The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-04
THE PEARL NECKLACE.
How Louis, Duke Of Bavaria,
Won His Talented Bride.

@2UTR and Hope, two American girl trav-
H@zsR elers, were recently wandering through
ElAAS1 the grand old art galleries in Munich
- with their escort, a Bavarian lady OF
rank and high culture Standing in the Gypto.
theca before the exquisitely carved lay figure OF
''The Dead Pearl Diver'' Hope sighed and said,
''What is the costliest pearl worth when bought
by The sacrifice OF a human lile?"
yet yonder approaches a lady," said Nine.
Stahl in low voice. 'who measures a husbands
love by those she now wears, and with some,
love Is worth more than life."
They turned 10 encounter asmall party near
edlY The most beautiful woman they had seen in
Europe. der complexion was deli
cate as the inner petals of a Basanquet
rose-a pale pink, rarely seen III nature,
aud almost impossible 10 produce by arti-
ficial means. Her lips of deep carnation; small
and eXquisiiely formed teeth; eyebrows OF the
darkest brown, with eyes of deepest blue, and
hair III soft, silky masses, glimmering like bur-
nished gold, made UP a combination rarely seen
elegant but very modest street apparel was
necklace of pearls, evidently OF much value, the
clasp OF which seemed riveted upon her neck.
with that necklace" said Nine. StahI, is
luterWoyen one Of lle prettiest romances OF this
prosaic age. The lady was until recently Miss
Mendel oil Augsburg, an actress, who, amid all
The perlls temptations and unusual successes OF
her theatrical life, has preserved a reputation
for virtue and honest worth as unsuled as her
beauty. All this so deeply impressed The heart
OF Louis Duke of Bavaria, that from the moment
lie first beheld her on The Stage OF the Munich
he cbuStCIdteu HlIlSeI 10 the Worship
of this one earthly idol. But Miss Mendel, con-
sclous OF her great talent and its responsibility
Knowing also that the imperial family OF Aus
ira expected great things from bis alliance with
scion OF nOblty-resisted every overture on
the part of the Duke, even that of marriage.
She wore al that time arelvet neckband with
clasp Ornamented by a single pearl literally
of great price, which had been presented TO her
BY the king OF Saxony, and in order to quell all
hope in the bosom OF her princely sutton she
laGshiugly declared 10 him one day touching
The clasp: MY Lord, have vowed 10 bestow
my heart and hand on him alone who can match
THIS single pearl with as many like il as Will
form the whole necklace"
" Bah" interrupted Hope. "She was mer
ceDary and frivolous"
I" Not So" said Nine. Stahl, earnestly She
loved the Duke-and lie is gallant man-wiih
all the strength Of her ardent temperament, but
knowing that the difference In their rank would
be an lnsurnouutable obstacle 10 their union,
with dellcacy equal to her power OF self sac
rlhee. she raised tins, as she thought, impossible
barrier-impassable, because the Duke, with his
eXtTayagant habits, lived fully up TO his Income.
she laughed still more merriiy when she noticed
the dlsconsolaie expression on MS countenance,
but the laugh was only on the surface, as she
realized the impossibiliIy of his executing such
an hercnlean task.
"a week passed without her seeing him, when
she heard that, having sold his horses and
broken up his establishment, he had gone TO live
in the strictest retirement in small cottage be-
longing TO The park OF his brother, the Emperor
Extraordinary whimi' she exclaimed, yet that
very night, when about to complete her toilet by
placing the velvet band upon her neck, she
found 10 her great surprise that second pearl
had been most mysterously added TO it. Her
heart told her well enough fiom whence il came.
but with the thrill OF pleasure was also one
OF sadness at the needlessness of the sacri-
tce she felt sure Duke Louis was making
Tor her sake. BY degrees the velvet band be-
came covered with pearls, each one riYaling in
beauty That bestowed by the King OF Saxony,
but they might have been placed there by fairy
fingers for all that she ever saw of the donor.
zone night while on he stage, IN scene where
she was thrown In prison. news was privately
brought her that her dressing-room had been en-
tered, aud the narrow collar with It's priceless
pearls had been stolen. Notwithstanding The as
sdrance OF the Chief OF Police, who happened
that moment 10 be IN the theater. that lie al
ready had cew TO the thief and would find
him in few hours, poor Miss Mende was so
overcome by the shock that her memory
failed her so that, returning to the stage.
she found 1t impossible 10 recall one word
OF her part. Tie large audience, knowing
nothing OF her loss, waited for some time IN as.
toDishment al her unusual silence. She gaZed
upon them in pitecus embarrassment until re-
membering suddenly that she had her rehearsal
copy in her pocket she unhesitatingly drew it
folth and with wonderful selfpossession began
to read. Her amazed auditors knew not whether
10 laugh or to be angry; but soon memory.
pathos, forgetiulness OF all but her art returned
to her, and In the utterance Of one of the most
impsssioned sentiments OF her speech she Inn
pulsiyely tossed her rehearsal copy into the
orchestra and went on with her part ike one in-
spred My husband, who was present, says
that the enthusiastic applause Of the audience
WAS so Il emendous the monstrous chandelier in
the center OF the roof Ybrated like pendulum.
Returning TO her dressing-room, the reaction OF
"Wnen she aroused 10 consciousness 1t was to
find Duke Louis at her feet and the head Com
mlssaire standing by her side
'Take courage, Nam selle,' said the latter.
'the pearls have been found
".Where are they2 Have none been stolen Z?
Are you sure not one is missing?
None said the Duke The necklace Is now
as complete as my love aud DEVOTION claspng
around her beautiful throat the string OF almost
matchless pearls no longer sewn on to the
velvet collar, but strung with symmetry ana fast
ened with diamond clasp.
" Did she marry him?" the girls, womanlike
asked with bated breath.
"0f course. He had spared neither labor. nor
sacrrce to attain his end. His love had de-
veloped all the highest manhood In him. Did he
not deserve her? His sister, the Empress,
moved by his manly courage suggested the nomi-
nation OF the bride-eect TO the title OF Baron
the frances and enabling them marry without
difficulty. The DUKE took his bride to little
chatean on Lake Stahnberg where they live
most retired. beautiful and useful domestic life.
This is the first time that i have seen the
Duchess in Munich since their marriage, which
was attended with unusual pOmp and Splendor.
Rumor says That she never puts of her necklace,
round by the name Of Fairy Perlina,' from the
old German legend of the magic pearl, and
moreover, like poor Desdemona
Ter love does so approve him,
That all he says. and does, and thinks,
Has grace and favor in them"
The gir-travelers turned from "The Dead
Pearl Diver with the feeling that this little cpl
sode OF the gossip OF an hour would be gem,
pure as a pearl, in their after memories of day
III OLD Munich. NELLIE BLESSING EYSTER.
49, al, !.