Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-28
ROBBED OF HER REASON.
Suicidal Ending OF Loves Young
Dream
A North River Mystery Explained-Crsxed
by the UBaeeoantable Abxenee Of Her
Lover, Beautiful Girl seeks sur
cease OF Sorrow.
IL. Y. Morning Journal.l


heres" exclaimed an elderly gentlsmaa
between his sobs, as be gazsd on the
corpse OF the beautiful girl in the Morgue
that was found lying on the shore in Ho-
boken.
" Yes, yes; the poor child is my nieceV
the old gentleman continued, land tsat
scoundrel is the cause Of this early
DEATH"
About eighteen months ago there came
to quiet, sleepy village in Germany
young man, well educated and accom-
plished, who ives known there as Gustave
Hillon. In this romantic spot resided
Elsie Won Molitor, by far the prettiest girl
in the borough. Her bright-blue eyes,
soft and liquid, her perfect complexion
and long tresses of dark, wavy hair,
caused her 10 be much sou ght after by the
sons OF the - Stradroths" there.
She was the daughter of a notary, whose
public life brought him affiuence.
Elsie, when but a child, was CAREFUL
trained by competent governess. She
budded into womanhood beautiful and ac-
complish ID. When but cighte IA years old
she was brought out" and played sad
havoc with the hearts OF all the young men
ia the neighborhood. Her beauty was cell
ebrated by rural poets and extended TO dis
tant towns, from which came gallants to
meet her. Even the students OF Heidelberg
caught the fever. and in their wine toasted
''the fair Elsie, the daughter of the notary"
But none were successful in their en-
deavors to capture the beauty till Gus
tave Hilen, of the Heidelberg University,
appeared.
Highly accomplished, well-dressed and
handsome he soon was introd ICED 60 the
village beauty. Where others had t led
and failed he succeeded. Ht sweet tenor
voice when warJling those old German
gems was too much for the fair Elsie and
she melted the icy exterior that she had
hi b erto borne and was lost.
The friendsh p between the two lasted a
year and was then broken by Hillen, who
said that after taking his degree at the
university his father desired him to travel
on the Continent for two years
"Then, sweet child, we will married be-"
said he. When he sa d this to the nearly
broken hearted girl she sobbed as she
thought of the long separation.
Vows of constancy were mutually
pledged and promises of daily letters CIV
EN-. The good old notary, who had given
his consent to the suit of the young man,
also thought the son of a wealthy bur-
gomeister ought to finish his e lucation by
travel and did his best to consol his daugh
ter
For three months after his departure his
letters wGe regularly received and
cheered the waiting Elsie. After that they
! became less frequent, and finally, on one
dark, stormy day one came stating that
Hillen was about to visit America and would
sail for New York the day the letter was
mailed. That was the last the poor de-
serted girl heard from him.
After waiting long for some news from
her betrothed, Elsie began to fade an /
rapidly her health failed. So i'll did shs
become that her father decided on the ad-
vice of a physician, to send her to this
country, where she had an uncle, living in
Philadelphia, by the name of Heinrich
Won Moliter, who was in good circum-
stances.
With more spirit than she had shown for
nearly O year, she interested herself in the
voyage as the day of her departure hast
ened on. Her exc tement was too great
for her feeble health and she was taken i'll.
Four weeks the terrible brain-fever ia yed
IN her head before hope was entertained
for her life. When she finally became
| convalescent at her eager desire the post
poned voyage was undertaken and her ex-
pected arrival cabled to the Philadelphia
uncle.
In due season the neice greeted the uncle
and was made as comfortable as her rest
less spirit would permit. Her uncle in
dulged her every caprice, with hope that
she would soon forget the absent Gustave.
Just when he thought he had succeeded be
learned one morning. five months ago, that
his niece had fed from his house. Search
was made and the telegraph was used all
over the country, but in vain, Elsie was
lost. From Philadelphia she fed, it is
thought, to New York to search for her
lost lover.
How long this continued before her
money was gone can only be surmised,
but one day three months ago Leonard
Pfeiffer, n well-to-do butcher OF Hoboken,
entered an intelligence office in New York
to obtain girl. Elsie was there seeking
employment. Her sweet face made n
favorable impression on the good hearted
butcher, and without inquiring into her
history engaged her. In his house the ac-
complished end highly educated girl be-
came n servant, but was alw avs treated
with great respect and kindness.
Pfeiffcr noticed for several weeks that
the girl was very despondent, but said
nothing. A week ago she left his house
without warning. and until she was identi.
fed yesterday at the Morgue he had not
heard Of her.
But little doubt exists that the poor girl
surrendering finally all hope OF finding her
suitor. determined 70 die, and sought the