Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-16
EVENING STAR,
A CH1EFTAIN LOVER

AT the time when the Crescent. over
thrown under the walls of Vienna. be
gan TO grow pale in Hungary, the chic
of the Erlau Guerillas was Leikem |,
young and fiery patriot. He CONSTANT,
harrassed the garrison of Erlau, Hatvan
Sznolnok, and other places, by capturing
their conveys and defeating their troops
on one occasion he accomplished yer,
successful expedi ion by unexpectedly
falling upon treasure CONVOY in Gvon.
gyos, on Its way from Erlau TO Bnda
and cutting down the whole escort.
While his men were engaged in com.
Dat with the Turks in the streets of the
town, Leikem heard cry for help from
neighboring house. He leaped off hi,
horse, rushed in, and found a Turkish
soldier ill-treating a Hungarian girl
With stroke Of his flashing sword he
split the infidel's head, and liberated her
from his grasp. Exhausted and subdutd
by terror, the girl lay senseless on the
ground. Leikem, with the aid of some
women, soon restored her consciousness
The girl was the very type of Hunga-
ran beauty, with black eyes and hair.
the charming expression of her face
heightened by gleam of gratitude
towards her deliverer. To the youno
man she seemed the fairest of ell the
maldens he ever beheld. The rirl, too,
on recovering, thought the chief lust
what she, in her lively fancy, had ina.
gined true Magyar hero to be-taU
stately, with sparkling eyes, the terro,
OF the enemy, and the friend and willing
protector of the helpless and unhappv.
In our country, love soon takes loot,
ana increases with rapid and marvel
Gus growth. The young man remained
but short time with the maiden still
1t sutflced to ill their hearts with sen
tlment not easily to be effaced. Leikem
lett the girl, whose name was Ir1na. with
q promise of soon returning, but thai
promise was more easily made than ful-
hlled for scarcely had the news of the
loss OF the costly convoy reached Erlan,
than the infuristed Pasha sent a strone
garrison to GyOngyos, and ordered a hot
pursuit after the oold guerilla chief: So
tnat Lelkem, IUi a GIIue, was an unWlfl-
ing prisoner in his inaccessible lurking
place in the Matra.
AS punishment for the loss OF the
money, contribute ion was levied on tls
town Of Gyongyos and at the same
time, to insult the inhabitants in their
most sacred feelings, the Pasha COM
manded the delivery of twelve of their
most beautiful daughters for the harem
of the Pasha of Buda. The consterna-
tlon OF the poor towns people at this
] twofold outrage knew no bounds; but,
conscious of their weakness, they sub
mltted to the sentence, and as neither
entreaties nor promises could soften the
intiexible Turkish commander, presented
their girls for selection to the officer sent
for that purpose from Erlau. Among the
number chosen was the unhappy Irma
Leikem speedily received this dreadful
intelligence His instant determination
was to prevent the maidens from being
carried off; but, for the moment, be was
quite at loss to devise plan likely t.,
prove successful against the numerous
garrison of Gyongyos. In the midst OF
this dilemma, he was interrupted by the
arrival of messenger from his uncle, the
prior of monastery of Carmelites in this
neighbornood, summoning the chief to
an immediate conference, which Leikeu
did not delay attending to, knowing his
uncle, who had already often assisted
him with good advice during his expe.
ditions, to be wise, good, and patriotic
man.
He found the prior in great excitemen,
as to the fate Of the unfortunate town.
The monk conjured Leikem, by his
Christian faith and his love for his coun
try, now to show what enthusiasm the
Hungarian was capable of in the defence
of his rights and his countrywomen. He
then proposed to him to 60 to the town
dressed as monk, and there to agree
upon a scheme with the inhabitants.
1 he first part Of this proposal was easily
effected, as few hours previously, Dulo
the father Of Irma, had sent to the mon
astery for priest to pray for his daugh-
ter, who was then dangerously ill. Lei.
KEN was for q moment unnamed by this
sad information, but by a violent effort
he chOked his feelings, and declared his
readiness to comply with the wish of his
uncle. He hastily put on a cowl and
left the monastery mounted upon mule.
He had the good fortune to pass the
Turkish outposts unremarked, and ar.
rived at the dusk of the evening accom-
panied by Dulo's messenger, in Gyon.
gyos.
With the capuchin drawn over his
head, Leikem entered Irma s room. She
was much changed during the few weeks
that had elapsed since he saw her, and
was so much exhausted that the pre-
tended monk had to bend over her tc
catch her whispered words. He could
not long carry on his disguise, and was
forced to exclaim with all the fervor O.
his noble heart.
Il am not q monk, Irma, but thy
warrior, and am come to cure and tc
save thee; for as live thou shalt not fal
into the hands of the infidels."
At the sound of that voice, the tone OF
| which she had never forpOtten the cir