ROMANTIC LOVE STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROMANTIC LOVE STORY.

TWENTY YEARS' IDYLL. SINGER AND ROYAL HUSBAND. WIDOW'S DEATH AT 93. With the death in May of Countess Edla, morganatic wife of King-Consort Ferdinand of Portugal, tho curtain has fallen on tho last act of tho most romantic love story of tho nineteenth century. In 1860 a graceful singer mado her appearance on tho boards at Lisbon Opera House tn Verdi's " Hallo in Maschera," and from his box a king saw her and lost his heart. Tho singer was Elisa Ilcnsler, and tho royal suitor Ferdinand of SaxeCoburg, cousin of Prince Albert of England and consort of tho lato Queen Maria 11. of Portugal. The accession of his son Pedro V. to tho throne had released the Artist King, as he was called, from tho cares of State, and tho loss of his wife and tho mysterious death of three youngor sons had left him a lonely man. Adoring every form of art, ho met in Elisa a kindred spirit, and tho whim of a moment bocarno a lasting passion. Finding in Elisa a perfection of spirit oxccoding tho perfection of form that

first attracted him, Ferdinand resolved to brave tho Court, and public opinion and wed tho woman of his choice, .on whom tho title of countess was then conferred. Tho idyll thus begun lasted 20 years, tlio love between them daily growing stronger and more perfect. Tho first years cf tho couple were spent chiefly at Cintra, far from Court intrigues and tho buzz of tongues. There, in the " Glorious Eden " sung by Byron, in a wistaria-covered cottage, or at tho royal Pcna Palaco, perched like an eaglo's eyrie on tho summit of a crag, tho lovers passed their happiest moment. Although tho royal lovers fled from politics, it onco appeared likely that they would be called on to tako a prominent part in tho world's history. In tho course of the Spanish revolutions General Prim offered tho crown of Spain to Ferdinand, whose adoration for his wifo was shown by tho first condition ho discussed with tho Spanish delegates—that sho should receive tho honours due to a queen. Elisa, with truo foresight regarding tho possible effects on Portugal, persuaded Ferdinand to refuse tho offer. But evil days awaited Elisa. The King was attacked by a malignant disease, against which ho vainly struggled, striving to hido its ravages from his wife, now transformed into tlio most devoted of nurses. For years sho never left his side. Her beloved voice had tho power to sootho him when all other efforts had failed. And ho diod murmuring her name.

Ferdinand willed all his property to Elisa, but a campaign was waged' against tho " foroign prince's " action, and, with-

out raising a fingor, sho saw most of hor possessions taken. Tho Countess loft tho Necessidades Palace to retiro to a modest dwelling surrounded by a walled garden, and there for 40 years sho buried herself with memories of tho past. Much of her time was passed in a room containing a live-size portrait of Ferdinand. Facing this picture sho died, and before it sho lay in stato, surrounded by thoso who loved her. Tho Countess was buried on her ninetythird birthday. Only a handful of tho old aristocracy wero present, and tho fivewreaths on the bier woro from cx-King Manuel and his wife, Queen Amelio, Vian.na da Motta and Columbano. Tho outstanding note of tho simple funeral of tho woman who was almost a queen was provided by the crowds of women. They bolonged to a generation unknown to her, but the romanco of lon£ ago touching their imagination, and thoy gathered bearing flowers to lay on the gravo of tho woman who had loved groatly and been so greatly beloved.