Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-18


wife.
Upon the loftiest summit OF this island
frowus the famous citadel prison. built
during the administration of Richelieu. and
there he was wont to send such political
prisoners a he desired to particularly iso-
late from the world. Here, too, more
lately, were confined the Arab chieftains
sent by the French government from Alge-
ria. The American traveller between
Marseilles and Nice Is pretty sure to stop
at Cannes. II only to obtain view OF this
historical island prsoJ.
But it is to relate to The reader a legend
which we heard at Cannes, while visiting
the town last year, that we have taken our
pen at this time; legend relating to that
world-renowned and yet mysterious pris-
oner The Man IN the Iron MASK. who
was, after some eighteen years close con-
iinement In the citadel prison al Ste. Mar
guerite sent TO the Bsstile for still greater
security during the reign of Louis XIV.
Many believe to this day tnat lie was
the Duke OF Nermandoise, a natural son
OF the monarch just named. some writers
assert that the prisoner was young for
eign nobleman. the chamberlain ofQueen
Anne. aud the real father OF Louis XIV.
still another historian tries to prove that
the Iron Mask was a twin brother 10 Louis
XIV. Certain il Is that every means was
the dark.
Among other things still related con-
cernlng the unknown prisoner Is thi'; The
officer who contiLually attended him ia
the daytime Ia the prison Of Ste. MarZu-
ente having absenied himself for few
moments. the prisoner hastily wrote sew
eral words upon one OF the silver plates
upon which his dihner had been served.
with the poiut Of his penAuife. and threw II
= n Int
the sea.
4 poor i,hetmsn. seein. il fall. secur-
Ell 1t aud brought 1t to the commandant Of
the fortress. He WAS at once eagerly
questioned a. to his ability to lead. and.
having assured the officer Ia command
that he could not read. he was allowed to
depart, 4 few days later however, ~.
dead body was found floating ia the neigh
borhood OF the island
| Monsieur de Bonpsrt was governor OF
the citadel from about the period ~ tiun-
when the Iron Mask MAS hr.t incarcrrat-
ed there lie hai one child. daughter
named victornc. then just emerging from
childhood to Womanhcod. and who grew
( up with he mys steTy around her Taken
from a convent near Paris 20 accompany
her father in bis Isolated hon-. shs "a.
nu, without education aud that romantic
spirit natural o. hvr age and srK.
NIrtotiue srrpr,.rutei TO have been
extremely lovely Boo person. one u th"sr
beautliai blondes ths DID master loved o.
paint ~th a lrugih 90 hair thtt would
have ti,Ai.d that of IAly Goisa. lt is
sai that Sheu sh- bsihrJ H "a. - long
Aft Aauudant a. D. form pa ir,t cloak 81
.s-vsA. suiifcy sufl .rlt ahsH nYNing
uli coed Asnal hrf 20 protect her frum
prN InK curiosity
Nlciurt.s. Nhrn .hr cane. temporarily.
ifum tir islAui o. thr ma.l-lalI 49,
sHusu by The people - ~ iru,s aa4
LsIHs rAsrrHr "a, ialy sltA thr bsauu
fi haf Bgt thi. charm va Duly aur 90
e her attfartlau-. The b,aait uf f,ature
a. rxtranrt.nary and ha. been pr,-+rg-
81 Ia painting representing - C.csia
nsii exhibited ia ths Oue c"uyert church
, fTpou ths lsiaGl. and polluted aut =" th-
visitor b. the mnnAs - - Francis, ~h"
are established here.
The h.sntifai daughter uf the governor
had seen The graceful figure OF the pr. r.-one'
ptoui~uAiin. AZ night upon The terrace Of
TIE fortress. aud also 81 worshlp la the
chapel. whrr- be Was forbiden 20 spcak
or u uncover bis face. when Ia a local
stale ui inpri.lonmeuf he wore only a
. black max ~ slk. but Whrn removed
from one place OF confinement 10 another
b be ~ore that famous IRON mask. so fA-tcn-
ed that be could not by any possible
means remove IT,
Victorian dc BOnpari observed that her
a father always treated him with the
greatest respect serving him bareheAd-
ed and standing; tokens too signihean,
TO escApe observation. particularly
from one who felt special Interest.
y His table service was OF massive silver.
and his dress OF the riches. velvet. He
also wore the finest linen and most costly
lace, after the fashion OF cavaliers of that
period. She had also accidentally heard
her father speak OF him one day 10 his
/, attendant a. the prince.
No wonder that the sad tae OF the pris-
oncr occupied 50 much OF herthoughts. i.-
olated as she was from the world upon
. that lonely prison island. Nc~onder that
I. his noble figure haunted hr dreams by
night
IL was the natural result oil such com
: bination OF circumstances. The rules OF
the fortress were Of the mot stringent
character, aud could not be dsegarded by
even Victorine dc Bonpart therefore she
was. seemingly, us much sparated from
the mysterious prisoner a. hough he had
been hundreds OF miles away
True. their eyes sometimes met In the
hour of service in the chapel He sang
beautifully. aud was a most killful per
former upon the guitar. This Vas almost
- his sole amusement. for the boks per-
- mitted him in his lonely cell wer'few. and
:. selected by others, who could Iot divine
- his taste. or If they knew II. wOsG. doubt
;. less, have totally disregardei the same.
. Constant practice had impared TO him
- great musical skill
"A At first Nictorine, auractedOy his per
- formance. climbed the steep 'ocks that
= formed the cliff side beneatifhe prison
y = window, and listened 10 his ongs with
growing interest.
Weeks aud months passed u until IL
= nally, in the pause of his lonG perform
- ance. she broke forth into a Nv, sweet
~ song for the captiye's ear.
'e He Was entranced, and now 0Iy lived To
Ii,ten for the return Of those sdhing and
"A inspiring notes from time TO the, when
:, Victorine de Bonapart dared o vepture
>. npon the almost Inaccessible df side Of
=, the rocks. Victorine was,V at his time,
n but IL years OF age; just the riod for
y. romantic attachment.
y Months passed in tins sentime al inter
change of song, until each learnt how TO
4. interpret the Others words and usic.
~. THIS course OF proceeding was.erhaps.
no. Bot so entirely delicate on the yo,g girls
na part as any one conid wish. but e situa.
~ ~, ton was such that she could ale make
any advarces. The Iron Mask " pris-
10 oner. asd in the closest confinemt.
n This WAS Victorines excuse.
=. The very atmosphere OF myste which
,r surrounded the prisoner but add.tO the
-. yonng girls interest In his ben. and
nd step by step she permitted herself prog
~ ress IN her tenderness for him. nd they
a had been enabled by certain pri,e sig
ID nails to communicate understandin. with
- each other. The actual means (which
,ic so closely guarded a prisoner was abled
~ , 10 do this we do not know, but II isertain
81 that 1t was all-sufficient for the rpose
he designed.
~ At last this young girl adopted tlbold-
~ est measures to prosecute her d9n of
meeting him whom she had now ae to
IN love SO dearly.
ch When locked up for the night titeys
%. OF the prisoners cell were left witHOn-
ID. sieur de Bonpart himself, to make re Of
en- the safety of the Iron Mask; but itss
| ,,..o.,s;oa NON, tar lovo ,i.h