The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-02-28
ONCE A NIHILlST.
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER IN THE
ASYLUM AT STEGLlTz.

He Was Drawn to Assassinate the Czar,
but Refused to DO the Deed-venGesncs
of his Old Comrades--A Devoted Sweet
heart and Wife.
In the blind asylum at Steglitz, a short
distance from Berlin, there lives n man
who until recently was as mysterious a
parsonage as the famous "Man of the
Iron Mask" Certain persons high in
authority made application for apart
ments at the asylum which should be
worthy of a wealthy occupant. He APP
peared short time after, accompanied
by q beautiful woman, who was ad-
dressed 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 bear
ing. About the face of the man was a
linen mask, with an opening opposite the
mouth and nostrils, which was never re-
moved in the presence of attendants. He
sat in dark room, to which the servants
were rarely admitted, 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.
. THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
Rumors were rife, as was natural, and
many ingenious stories constructed to ac-
count for the strange Imprisonment, But
the mystery has at last been solved, and
the MAN of the linen mask" proved to be
the hero of strange and touching tale.
A year before the death of the late czar
of Russia, although the scion of a high
and mighty family, the young nobleman,
like so many of his class, became inter-
ested in 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 dreadful deed fell to
him. The news staggered him. His oath
to the car Thoughts of his people and
the attendant disgrace influenced him
and finally deferred him. he refused to
commit the crime. a year passed by.
Another revolutionist 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 greet a
lady upon the opposite side, something
was dashed into his eyes, and in a mo-
ment the light of day had gone. His
mouth was deformed, his cheeks burned
and disfgured. 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, but the injury
was beyond reparation, and the doctors
aid in vain.
A wOMANs HEROIsM.
The government had confscated his
| estates upon learning of his revolution
airy sympathies, but restored 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 fance. She
was a countess and the daughter of a
house as famous and powerful in Russia
as was his own. She was heartbroken
when told of the fiendish act, and the
meeting between the lovers was touching
| in the extreme With sorrowful heart,
he offered to break the engagement and
make her free again. But the brave
woman refused, and declared that she
would remain with him till death took
her away. And they were married in
the little church on the old estate, at
tended by their relatives and friends.
And on their 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 devotion and prays
for the day when the afflicted nobleman
can again look upon her face.-Cor.
New York Tribune.