her hands an
with streaming eyes implored him
bring her for just one moment mi
ror He shook his head and passed oil
The tenth year had half passed an
Rena was looking forward to freedol
and possible vindication when or
day an official came to her and toll
2 her that the girl who had committe
| the crime was dead and before hi
death she had confessed all to prizes
AS soon as the formal legal paper
e could be executed the innocent or
. would be permitted to leave the priso
Then came word from Johan that
y had loved Rena always. though he ha
/ believed her guilty. He had tried
. conquer his love. but 1t had grow
stronger each year. He would not
? free to come to her till the next da
: but he would come then.
;, Rena dreaded the meeting. Wht
her lover would see that her beau
had gone, that her hair was white,
: would surely turn away from be
: She did not ask for a mirror now; 81
dreaded to see what her face was lik
!. She would wait and note by her lover
II expression when he saw her whether
!, was pleasing or disagreeable.
: The hours till he came were hours
II torture. She had but little hope tn
: any Of her beauty remained and b
j lieyed that her face was as wrinkl,
as her hair was white. But wait. s.
would see what 1t was in Johan's eye
= She sent word to him to bring a m
ror when he came.
Johan was there at last A jail
came to Rena's cell and said she W
wanted. He led her to a receipt,
room. where she stood alone. A do
opened. and n man with grizzly h,
and habitual melancholy stamped
his face entered He stopped. look
at Rena eagerly as though confus
between two pictures-pictures of t
then and the now. Presently pie;
urable expression began to steal ov
his features as Il pleasing dawn ris
in the sky. and. starting forward.
took her in his arms.
"My-my"-she sasped-"is 1t
gone Johan? For the love of God t
me. and tell me TRULY
i vt is different. sweetheart The
e