The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-17
A NIHILIST ROMANCE.
The "cMan OF the Linen Mask and the De-
votion of His Wife.

Oeio Vi Ahic ~
Philadelphia Press.
In the blind asylum at Steglitz, a short
distance from Berlin, there lives a man
who, until recently was as mysterious a
Personage as the famous Man of the
Iron Mask" Certain persons high in
ments at f the asylum Sfpn Which should be
worthy OF a wealthy occupant. He ap-
peared a short time after. accompanied by
a beautiful woman, who was addressed as
his wife. The man was tall and well made,
and dressed in the height of fashion, with
hands that betokened gentility of birth.
The woman was young and aristocratic in
looks and bearing. About the face of the
man was a linen mask. with an
opening opposite the mouth and nos
trils, which was never removed in the pres
ence of attendants. He sat in a dark room,
TO which the servants were rarely admit
ted, and conversed with few. His food was
given to his wife, and the inmates of the
asylum knew nothing of their name and
history further than the fact that they
were from Russia. Rumors were rife, as
was natural, and many ingenious stories
constructed to account for the strange i'm
R= PrsS so,gsd But Bnd the the mystery ae Sf has fse at f; iast
Mask" proved to be the hero of a strange
and touching tale.
Agar before the death of the late Gar
of Russia, although the scion of a high and
mi @nSy fa az ny c Jne young ansm aG iDterasfsd hk Sn
the trials and hopes of the Nihilists. Time
and association made him one of their
ardent sympathizers and assistants. When
the murder of the Emperor was planned.
unfortunately the execution of the dread
full deed fell to him. The news staggered
him. His oath bound him to the Nihilists,
his family ties to the Car. Thoughts of his
people and the attendant disgrace in
fiuenced him n finally deferred him; he
refused to cOmmitth crime. A year passed
by. Another r~evolutionist had thrown the
bomb which he had declined to do and
Alexander was dead. He had forgotten
almost that he had been a Nihilist, but not
so those whom he had forsaken. Passing
along one of the principal streets of st.
Petersburg, when about to greetalady upon
the opposite side, something was dashed
into his eyes, and In a moment the light Of
day had gone. His mouth was deformed.
his cheeks burned and d~isfigured. 1t was
the work of a Nihilist, before whose
modern inquisition he had been found
wanting; vitriol had performed the work.
Mad with pain. he was taken to his home,
the doctors aid in vain. The government
had confiscated his estates upon learning
of his revolutionary eympathies, but re-
stored them in part when informed of the
fate which had Overtaken him. The mask
was placed. upon his head, for he was I'M
pleasant to look upon.
But the heroism of one woman was
shown, the herOism of his fiancee. She was
a countess and the daughter of a house as
own. She was heartbroken when told of
the fendish act, and the meeting between
the lovers was touching in the
extreme. With sorrowful heart, he
offered to break the engagement and
woman refused, and declared that she
would remain with him until death took
her away. And they were married in the
little church on the old estate, attended by
$1,000 49,
wedding day they started for the blind
asylum in Steglitz, where they had hopes
of restoring the poor mans sight. And here
his wife attends him with unfailing devo-
ton and prays for the day when the af-
face.