Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-25
THE "w AN OF THE LINEN MASK,
The Perils OfNihilism and she RerO1sm
 ofa Russian Countess.

The FeF1lB Of N1h11t8m ana Sn0 Eae aefO1Bm ofa Russian Countess.
 In the blind asylum at Steglitz, short distance from Berlin, there lives a man who until recently was as mysterious parsonage as the famous "Man of the Iron Mask" Cer- tain persons high in authority made applica- ton for apartments at the asylum which should be worthy of wealthy occupant. He appeared short time after, accompanied by beautiful woman, who was addressed as his wife. The man was tall and we'll made and dressed in the night of fashion, with hands that betokened gentility of birth. The wom- an was young and aristocratic in looks and bearing. About the face of the man was a linen mask with opening opposite the mouth and nostrils, which was never remov- ed in the presence of attendants. He sat in a dark room to which servants were 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 fur | ther than the fact that they were from Rus | sia. Rumors were rife, as was natural, and l many ingenious stories constructed to &C.,
 count for the strange imprisonment. But l 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 nigh and mighty family, the young nobleman, like so ! many of his class, became interested in the 1 trials and hopes of the nihilists. Time and | ssociartion made him one of their ardent | sympathizers and assistants When the mur l der of the Emperor was planned, unfortun- | ately the execution of the dreadful deed fell | to him. The news staggered him. His oath
 bound him to the nihilists, his family ties to | the Czaa. Thought of his peoble and the at l tendant disgrace influenced him and finally l. lor IL. I, a-S~, He had forgotten almost that he had been | nihilist, but not 30 those whomhe had for
 saken. Passing along one of principal | streets of St. Petersburg, when about to greet | a lady upon the opposite side, when some.
 thing was dashed into his eyes, and in a mo
 ment the light of day was gone. His mouth was deformed, his cheeks burned and dishg
 ured. It was the work of 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 inj jury reparation and was beyond doc
 tors aid in vain. The government had confis l cated his estates upon learning of his revolu
 tionary sympathies, but restored them il | part when informed of the fate which hat | overtaken him. The mask was placed upor
 his head, for hewas unpleasant to look l upon.
 But the heroism of one woman was shown l the heroism of his 6ancee. She was @ count
 ess and the daughter of a house as famou
 and powerful in Russia as was his own. Sh
 was hssrt-broken when told of the fendisl
 act, and the meeting between the lovers wa touching in the extreme. With sorrowfu l heart he offered to break the engagement an , make her free again. But the brave woma
 refused and declared that she would remai with him until death took her away. An they were married iu little church on tn
 old estate, attended by their relatives an ! friends. And on their wedding day the
 started for the blind asylum in Stegliti
 where they had hopes of restoring the poe 3 mans sight. And here his wife attends hil
 with unfailing devotion and prays for th l day when the afflicted nobleman can agai | look upon her face