The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-07
THE LOVE STORY
OF MARGUERITE.
Now That the Dowager Queen
of Italy Seeks Retirement,
All the World Relates
Her Romance.

recalls to historical Stuuelll' oiiG " .iiS
prettiest ron,ances of the century. 1t is
a simple love story. but one so deeply IN
teresting that it appeals to The senumen-
tai and the conventional mind alike. To
tho Italians it is the one absorbing topic
and the one which they best love 10 dis
cuss. 1t is the story of how Her Majesty
caused the late King Humbert to court
her even during the long years alter Their
marriage.
The Pearl of Savoy, as Marguerite IS
always called, was but slip OF sifi
when a marriage was arranged between
her and her cousin Unaerto, the Prince
Imperial Of Italy.
The younz. princess was but sixteen, ana
until she met her aftianced husband, inc
gallant Principe Unbe-to, she mad scarce
~ ever been in the presence OF a man
her own age.
The little princess straightway TELL IN
love with her dasn.ns cavalier fancee aud
made no slightest Dretense OF conceailnS
her romantic passion for her petTothed
husband.
And ali Italy knew that the Prince I'M
perial at the very moment OF the an
nouncement OF his marriage was con-
with whom he was madly in love. and TO
whom he had been dcvot-nS himself for
months
the court circle that the Pearl OF savoy,
the radian, little convent-bred princess,
thriyed i'll at the court OF Naples.
The princess was a neglected VIE. Aii
Italy looked for a natural sequence. livery
day Umberto could be seen. il one chose
to watch his coming and going, entering
the villa OF d young countess with Wnom
his name was constantly coupled.
In the outskirts OF Rome it was no
uncommon thing to pass the Prince I'M
perial driving with his biach-eEed manor
ita IN low phaeton behind a pair OF
Whit, ponies. Marguerite herself saw aef
husband thus. and with wonderful. nero
ism kept ilec own counsel and made no
sign
The Italians looked for an outbreak.
They predicted that Marguerite would take
her revenge.
But the neglected princess disappointed
the malicious and proved herself worthy
of those who truly pitled ana io'eu
't,---.
When the little prince vas born there
was rumor that Umberio had sought
ana received forgiveness from his WFonged
wife orc: stories of his tender interest in
the princess and his attention 10 her were
eagerly accepted by the Italians.
But when the princess vas abie again
10 take her daily drive she appeared az
before. with :. Iady-in-wa:tirS by her SIDE,
and only at public functions We're the roy
al pair seen together
Marguerite absorbed herself in her love
for i:e- son.
So time passed on ana Italy grew ac-
customed to the loveiiness OF the Queen
ana knew her as the beneilcent lady TO
whom the poor never appealed IN vain.
And all these years Marguerite. The neg
lected wife. loved her husband.
No breath of scandal ever dared to
come near the name Of the immaculate
wife.
The Italians. first amazed. then cyni-
cal. finally realized the tue valuo OF
the woman who shared their King 5
throne, and adored her.
When State occasions required his pres
ence with that Of the Queen, the aioso-
late idolatry OF the populacc for Queen
Marguerite was constantly before him.
Presently there cam 4 runlor from
note to the Queen ilumbly asking an in
viuation TO breakfast with Her Majesty.
THE FAMOUS BREAKFAST.
The Queen had forthwith sent Il prot
thy worled little reply. asking the honor
OF His Majesty's company to breakfast
tho following morning. The Queen, it
is said. arrayed herself in .pu-est and
Gaintiest white for this dejcuner a deux
and greeted His Majesty.
The King and Queen bTeakfastcd alone,
FOR the first time since their unhappy
honeymoon.
Ard the Court Cilron!cler tells how His
Majesty kissed the Queens white hand
VIXEN he bade her aoieu, and begged to
be invited again.
Umherto fell in love with his royal
consort. and in true Italian fashion he
ccurted her with unconcealed ardor. Day
after day the King and Queen were seen
driving 1ogther, laughing and chatting.
At the Borgnese-on the Corso-day af-
ter day, the delighted Italians saw the
royal pair, and marked with tumutuous
joy the tender devotion OF the monarch
TO mis- Queen.
And Marguerite blossomcd into Won
derfui lcyeliness, and became a veritable
coguette. Each day she seemed prcttier
than the day preceding. She wore he"
sonbre Qui,inal a-pace Of gayety.
The Queens laugh, like a si!very DELL.
would be heard at the Court balls. The
King. like the languis!lieg lover he Was
hung upon his lady's ishtest word. y
certain yil!;. was closed Indefinitely.
Its owner left Rome to- long Journey,
and never returned
And one morning the Queen OF italy
sent for one oc her ladies' III waiting. and
throwing her arms about her neck. said
TO her: ASK the Holy Virgin to inter-
cetle for me that I may deserve INV han
piness-tlle King loves me. [ am the
hapo:est woman il the world. - am my
husbands beloved Wife,.
AMI now in her declining years. she
retires to her palace in a beautiful
Italian village. surrounded with every
luxury. but G:sconsolate in the grief which
the memory os the tragic death OF her
lover-consort b-ings
she has divided her three hundred beau
tifui robes among the ladies Of her court
and those os her personal friends, whom
she desired to present with souvenirs CT
past happy days. To the young Queen,
whom size loTes as u real daughter, she
has given her iewelrr, and with these
acts Of sraciousneSS, Marguerite, the
nealtifu Pearl of Savoy, turns her back
10 the world aud its entertainments.
GREAT GALLANTRY.