Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-05-14
IvlIGNON
BY MILDRED WHITE.
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union,


brown bird, upon the tall show case,
in -he queer old shop. 1t was from
here only that she could catch
glimpse through a small high window
of the teeming street outside. For the
queer shop was in basement OF an
old stone city building, and through
it's humble doors came often those
known to fame.
Old Monsieur Martinez, who had
crossed the seas and settled there so
many years ago, had gained a unique
reputation, as a costumer in his own
small way. Monsieur would attend to
but one customer at time, as his
wonderfully correct costumes were all
of his own making. Actors came here
for particular work, and now, motion
picture actors and actresses as well;
and little Mignon, mOnsieur's only
daughter, possessed a certain Skill in
mcnding and Transforming. for new
roles. garments which her father had
made.
Mignon's life as child was happy.
Her energetic French mother had
hustled about the shop then-and
made pretty playthings for Mignon
from bits Of leftover satins. When
the young mother was gone forever.
the father had been most kind, and
Mignon in her effort to comfort and
help him had almost been happy
again. Then-the stepmother came.
1t was difficult to believe In the STEP
mother; to realize that another wom-
an boldly filled her own mothers
place. And like an olden tale that
Mignon had read, the stepmother had
daughters Of her own and brought
them with her to he home rooms just
behind the shop, which Mignon's
mother had made so pleasant. And
as time went on, 1t was the daughters,
Lucy and Lucille, who enjoyed the
privilege of music lessons, pounding
out their scales upon her mothers
dearly bought piano.
Lucy and Lucille also wore pretty
frocks and went to high school far
away on the street cars.
Monsieur was irritable now, too, al
most II seemed that he had forgotten
his French daughter in his tireless
assistant. The stepmother formed
habit Of making fun of Mignon's dark
face-perhaps Its piQuant resemblance
to the pictured face which monsieur
insisted upon keeping in the parlor,
may have aroused some jealous de-
men. But Mignon could not know
that. She could only regret, wistfully,
her own plainness.
There were those who, coming into
the shop, thought the shy, dark-eyed
girl appealingly attractive. Men OF
the stage who would go away saying,
"Tf we could but have the face OF
Mprtinet's silent daughter to portray
such or such part"
But Mignon, high on her window
seat, bent over her fairy stitches and
wor wordered-wondered 1t was al
ways to be so-the music and laugh
ter of young people in the evening be-
hind the store, and she-working
weary-eyed at accounts which never
would come straight. And one eve
ming when they had all gone merrily
together to the theater, Monsieur Mar
tinet, one of the party, little Mignon
struggling to finish sewing long,
long seam, fell asleep and dreamed q
dream.
It was she, herself, wonderfully
transformed Mignon, who stood and
bowed from fhe stage which her peo-
pie were watching. And all about
eager faces were upraised, and friend
ly hands applauded. Mlgnon saw her
self with flashing eyes and loosened
hair going through each role; now,
she was the little Lady Babbie," and
now-she. was driving home in her
own closed car, to beautiful place,
where books and flowers and all the
tqhiIgs which she so loved pervaded.
Lucy and Lucille came to her there,
and strangely respectful was their at
llltue. i lue SltplllOlucl, loo, iouSfSu,
but not so harshly, and exclaimed:
"Who would have thought it of the
broVn wren!"
Then. all in q pleasurable excite
mont. NIignon laughed herself, and the
musical sound awakened her to con-
sciousness.
Well" said man who stood lean
ing, over the counter, 81 thought you
never would wake up. I've come for
my waistcoat."
And Mignon who had known the
friendly actor for some time, although
her shyness had not allowed her to
speak much to him, under some infiu-
ence born of her dream, came near
and told him all about it. Even, she
loosened her hair like Lady Bebbie
of the play, and laughed at him
through its veil to show exactly how
It should be done.
"Ry GeorreI" cried the movie idol,