The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-08-05
THE KOS0N MIRROR
Its Charm Brought Happiness to
Lovers Who Had Parted.
BY THOMAS @. WILKES.

Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicatel
Ruth Chisholm snuggled down In the
depths of her most comfortable arm
chair and looked long at the photo
graphs held in either hand
One pictured Arthur Merwin's In
tellectual face, fair and light-eyed.
with a heavy sweep of pale hair
brushed back from his high forehead.
The other showed Lynn Frary's blunt.
er features good looking, with
keen brown eyes and heavy black
brows
Arthurs chin lost its strength by
the merest fraction, Lynn's was square
and determined. The former had
money and social position; the other
was the American agent for q firm in
Japan Beyond his salary Lynn had
few expectations.
Lynn was thousands of miles away
In Tokyo Arthur was firmly. estab-
lished in his fathers business In
New York
The night before Arthur had pro-
posed to Ruth. and that very morn
ing she had received Lynn's letter de-
clsrlng his love and asking for her
answer.
which," she asked herself. Her
heart answered. Lynn" Ambition
suggested Arthur's name. Ambition
won
So letter wendell its way over land
and sea to reach Lynn Frsry in a
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.
II was q thin letter-but why pro-
long the agony of suspense? He tore
open the envelope and read tho few
lines OF regret.
Engaged to Arthur Merwinl"
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 newspapers and read that she
was soon to be married to Arthur Mer.
win.
He must pick out wedding pres
emit for her--for the girl he loved who
was going to be another mans bride.
Lynn drew a deep breath and squared
his shoulders. Well, other men had
been through the same bitter expert
ence; he was game too.
His quest led him to the shop of a
Japanese friend, Sen Aru. Amid q
chaos Of worries, bronzes. bits OF cloi-
some, and fine porcelains, Lynn was
bewildered.
"A wedding gift for friend?" re-
peated Sen Aru. a noble-looking old
man.
Lynn WINGED. Something very nice
Sen Aru," he said The very incest
thing you have in the shop
The Japanese looked keenly at his
friend.
The very incest thing l have In
the shop would be this Koson mirror. ="
He brought forth from sandalwood
box round hand mirror of highly pol
ished steel set In frame of carved
ivory.
Lynn uttered gasp of admiration
That's quite the finest thing I've
seen" he muttered. 81 must have It,"
Sen Aru nodded shrewdly. Some
time, II you will honor my humble
shop and drink tea with me, will
tell you the history Of that mirror"
Thank you, will. Now. II you will
pack 1t carefully I'll get It down to
Yokohama. A steamer sails tomorrow
for San Francisco--it should reach
New York by the 18th"
And the wedding day Isl" ques-
toned Sen Aru.
March rs, believe. Here, please
put my card in with 1t. Here is the
address to which 1t is to be sent"
4 will send II with immediate dis
patch" promised Sen Aru.
| He watched Lynn leave the shop
and he shook his head sadly
Such a splendid young .man--and