Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-15
Once a NilliIist.

In the Blind Ass lum st Stsali z, short
distance from Berlin, there lives aleU @hc
until recently was as mysterious a person
age IS the famous "Man of the Iron Mask. y
Certain persons high in authority made ap
plication for apartments at the asylum
which should be worthy of 8 wealthy occu.
pant. He appeared short time after, &C.
companied by beautiful woman, who was
addressed as his wife.
The man was tall aud well made and
dressed in the height of fashion, with hands
that betokened goptility Of birth. The wo-
man was young and arstocratic in looks and
bearing. About the face of the man was a
linen mask, with an opening opposite the
mouth and nostrils, which wes never re-
moved in the presence OF attsndants. He
sat in a dark room, to which the servants
were rarely admitted, and conversed with
few. His food was given 10 his wife, and
the inmates Of the asylum knew nothing of
their name and history further than the fact
that they we're from Russia.
Rumors were rife, as was natural, and
many ingenious stories we're constructed to
account 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 a strange and touching tale.
4 year before the death of the late Car
of Russia, although the scion OF q high and
mighty family, the young noblemar, like so
many of his class, became interested in the
trials and hopes of the nihilisls. Time and
association made him one Of their ardent
sympathzers and assistants.
When the murder of the Emperor was
planned unfortunately the execution Of the
dreadful deed fell to him. The news stag.
gered him. His cath bound him to the
nihiliets, his family ties to the Gar.
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 reyolutionist had
thrown the bomb which he mad declined to
do, and Alexander was dead.
He bad forgotten almost that he had been
q Nihlist, but not SO those whom he had
forsaken. Passing along one of the princi.
pal streets of St. Petersburg, when about
to greet lady upon the opposite side some
thing was dashed into his eyes, and in a mo.
ment the light of day had gone. His mouth
was deformed, his cheeks burned and dis
figured. 1t was the work of nihiist, be-
fore whose modern inquisition be had been
found wanting; vitriol had performed the
work. Mad with pain, he was taken to bis
home, but the injury was beyond reparation
and the DOCTORS aid in vain.
The government had copfscated his es-
tates upon learning of bis revolutionary
sympathies, but restored them in part when
informed of the fate which had overtaken
him. The mask was placed upon his head,
for be was unpleasant to look upon.
But the heroism of one woman was shown
the heroism of his iancee. She was q
countess and the daughter of house as fa
nous and powerful 10 Russia as was his own.
She was heartbroken when told OF the fiend.
ish 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, attended
by their relatives and friends. And on their
wedding day they started for the blind ssy.
lum in Steglitz, where they had hopes of re.
storing the poor mans sight And here his
wife attends him with uufailing devotion
and prays for the day when the afflicted no.
bleman can again look upon her face.