The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-03
THE MIRROR.

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copyright. 1905, by American Press Asso-
ciationl
Rena Yeoh was to be married to
Johan TephoId. Rena was pretty as
q 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 an officer OF
the law stepped up to Rena and laid
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
patty or reproach from him. Only her
poor mother befriended her, wept over
her encouraged her.
Rena in prison fell into a stupcr. She
hardly knew when it 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 n sudden
thought came over her-a thought with
which was allied heaven born hope.
Her beauty-would 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 70 weave the
thread of evidence. And If she sue
ceeded? Suppose Johan were still
without sweetheart? Alb. 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 was no way Of
watching 1t to note II 1t waned One
article of toilet was denied the women
prisoners, 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 d reflection Of her
features. She asked her fellow prls-
oners if her comeliness 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 bit Of
mirror. even the tiniest. to get one
glimpse Of her facet
Rena was seventeen when she was
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 1t was
white. She pulled out another II, toe.
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 a mir
rSF. He shook bis head and passed on |
The tenth year had half passed and |
Rena was looking forward to freedom
and a possible vindicati0n when one
day an official came 10 her and 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 he
had loved Rena always, though he had
believed her guilty. He had tried to
conquer his love, but 1t had grown
stronger each 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
1T |