The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-03

stand on end with horror; II was lua III
the arms Of her tutor.
Here was the key to the mystery re-
garding the alteration in the girl. Love
was the enchanter, who, with his magic
wand. had touched the maiden ard
changed her in a moment. The tutors
ideal of woman had been sweet. moo
est. gracious, domestic being. The gill
had loved him from the very.outset CT
their intercourse, and at once she had
nodded herself into his mode. What
wonder that his. heart had caught fire
from the radient eyes of his fair pupil,
and theX became affianced loves almost
before they knew it!
The mother, however, had VIZ 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 came 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 history of the conflict between
the mother and daughter. The end Of
the story only concerns u.s. Ida at last
consented to give up her lover, but ct
the same time she made VOW that she
would accept the first sutton that came
to WOO her. He came quickly in the
person Of doctor of law called Pfeffer.
a man twice Der age and as dry as one
of his own law books. He could have
been no congenial mate for a bright.
impulsive, quick-witted girl, tslt Ida
was true to her VOW, and at once ac-
cepted and married him. What was in
the mothers herat when she bcheld
her finished work there is no record to
say.
The marriage was in every way I'M
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 soon wore away. He
was very eXtravagant, and, moreover,
managed his worldly affairs extremely
| i'll; he got into debt, and money grew
more and more scarce in the family.
The time came at length when Nine.
| Pfeffer literally did not know how to
| pay for the barest necessities of life
E. |, III, I I,
band left her and behaved in way at
once cowardly and heartless.
| Ida Pfeffer's conduct at this trying
| period was brave and noble in the eX-
| IRENE. She did not accuse her husband :;
| she maintained dignified silence about
him; no breath of SANDER ever touched
| her regulations; she was a devoted
mother. and even went without food
| herself if only her children might be
| 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 Pfeffer. Her hus-
band died, and she was free from {;
| heavy chain. Her brother was able to
help her with a 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 hel
name.
Comparatively without money, with
out any of the appliances and. aids tc
travel, in an age when female travellers
were extremely rare even in Europe
she took long voyages alone. She pene
trated alone into then almost unknown
lands; she dwelt alone amid savage
tribes. We see her in dense South
American forest, led by an Indiar
guide, who suddenly turns upon her
and nothing but miracle saves he1
through the intervention of passing
traveller. We see her wrapping herselt
in her cloak and calmly lying down to
sleep on the deck of a vessel in a terrible
storm; we see her surrounded by {
crowd of cannibals and averting death
by well-timed joke. Approaching age
and infirmities did not damp her course
or her thirst for adventure. Her chill
dren lmplored her to rest under theil
loving care; the government of he1
country, which for some years had
recognized her as one of the most re.
markable women of the age, even for
babe her to leave her native land: but
1t was all in vain; she stole away and
again engaged in some dangerous dis
tant journey.
At length the last earthly wandering
came for Ida Pfeffer. According to her
usual plan of concealing her projected
travels, she slipped away one day from
her family and took ship for Madagas-
car, which island at that time was in 2
very disturbed state. A queen reigned
there who was peculiarly hostile to Eu
ropeans. She siezed Nine. Pfeffer. to-
gether with a few more travellers. ant
put them in close confinement. Fol
some time they fingered in an I'M
healthy prison, with the fear of death
hanging over their heads; but they
were at last liberated, and Ida Pfeffel
and her companions enjoyed once more
freedom and safety.
These blessings, however. came toe
late for the courageous old traveller
Her health had been shattered by tht
hardships and suspense of that rigorou.
confinement in that trying climate
She journeyed back to her native lanC
and died peacefully in the arms of he
son. She has left for herself a fail
chapter in the history of woman.-N. Y
Ledger.