Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-05-09
} "A HEART
! 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
circulating about her. The one which
gained most general credence portrayed
her as great lady who bad been drawn
irresistibly 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 retir-
ed to throne to receive the homage of
the subjects in the play. 1t was sump-
tuous procession which passed before her
in gorgeous costume. Each subject as he
passed before his queen stopped, boweI
and then moved on to make room for
the next One among the number had
excited her interest and sympathy. He
seemed different from the others; his
bearing was dgnifed, 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 humble part in fairy opera.
When the play was over, she pointed
him out to the manager.
"Who is that MANI" she asked.
"a poor devil named Chatelain," re-
piled the manager. There are hundreds
like him, doing this kind Of work for 3
francs a day"
The manager was mistaken. His poor
devil Chatelain" was in reality Spanish
gentleman named Juan Rodriguez de
Penaflor. Born in Madrid, raised in the
midst Of luxury, he had inherited at his
parents death an enormous fortune.
Through bad management and extrav-
agance this had gradually been reduced
until only 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.
1t was at this time and under these cir.
cumstances that he fell in love with
Olympia. The very hopelessness of his
passion deepened it, and he worshiped
her as a Greek might have worshiped a
goddess. 1t was through his love that
the greatest temptation of his life came
to him.
On one of the most frequented boule-
wards in jewelers. window he had no.
ticed an exquisite piece of jewelry--a
J heart of pearls-and from the moment
his eyes fell upon it he had longed to
possess it in order to present it to his
queen as 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
| 81; aJ NV iaxxr-
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.
81 saw you and followed you in" she
continued. II have wanted to speak to
you for very long time. ] am sure that
you can find something better than your
present position at the Gaiety. If you
will take my card to Roberts, the theat-
rical agent, / am sure he can find you
something more suited to YOU" And she
drew a card from her pocketbook and
wrote an address on it with little gold
pencil and handed it 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 mornings paper
his eyes fell upon the following an
nouncement:
"Don Jaime de Penafior, who died re-
Gently at Madrid, has left his entire for
tune to his nephew, Juan Rodriguez de
Penaflor, 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 entered 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 the white velvet beautiful
heart of pearls of exquisite workman
ship. The name on the card was strange
to her-"Don Juan de Penaflor."
After her last triumphant appearance
that evening a card was brought to her
bearing the same name.
:. 81 will see him." she said to the boy.
When he came, she recognized him in
stantly, and il was Der turn to be con-
fused
"You are not NJ. ChatelainT' she said.
"No, mademoiselle: have come to my
own again." he replied simply. But l
have never forgotten your kindness"
II must thank you for your gifts" said
Olympia. 1.-The flowers l will keep, but
the pearls / must ask you to take, as
cannot accept them. They are much
too precious for singer who thinks only
of her art"
"lf Olympia cannot accept them as u
singer, can She not do so as the promised
wife of the Marquis de Penafor?"
At the close of Oympia's Paris engage
ment a simple wedding took place at a
little suburban chapel covered with ivy.
The bride carried lilies of the valley and
her only ornament was heart of pearls.
| ha