The Beautiful Unknown

• Watchlist

In the little kingdom of Transylvania, the young Prince Ferdinand, heir to the throne, causes great uneasiness among his ministers because of willfulness and lack of appreciation of his position. The Prime Minister and the Prince's mother fearing that he will continue his wild pranks and evil habits, become very anxious to have him marry. Thinking to find a suitable mate for him, they invite the three daughters of the King of Bosnia to attend a grand ball to be given in honor of the Prince. On the arrival of the many guests at the Royal Palace the young Prince Ferdinand is found to be missing. The three Princesses have journeyed many miles to attend the ball and to meet the young heir, thinking perhaps to win his regard, are greatly disappointed that after being introduced to them he showed no interest whatsoever, and left immediately and did not appear at the ball. Yona, the eldest of the Princesses, finding that Ferdinand has slipped away with his chum to visit the opera house, where he might see ballet dancers, persuades one of the ministers lo guide her to his box. Yona, seeing that Ferdinand was greatly interested in the performance, and not being observed, returns to the ball. The next day she decided to appear on the stage before him as an unknown dancer, so securing admission to the stage, she persuaded the ballet master to allow her to appear. That night she dances before the Prince, being advertised as the Beautiful Unknown, and Ferdinand, greatly attracted by her personality and clever dancing, determines to meet her. Seeking out the ballet master, he repaired to the door of her dressing room, but Yona refused to be seen. Ferdinand not, however, to be defeated in his desire, commanded her to appear at the Royal Palace on the morrow and dance at the Great Fete in the gardens. Yona succeeded in returning to the Palace in secret. The next day at the Fete she slipped from the Palace garbed to dance as a woodland nymph and when her turn to appear came she danced about the fountain with furious abandon. The court, seeing Ferdinand fascinated by the dancer, remonstrated with him, fearing that he would cause another scandal, but Ferdinand, not heeding them, rushed to the fountain to see the Beautiful Unknown at close range. As Yona saw him rush in, she threw off her disguise and Ferdinand recognized her as the Princess of Bosnia. Seizing his cloak, he placed it about her to cover her from the view of the guests and they, recognizing her also and being overjoyed to find that the Prince had fallen in love with a Princess, left them to explain to each other in love's own language.