The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-03-18
Or MASKS.

death ana desOlht0n IN all directions, yet the oil
cers OF the law failed entirely in all attempts to
bring them to justice. The members Of this fear
FIJI league were reported to be young men Of good
family and the leader was described by common
report as man Of noble presence soldier.lke bear
ing ard most indomtsbe courage Uined to mind
dark and cunning and Heart That vas stranger
10 reuIOrsc or pity.
This fOrmida bic band was known faf aSl vide as
the ''back Masks" for all accounts agreed 10 dos
crlbing them rs clothed completely in black, and
having their faces covered with black lhasks. How
ever the mystery surrounding them was dissipated
and their deYdstati0n3 brought to a termination,
by the Incident am about TO relate.
There lived in the period to which / refer in the
suburbs Of LOuYanc, a worthy curate, Father
Geryaisc by name, and with him resided the son Of
an only sister some time deceased whose education
Father Gervaisc had superintendent and whose
manhood he watched with almost fathers care.
Growing up, therefore, under the very dome Of the
church, it is not surprising that Julian MOntressor
early displayed feelings and sentiments alculated
to inspire in his uncles ardent hopes that he would
in time embrace the church as q profession, and
great was the worthy curate's disappointment when
the youth grew to manhood without expressing any
determination to that end but still, determined not
to influence him in the least, the good priest kept
his own COUNSEL satisfied at all events his nephcw's
feet would never EOr5ake the straight and narrow
path.
At tho time ofthc occurancc Of the incident am
about to relate, Julian had Just entered his TWEEN
ty first year, he was tall nearly if not quite six feet,
well formed, With face that from hasty glance
w9uld have been pronounced ethinertly HiAdsOme,
Eut upon careful examination an expression might
have been traced that would have caused m inyo-
untary shudder to creep over the hchOdcr He
was also well educated, accomplished and agrecableJ
so that his company was eagerly sought, more es.
pccialy by those ladies having marriageable daugh
ters One thing in relation to his nephew troubled
Father GeTaisc, and that was his very frequent
and prolonged absence at night; but as he always
had some plausible excuse, even that ceased after
while to occasion any uneasness, and the uncle
and nephew lived in undisturbed harmony.
One evening in the month of February they were
seated together in the comfortable library of Faith
er Gervaisc's residence, enjoying the warmth Of
blazing wood fire, when sudden summons came
for the curate to attend the deahbed Of one of his
parshioners, who lived at 4 considerable distance.
Without moments hesitation the curate ardse |
from the soft cushions Of the ann chaiF in which he
had been reposing gathered tn. folds of his cloak |
about him, and SCI off
The wind blew fercely in his teeth, and dreary
seet drove in his face, hut STILL with stout heart
Father Gervaise kept on his way, and in about an
hour arrived at his destination. He was Just in
time to administer the last rites and consultations
TO the dying, and after remaining about half an
ing survivors, he set out On his return Fain Would
his parshioners have prevailed upon him to remain
until daylight, holding FORTH by way of induce
ment, the dread of an encounter with the "black
Masks" but only smiling at their fears, and bid
ding them an aifectionate farewell, h, departed.
The night was far advanced and the way very
lonely but Father Geryaise's heart was a stranger
to fear and he strobe ON bravely as though in broad
daylight. At the start, indeed he felt the cold
damp air kceny, but by degrees even that was for
gotten as he be, ne wrapt in thought.
lie had walked perhaps mile, when suddenly
he startled from his revere by the gathering of
what seemed like troop Of horses. Pausing, he :
looked arOund he could nothing but still heard
distinctly the sound, and this time it drew nearer
Presently however, coming round turn in the (
road at full gallop, party Of about dozen mon, c
mounted on fleet stoeds, dashed past him, and thrO
the darkness Father Gervaise was just enabled to |
that each rider wore over his fnce r
black mask.
80 have actually seen tic famous and inra- s
nous black Masks" he thought as he once more [
continued on his way; and he went on contcmpla- =
ting how much he should like to bring the rogues
to Justice little thinking how soon he was to play Il
IN important part in that very act. He had not "
proceeded many steps further, BEFORE passing -
house, he was aStOnished to see light burning, ID
md the door wide open. Conjecturing at once, 81
hat this had been the scene Of one Of the mid Il
light exploits of the bold robbers, Father Gervaise
ntered, and his suspicious terribly confirmed d
" finding stretched in death, across the main bs
assagc an age man, whom he at onco recognized nc
5 the master of the house. Duly pausing to as
lre himself that life extinct, the priest passed al
n into the main apartment, from which o strong m
ght issued when what was his horror and dismay -,
finding the wife likewise brutally murdered, her ~
Ody lying beneath the table, VC
Sickencd at the fearful sight the curatc was a. u,
)ut to hurry out and alarm the neighborhood
hen his attention was attracted by strange CUR ca
ing sound proceeding from the chimney place. tn
boxing in the direction indicated, his blood cur
ed for an instant, his presence of mind entirely
rsOOk him, for there he behed hanging in sight pr
pair feet which gave several conVusive move III
cnts, the gurgling sound still continuing Re q,
vcring his sclfposscssion, however, Father Ger :"
Use rushed forward and found the female domes an
of the anily suspended by the neck in the last in,
onios of DEATH 70 sezc knife that luckily lay q.
ar, and cut the cord that held her. was the work O'
an instant, but some time elapsed afterwards be- an
re he was enabled to restore her to sufficient con- of
Ousness to give an account Of the circumstances -
tending this horrid deed. Tux
Tho poor girl, on recognizing the good curate, for
overcome with strong grief and hiding her face mr.,
her hands, wept bitterly and for long time re- F'
3ed to give an account Of what had transpircd.
last being earnestly entreated she with many 7
)s told how the black masks, some dozen in num-
+, had broken into the house and murdered the
.ster and mistress in cold blood; she herself had
ind temporary safety by hiding behind the fire.
lrd AMI fancying their work of death accom- an
She'd the ruHans proceeded to ransack the house Tr
search Of gold, which was well known the aged ia
lple kept secreted in the building. Having sue -
dcd in their search, they returned to the room the
ere she was hidden, in order to divide their boo nov
and having seated themselves around the table, lon
y all removed their masks, except tho leader; and
Door girl began to relato how through crcv- lin.
in the fre-board, she recognized the counte gar
ice of every one of the robbers that were un- Il.
sked and to tho horror and amazcment Of the ''h
ner, disclosed the names OF young men Of the TO
hest families before unquestiOned. So eager ser,
the girl become in prosecuting her scrutiny, tr |
Veyer that leaning too heavy against the screen,
ell forward. The robbers sprang to their feet init
instantly replaced their masks; then the lead con
i with frigbt bv the neck. Thew consulted stOr
" consulted together as to tho manner of her the
th and concluded, with q savage laugh, to hang tor
by the neck in the place she had chosen to Sc
% herselfin. Moved by dispair at hearing this cou
Idgul doom pronounced, she made one vain effort will
rec herself and in so doing managed to displaco ,
musk from the face of the chief, and as in a 'SS'
milling voice she repeated the name Of that man, aOo
good curac turned white death and fell pros fiee
Q upon his knees with hands raised to heaven. Ia
namc'she uttered was that of Julian MontTcs- ~
his own mucl-bel6ycd nephew, and so minute
her description Of fhin.that he could not but be o
hcea o. .V su'h ~ gr t sSa'ogv t th o ever
,e6se AZ iustiee and duty to his fellow men told who
at once whatcoucse he must persuc so, calming at
ssfas we'll as he was able, he listened to the re-
lder Of her recital as to how they executed their
nls threat and how then she forgot all things nOlS