Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-06-11
MEGNON
BY MILDRED WHITE.

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
2f The leeming street outside: For the
queer shop was in basement of an
old stone city building, and through
Its humble doors came often those
known to fame, ~--ot:es:sa;;4 -. '-',''
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 10
but one customer at a time, as MS
wo lderfully correct costumes were all
of ais own making. Actors came mere
for particular work, and now, motion
picture actors and actresses as Weii'
ami little Mignon, monsieur's only
daughter, possessed certain skill IL
mcnding and Transforming for new
roles, garments which her father haa
made.
Mignon's life as a child was happy.
Her energetic French mother hao
hustled about the shop then-ano
made pretty playthings for Mignoh
from bits Of leftover satins. Wheh
the young mother was gone forever,
the father had been most kind, ana
Mignon in her effort to comfort ana
help him had almost been happy
again. Ihen-the stepmother came
1t vas difficult to believe in the STEP
mother; to realize that another won,
an boldly filled her own mothers
place. And like an olden tale that
Mlgnon had read, the stepmother mao
daughters of her own and brought
them with her to the home rooms just
behind the shop, which Mignons .
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 Il seemed that he had forgotten
his French daughter in his tireless
assistant. The stepmother formed a
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'
NAV have aroused some jealous de-
mon. 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,
"T1 we could but have the face OF
Mardnet's silent daughter to portray
such or such part"
But Mignon, high on her window
seat, bent over her fairy stitches and
word ordered-wondered- it was al
ways to be so-the music and laugh
ter Of young people in the evening be-
hind the store, and She-wOrkine
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 Mlgnon
struggling TO finish sewing a long,
long seam, fell asleep and dreamed q
dream
It was she, herself, wonderfully
transformed Mignon, who stood and
bowed from the stage which her peo'
pie were watching. And all about
eager faces were upralsed. and friend
" hands applauded. Mignon saw her
self with flashing eyes and loosened
hair going through each role; now
She was fhe little Tady Babbie," and
nsw-she was driving home in her
own closed car, to beautiful place.
where books and flowers and all the
thirgs which she so loved pervaded.
Lucy and Lucille came to her there,
and strangely respectful was their at
tihtde The stepmother, too, laughed,
but not so sarshly, and exclaimed:
"Who would have thought it of the
brown wrenr'
Then, all in a pleasurable excite
ment, Mignon laughed herself, and the
musical sound awakened her to con-
sciouSnesS.
WELL" said a man who stood lean
ing over the counter, II thought you
never would wake up. I've come for
my waistcoat."
And Mgnon who had known the
friendly actor for some tirSe. although
her shyness had not allowed her to
speak much to him, under some influ-
ence born Of her dream, came near
and told him all about it. Even, she
loosened her hair like Lady Bsbbie
of the play, and laughed at him
through It's veil to show exactly how
it should be done.
"By George" cried the movie idol,