The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-12-03

80 a'o'fN ~ ~ y
wonder that his heart had caught fire
from the radient eyes of his fair pupil.
and they became afflanced lovers almost
before they knew it!
The mother. however, had very differ
ent views for her daughters future. The
tutor was poor, and his birth was OBJ
scure: she at once forbade him the
house, and commanded Ida never to
speak to him again.
Then anne a time of terrible anguish
for the girl, whose strong nature could
do nothing by halves. and she had
emphatically given away her whole
heart.
There is not space here to enter into
the whole historyof %theconhict between
the mother and daughter. The end of
the story only concerns US. Ida at last
consented to give up her lover. but at
the same time she made a VOW that she
would accept the first sutton that came
to voc her. He came quickly in the
person of a doctor of law called Pfetfer.
a man twice her age, and as dry as one
of his own law books. He could hayN
been no congenial mate for a briggs
impulsive, quick-witted girl. but n
was true to her VOW and at onceAaAVA,
cepted and married him. What was inI
the mothers heart when she ljeheld'
her finished work there is no record to
say.
The marriage was in every way un.
fortunate. Several children were born
to the pair. but the affection between
them did not increase: there was no
real sympathy for each other in either
heart or mind. DR.. Pfeffer might have
been proud of the physical attractions of
his young wife, perhaps, at first, but the
charm of novelty 500 wore away. He
was very ~eNtravagant. and, moreover,
managed his worldly affairs extremely
i'll; he got into debt, and money grew
more aud more scarce in the family.
The time came at length when Nine.
Pfetfer literally did not know how to
pay for the barest necessities of life
for herself and her children; her hus-
band left her and behaved in a way at
II c cowardly and heartless.
Ida Pfeffer's conduct at this trying
period was brave and noble in the eX-
IRENE. She did not accuse her husbands;
she maintained a dignified silence about
him; no breath of SANDER ever touched
her reputation; she was "A devoted
mother, and even went without food
herself If only her children might he
fed. She looked up to God. and was
TRANQUILITY cheerful even in her sorest
need.
As years went on things grew gradu-
ally brighter for Ida Pfetfer. Her hus.
band died, and she was free from a
heavy chain. Her brother was able TO
help her with n little money: her chill
dren grew up and were all gaining their
own livelihood. Then there woke within
her the longing for distant travel.
which for years she had repressed, and
she determined to satisfy it.
Then followed that series of wonder.
full journeys which have signalized her
Comparatively without money. with
out any of the appliances and aids to
in an age when female travellers
were extremely rare even in Europe,
she took long voyages alone. She pene-
alone into then almost unknown
she dwelt alone amid savage
We see her in a dense South
American forest. led by an Indian
guide, who suddenly turns upon her,
and nothing but a miracle saves her
the intervention of a passing
We see her wrapping herself
In her cloak and calmly lying down TO
,leep on the deck Of a vessel in a terrible
we see her surrounded by a
,rowd of cannibals and averting death
~ a well-timed joke. Approaching age
md infirmities did not damp her course
Or her thirst for adventure. Her chilli
lren implored her to rest under their
owing care; the government Of her
country. which for some years had
recognized her as one of the most re.
harkable women of the age, even for
,ade her to leave her native land: but
t was all in vain; she stole away and
Igain engaged in some dangerous dis
ant Journey.
AT length the last earthly wandering
for Ida Pfeffer. According to her
lsnal plan of concealing her projected
%ravels, she slipped away one day from
Ter family and took ship for Madagas-
which island at that time was in
cry disturbed state. A queen reigned
here who was peculiarly hostile TO En-.
opeans. She siezed Nine. Pfeffer. to-
.ether with a few more travellers, and
nut them in close confinement. For
ONE time they fingered in an un-
prison. with the fear Of death
over their heads; but they
we're at last liberated, and Ida Pfeffer
nd her companions enjoyed nee more
reedom and safety.
These blessings, however, came too
ite for the courageous old traveller.
Ter health had been shattered by the
and suspense of that rigorous
onfinement in that trying climate.
he jourzeysd back to her native land
nj died peacefully in the arms OF her
On. She has left for herself a fair
HAPPIER IN the history Of woman.-N. y