The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-06-05
AN EXPERIMENT..
From the Christian College Chronicle.

e II editor laid aside his blue pencil as he
took up a manuscript signed "Mignon."
1t was a poem, a sweet song, rich in coloring and
pure in tone. 1t was written in a careful Spen-
cerian hand, delicately shaded. This was long
ago. The editor muscd, looking-dreaming-
past the waiting pile of manuscript on the desk.
For a year he had corresponded with "Mignon."
1t was two years since he had first accepted her
poems. This woman's soul was pure and beau
tiful and for this he loved her. Weeks ago he
had even asked her to become his wife. He re-
ceived a fattering reply which in his eagerness
he read as favorable to his wishes. The letter
closed thus: 81 cannot promise you my love,
when you have never seen me. l am Mary. 1t
is "Mignon' who writes the poems and also the
letters. Then it is that l forget that l i'm
MARY.
81 have never seen her. Next week l shall
go-I shall see "Mignon," murmured the editor
as he laid the poem with the accepted.
The little editor feared that Mignon would
be disappointed when she should behold him for
the first time. He was small and so slender that
his coats seemed always to hang in folds. But
when one looked into his face, he was reminded
of the pictures which the masters have painted
of the beloved disciple. No one had told the
little editor of this.
AS he went home in the evening he rejoiced
in the return of springtime. The flower girl at
the corner was overwhelmed with joy when he
purchased all her flowers, the ~daffodils, the
jonquils, and the sweet violets. AS he took the
flowers his glance fell upon his frail white hands.
A feeling of disgust with his physical i~nsignih-
canoe passed over him. When he dropped into
the leather chair in his own room he was dis
couraged, and felt that the JOY of the springtime
was not for such as he.
Dinner time passed and the night came.
Weary of his own bitter thoughts he slept and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT that Mignon was homely.
He saw q raw boned woman, and the voice he
heard was harsh. He awokc and lay in a cold
perspiralion with the gaunt spectre of his dream
haunting his soul. Sometimes he could not
believe NTignon like this but he knew that it
was possible. Forgotten was the little EDITORS
fear that he might not find favor in the eyes of
Mignon. He would disgust her with himself.
For his first appearance he carefully selected
most unbccoming garments. There was a
Prince Albert coat shiny across the back and
hopclcssly frayed in front. He allowed his hair
to grow long on his neck, and his collar was low.
He wore a large tie of an appalling shade of
blue, illustrated in a conspicuous design of horse
heads and crossed riding whips. His trousers
were short and bagged at the knees. He wore
low shoes run down at the heels, and a derby
hat which crushed his ears outward.
In this disguise which would have concealed
the EDITORS identity from his most intimate
friend, he walked up the pavement before the
lived and taught Latin and Greek. On thu
little white bed Mary lay, weeping. A musi,
teacher raped at the door and heard a muAlec
Come" in answer. care you not ready
What's the matter? Are you ill dear?"-sur
prise melting into tenderness when Mary lifte'
her tear stained face, and cried
"I'm so homely-not plain-just ugly I!
The Principal of the school had glanced i
through the half open door, and now her arm
were around the weeping girl.
"Dear child, you must not feel that way
We all love you, and you are beautiful to u: