The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-11
Heat Of Pearls.

A loud burst of applause greeted the
famous singer Olympia as she finished
the queens song at the Gaiety Theater.
OF Olympia's origin nothing was known.
though there were many stories circulate
ing about her. The one which gained
most general credenee portrayed her as
a great lady who had been drawn ire
sistibly from a high social position TO
| the stage. and thereupon disowned BY
her family. The only certainty felt about
her was that her reputation was ire
proachable and that she kept the scores
of adorers constantly rotating about her
at a respectful distance.
When the song ended the queen re-
tired 10 throne TO receive the homage
Of the subjects in the play. 1t was a
sumptuous. procession which passed be-
fore her in gorgeous costume. Each sub
ject as be passed his queen stopped.
bowed and then moved on to make room
for the next. One among the number had
excited her interest and her sympathy.
He seemed different from the others; his
bearing was dignified, his face refined,
his manners perfect. That he had suf-
fered some misfortune she felt as sure
as that he was worthy of something bet
ter than an humble part in a fairy opera.
When the play was over she pointed
him out to the manager.
"Who is that man?' she asked
"A poor devil named Chateiain,'' replied
the manager. There are hundreds like
him, doing this kind of work for francs
a day
The manager was mistaken. His ''p0or
devil Chatelain'' was in reality a Spanish
gentleman named Juan Rordiguez de
Penaflor. Born in Madrid, raised in the
midst OF luxury, he had inherited at his
parents death an enormous fortune.
Through bad mana cement and extrava-
gance this had gradually been reduced
until only a small part remained. This
Juan thought to use in the only way he
knew as a means of redeeming the whole
at the gaming table, and here he lost all
that was left to him.
TWAS at this time and under these cir
cumstances that he fell in love with
Olympia. The very hoDelessness of Is
passion deepened it, and ne worshiped her
as a Greek might have worshiped a god
dess. 1t was through his love that the
greatest temptation of his life came TO
him.
On one of the most freauented boule-
wards, in a jewelers. window, he had no.
ticed an exquisite piece of jewelry-a
heart of pearls-and from ,the moment
his eyes fell upon it ne had longed to
possess it in order to present it to his
queen as a token of his alteration.
One day the heart was gone from the
window and Juan could see it inside the
shop, lying with many other pieces, on
the counter He stepped inside. where
several people stood looking at all sorts
of beautiful things displayed by the jew
eler.
The heart of pearls was pushed little
away from the others: the people were
not looking his way; his hand stole out
and slowly moved toward the cherished
object. He turned cautiously to make
sure he was unobserved and looked
straight into the face of Olympia, the
singer, who was standing just behind
him.
Il saw you and followed you in," she
continued. Il have wanted to speak to
you for very long time. 1 am sure that
you can find something better than your
present position at the Gaiety. If you will
take my card to Roberts, the theatrical
agent, L am sure he can find you some
thing more suited to you," and she drew
a card from her pocketbook and wrote
an address on it with a little gold pencil
and handed TO to Juan.
He managed TO stammer his thanks and
she left him without knowing what she
had saved him from.
Sleep did not come to Juan that night
Looking over his next morning paper
his eyes fell upon the following an
nouncement:
Don Jaime de Penahor who died re-
Gently at Madrid, has left his entire for
tune to his nephew, Juan Rodriguez de
Penafior, who left Spain some years ago.
Every effort is being made to find
him"
The beautiful singer Olympia had just
returned to Paris from a successful tour
Through Europe and every seat in the
house was sold for the opening night.
When the actress opened her dressing
room on the table lay large bunch of
lilies of the valley. and beside them a
small jewelers. box. She opened it and
saw lying on white velvet a beautiful
heart of pearls of exquisite workmanship.
The name on the card was strange TO
her-"Don Juan de Penafor''
After her last triumphant appearance
that evening q card was brought to her
bearing the same name
Il will see him. she'said to the boy.
When he came she recognized him IN
stantl- and it was her turn to be con-
fused.
You are not NJ. Chatelain?" she said.
"NO, mademoiselle; l have come to my
o"u name again, he IepIieu, SIMPLY
"but 1 have never forgotten your kind
ness"
4 must thank you for your gifts"
said Olympia. The flowers 1 will keep.
but the pearls I must ask you to take,
as I cannot accept them. They are much
too precious for a singer who thinks only
OF her art
IF Olympia cannot accept them as a
singer. can she not DO so as the prom
ised wife of the Marquis de Penahor?"
At the close of Olympia's Paris engage
ment a simple wedding took place a a lit
tie suburban chapel, covered with ivy.
The bride carried lilies of the valley and
her only ornament was a heart Of pearls
From the French.