Amador ledger., 1905-04-07
A Nihilist Infatuation
[Original.l
I am a globe trotter.

OHe udy wien was JramplnS IN
Switzerland 1 met young fellow who
asked If 1 could direct him to Inter-
laken. 1 replied that was going there
and If he would joia me 1 would
show him the way. He did so, and we
walked on together. His features were
so cameo-like that had they not ex-
should have considered him very eff
Terminate
He said he was a student, but when 1
asked him at what university he stud
led he evaded the question, pretending
not to have heard it. The distance to
1nterlaken was five miles, and before
we reached the place he had without
any effort on his part gained singular
influence over me. 1 am a believer in
transference Of soul power, and 1 have
since attributed the young mans effect
upon me to deep emotions that were
at the time absorbing his whole exist
ence
On reaching Interlaken we went to
I different hotels. 1 did not see him
again during my stay there
When the czar visited Paris several
years ago, on the day of his entry 1
strolled out to see the imperial caval-
cade. Turning from the Rue Rivoli into
the Place de la ConcOrde, a figure came
hurrying toward me, and as it passed 1
recognized the young man 1 had met
in Switzerland. 1 shall never forget
the expression on his face. 1 could not
read what that expression reflected
from the soul within; but, the meeting
happening near the spot where the gull
lotine had been set up during the reign
of terror, l fancied him the specter of
one who had died that France might be
free. Notwithstanding that he was a
boy, 1 could not help associating him
with Charlotte Corday.
Some months later l was attending
an evening party at Geneva, where 1
was introduced to a young girl, Mile.
Zabriskie, whose face the moment I
saw it made me start 1t was the coun-
terpart of that of the young man 1 had
met near Interlaken and afterward in
Paris.
"M'sieu, why do you look at me so?"
she asked.
"Mademoiselle," l replied, II have
met young man who is your very
image"
"Oh, dear! When shall l cease having
to explain this matter? l have a twin
brother. Doubtless it is he you have
met. People are always mistaking me
for him."
"Was he at Interlaken year ago?'
Let me see. Yes; think he was.
am sure he was"
"And at Paris during the visit of the
czar?"
Her expression changed. She seemed
to be trying to master some emotion
"Did you meet him there?" she asked
in whisper.
II did"
She gave me a look as much as to
say, Let us change the subject"
respected her wishes, but my curl
osity struggled with my politeness, for
l burned to ask more about this mystic
rious brother
When l went home that night my
brain was in a whirl. Few people have
thus come under sudden dominating
influence as 1 did, and words are made
| quate to express or explain 1t to those
who have not. 1 only know that was
on the verge of being madly In love. I
met Mile. Zabriskie several times dur
ing my stay in Geneva, passing rapid
ly from one stage of inthrallment to an
otter.
One fine afternoon l went to her
house-she was boarding, but did not
learn under whose chaperonage-to
keep an appointment with her to saun-
ter on the banks of the blue Rhone To
my astonishment, l was told that she
had left Geneva. She had left no word
where she was going or any message
for me. called at the house where 1
had first met her, and they told me that
their acquaintance with her had been
short, and they could not, or would not,
tell me how they had made it. 1t SEEM
ed to me that l must find her or life
would be unbearable;. but, having Sc
cured no clew, did not know where to
look for her. l visited different cities,
going often to theaters and gardens,
but never in two years met either her
or her brother.
During that memorable Sunday when
the workmen marched to the Winter
palace and to slaughter l was In st.
Petersburg. For weeks after l saw
persons almost daily marched to prison,
and one morning while standing at my
window a band of men and women
| passed that l was told was starting
for Siberia. Among them 1 saw again
| the woman who had inthralled me-
| There was the same expression on the
face I had so often seen there. and
now recognized 1t as voluntary martyr
dom. What became of my faculties for
the next few minutes l know not, but
when l came to myself the throng of
exiles had disappeared.
| 1 learned from a revolutlonist that
| Zabriskie was an assumed name un-
| der which the young devotee had gone
| to Paris to try to assassinate the car
There was no twin brother. The Of
| fense for which she had been eXiled
was melting the laborers to action-ln-
deed, inspiring them behind their bar
rlcades.
And now, after drawing on my bank
ers in America for the half Of my for
| tune, 1 have secured permission to go
| to Siberia to examine into the condl-
| ton Of the persons there With the pre-