Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-07-06
A Nihilist InfatuatiOn
tOriglnal.l
| am a globe trotter.

Switzerland ] met young Fellow who
asked 81 | could direct him to Inter
laken. Ireplied that ! was going there
and II he would join me / would
show him the way. he did so, and we
walked on together. His features were
50 cameo-like that had they not ex-
pressed good deal of character !
should have considered him very eff
Terminate
He said he was a student, but when !
asked Linn at what university be stud
fed he evaded the question, pretending
not to have heard Ii. The distance 70
Interlaken was five miles. and before
we reached the place he had without
any effort on his part gained a singular
influence over me. l am a believer in
transference of soul power, and 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
different hotels. did not see him
again during my stay there
When the car visited Paris several
years ago, on the day Of his entry
strolled out to see the imperial cayal-
cade. Turning from the Rue RiyoIi into
the Place dc la Concorde, figure came
hurr9ing toward me, and as 1t passed
recognized the young man | had met
In Switzerland. | shall never forget
the expression on his face | 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, | fancied him the specter OF
one who had died that France might be
free. Notwithstanding that he was a
boy, l could not help associatiug him
with Charlotte Corday
Some months later | was attending
an evening party at Geneva, where |
was introduced to young girl, Mile
Zabriskie, whose face the moment
saw il made me start 1t was the coun-
terpart Of that of the young man had
met near Interlaken and afterward in
Paris.
"M'sieu, why DO you look at me so?'-
she asked
''Mademoiselle," | replied, II have
met a young man who Is your very
image"
''Oh, dear! When shall cease having
to explain this matter? l have twin
brother. Doubtless it is he you have
met. People are always installing me
for him."
WAS he at Interlaken year ago?"
let me see. Yes; think he was. I
am sure he was"
"And at Paris during the visit Of the
czar7"
Her expression changed. She seemed
to be trying to master some emotion.
"Did you meet him there?'' she asked
In a whisper
Il did"
She gave me 8 look as much as to.
say. "Let us change the subject"
| respected her wishes, but my curl
osity struggled with my politeness, for
I burned to ask more about this mystic
rious brother.
When | went home that night my
brain was In whirl Few people have
thus come under sudden dominating
influence as did, and words are made
quate to express or explain II to those
who have not only know that l was
on the verge Of being madly in love.
met Mile Zabriszie several times dur.
ing my stay In Geneva, passing rapid
ly from one stage of inthrallment to an
other.
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 Rh0ne. To
my establishment, I was told that she
aad left Geneva. She had left no word
where she was going or any message
for me. called at the house where l
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. II seem
ed to me that must find her or life
would be unbearable; but. having Sc
cured no clew, did not know where to
look for her. 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 I was In st
Petersburg. For weeks after l saw
persons almost daily marched to prison
and one morning while standing at my
window band Of men and women
passed that I was told was starting
for Siberia. Among them ! saw agar
the woman who had inthralled me
There was the same expression on thu
face had so often seen there. and
now recognized II as voluntary martyr
dom. What became OF my faculties 70
the next few minutes know not, bu
when / came to myself the throng o
exiles had disappeared.
Il learned from a revolutionist tina
Zabriskie was az assumed name I'm