The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-07-23
THE KOs0N MIRROR
It's Charm Brought Happiness to
Lovers Who Had Parted.
BY THOMAS c. WILKES.


per Syndieate)
Ruth Chisholm snuggled down in the
denths of her most comfortable arm
chair and looked long at the photo
graphs held in either hand.
One pictured Arthur Merwin's in
,ellectual face, fair and light-eyed,
with heavy sweep of pale hair
brushed back from his high forehead.
The other showed Lynn Frary's blunt
4 or features-dark, good looking, with
keen brown eyes and heavy black
N brows.
Arthur's chin lost it's strength by
the merest fraction, Lynn's was square
and determined. The former had
money and social position; the other
sas the American agent for firm in
Japan. Beyond his salary Lynn had
few expectations.
Lynn was thousands of miles away
4 in Tokyo. Arthur was firmly estab-
ushed in his fathers business in
4 New York.
The night before Arthur had pro-
posed to Ruth, and that very morn
ing she had received Lynn's letter de.
n claring his love and asking for her
answer.
which," she asked herself. Her
heart answered, Lynn" Ambition
suggested Arthur's name. Ambition
won,
So letter wended its way over land
and sea to reach Lynn Frary in a
N fairylike bungalow in the suburbs of
. Tokyo. He was sitting on the veranda
when Ruth's letter was handed to him
and he held it unopened in his hand
" for long time, his dark eyes bent
musingly on the ground.
1t was a thin letter-but why pro-
long the agony of suspense? He tore
open the envelope and read the few
lines of regret.
Engaged to Arthur Merwin!"
Then the cryptomerias at the end
Of the garden became dark blur be-
fore his eyes. He muttered at his
own weakness and, examining the let
ter into his pocket, called his ricksha
boy and went down to the dull round
Of daily duties.
Months passed and Lynn heard no
further news of Ruth Chisholm until
one day he received bundle of New
york noucnonorc opd mood tba& .I,o
was soon to be married to Arthur Mer-
win.
He must pick out wedding pres
ent for her-for the girl he loved who
was going to be another mans bride.
Lynn drew a deep breath and squared
bis shoulders. Well, other men had
been through the same bitter expert
ence; he was game too.
His quest led him to the shop of
Japanese friend, Sen Aru. Amid
ehaos of worries, bronzes, bits of cloi-
onne, and fine porcelains, Lynn was
bewildered.
"A wedding gift for a friend?" re-
peated Sen Aru, a noble-looking old
han.
Lynn WINGED. Something very nice,
Zen Aru," he said. THE very incest
Ding you have in the shop"
The Japanese looked keenly at his
fiend
The very incest thing l have in
Pc shop would be this Koson mirror"
Re brought forth from a sandalwood
@ox a round hand mirror of highly pol
pied steel set in a frame of carved
Worry.
Lynn uttered gasp of admiration.
That's quite the finest thing I've
Pen" he muttered. Il must have it."
Sen Aru nodded shrewdly. Some
me, if you will honor my humble
pop and drink tea with me, l will
u you the history of that mirror"
Thank you, will. Now, if you will
ck it carefully I'll get it down to
pkohama. A steamer sails tomorrow
San Francisco-it should reach
ew York by the 18TH"
And the wedding day is?" ques-
pned Sen Aru.
March rs, believe. Here, please
my card in with it. Here is the
dress to which it is to be sent"
i will send it with immediate dis
tch," promised Sen Aru.
he watched Lynn leave the shop
ne shook his head sadly.
Such a splendid young man-and
pwn so thin and worn with unhap-
pess. 1t must be this woman who
hurt his heart. Perhaps the mir
OF Koson will cure the hurt, who
pWs? Only the gods can tell"
several weeks later Lynn dropped
n Sen Aru's shop for the promised
OF tea and the story of the Koson
fror.
pen Aru's onyx eyes became points
entering light as he poured the
and served little rice cakes to his