The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-11-25

Ambrose Thomas's opera 'Mignon,
just been given in the Opernhaus i'll
Berlin. 4 famous cnntutrice had taken
the title roIc, which she had rendered
so sympathetically that. at the en- OF
every scene, the house fairly rang with
enthusiastic applause. During the
evening the singer was called before
the cartain several times. and the audi
ence let the theatre in a state Of CON-
plete satisfaction.
Walter Engler. a youny painter Of
great merit and considerable renown,
had several times broken OFT with
Wonderful" ''Splendid." Although
he was thoroughly satisfied with the
rendering, there was, as he left the
Opernhaus, deep shadow of unrest
and dissatisfaction on his face; and as.
with his friend, he walked along Inter
den Linden towards Friedrichstrasse.
the shadow grew deeper.
when, oh. when shall l find the
model for my Mignon?' he murmured.
"Iy Mignon..' said his friend, aston
ished; and then he added, kindly,
"Good-night.'
Some months earlier Engler had been
much moved by the reading Of "Wll-
helm Meister," and had become pos
sessed by the wish to paint Mignon.
He made up his mind that his Mignon
should be striking one, and altogether
out of the ordinary. He was resolved
not to smear tie canvas with one Of
those ordinary, inexpensive faces such
as are met by the dozen in Friedrich
strasse and can be seen to saticly in
the galleries of the various picture ex-
hibitions. In his own mind he had
conjured up picture of Mignon such
as Goethe intended her, but it can
scarcely be said that he hoped to find
his vision embodied. Nevertheless day
after day he hoped and waited for For
tune to send some one across his path
who would at least bear so much re-
semblance to his dream as to be of use
rs model for the picture which was
TO be his masterpiece. He could al
WAYS work much more steadily and
with more satisfaction when before him
he had model who, to some extent at
least, resembled the creature Of his
dream SO far bis search had been in
vain. and all his disappointment had
been awakened 10y the opera. That
was the cause Of the cloud Oh his brow.
1t was cold, wet evening in Novem-
ber For hours an icy rain had been
falling steadily, and had covered street
and sidewalk with that indescribable
mixture which is neither mud or water,
and which is so well-known to dwellers
in larger cities. 1t is more treacherous
than ice and dirtier than mud, and in
London is known as London particu-
lar In the thick, heavy atmosphere
the street lamp burned dimly; even the
ell, ctric lights were no longer brilliant
and penetrating.
Engler walked hurricdly 10y, desiring
to get out of the depressing weather,
and in the shelter of the beer house to
meet tue friends with whom he had
made an engagement. After the o. era
it was his custom to sit and chat for
an hour with friends before turning
| homeward. The Pschorrbrau. at the
corner Of Franzosschcn-stra was the
meeting place, and, just as Engler was
about to turn into the doorway. a troop
O youngsters-boys and girls crowd
ed around him with wax matches
which, in Tie evening, the Brrlincr has
thrust under his nose at every turn by
dirty, ragged urchinS who e,n, roe from
the lowest parts Of the city To drive
their trade
please hnv some wax matches,
! Graf They light you up stairs. Will
burn for five minutes. Won't vou buy
this box? 1t is my last
Theartist was stormcd and prtitioned
from all sides He gave IA few coins to
the children. and was just stepping
into the doorway Of the restaurant,
when his eye fell on a eirl standing
shylv apart in the full glare Of the cleo
tric light.
'.Mignon!" burst from his lips
He beclloned the child to him. She
went hesitatingly. Two big black eyes
eyed the painter questioningly, as he
looked her over The child's unkempt
hair was as black as her eyes. The
contrast with the marble whitsneSs of
the face was striking in the extreme.
She was between thirteen and fourteen
years of age, and very poorly clad, but
not ragged and dirty like the rest.
"Do YOU sell wax matches, toot'
asked Englcr.
Yes, sir
"Ict me have Them