The Portland daily press., 1877-04-30
A Traitor i'm the Camp.

A Traitor i'm the Camp.
Rarely had the City of Vienna been in such
a state of intense excitement as on the Sth of
December, 1851.
The principal thoroughfares and market
squares Of the Austrian capital were throng-
ed with enthusiastic multitudes; for, from the
seat OF war, in Silesia, a rumor, seemingly
well grounded. had been circulated among
the people of Vienna to the effect that King
Frederick the Second, of Prussia, had been
disastrously defeated few days previously,
at no great distance from the City of Breslau.
Long live our gracious Empress. Maria
Theresap was the shout again and again re-
peated by the populace, which was firmly
convinced that the hated Prussians, who had
so often inflicted terrible disasters upon the
Austrian armies, had at length been so deci-
sively defeated that their King, Frederick,
would be inevitably compelled to sue humbly
for peace.
Our troops will soon be in Berlin p shouted
a fat butcher to the assembled thousands on
the Kohl-Market.
''Hurrah for Daun Hurrah for our Hun
garian cavalryP' responded the multitude.
Alas the enthusiasm of the Viennese, on
that momentous day, was utterly wasted.
For Frederick the Second so far from hav-
Of his Austrian adversaries, had achieved, on
the fifth of December, the glorious victory of
Leuthen, the most brilliant in his whole mill
tary career, and which placed him as cap
tain among the most eminent Generals whose
heroic exploits had been recorded in history.
With his comparatively small army he had
routed the Austrian troops, whose numerical
superiority, as compared with the strength
of the Prussian army, was as three to one, so
al, l,Ok
1000 thousand prisoners.
While the populace of Vienna was still eel
ebrating the imaginary victory of the Aus
trian army, the Empress Maria Theresa had
received the news of the disaster that had be-
fallen her troops.
1t was at 10 O'Clock in the morning of the
aforementioned day that cuirassier lieu
tenant of the Kolcwrat Regiment had arrived
at the Imperial palace.
He bad been on horseback day and night
since he left the CORY field of Lenthen. He
was the only officer of his regiment that had
not been taken prisoner by the victorious
Prussians.
He demanded an interview with the EN-
press Maria Theresa, who Immediately ad-
mtted him to her presence.
In almost breathless tones he told her all
about Frederick's triumph.
When she dismissed him she gave way to
an ebullition of genuine despair
Poor Austria! Poor mep' she sobbed
again and again, as she was pacing her stump.
tuous boudoir.
At last she sent for Kaunitz, her Prime
Minister, who arrived in the course of the
next half hour.
Have you heard the news, Kaunitz?"
asked the Empress, grasping the hand of the
great diplomatist, while scalding tears were
streaming down her cheeks.
"Your Majesty replied Kaunitz, in
tone SO calm that casual spectator would
hardly have OWNED that he, too was already
informed of the discontinue of the Austrian
army, II have been informed half an hour
ago that King Frederick has won another
victory"
YES" cried Maria Theresa, passionately,
"a victory SO overwhelming that [ suppose
we must humbly supplcate him not to march
upon Viennap'
Kaunitz laughed.
Are you an iceberg, Kaunitz ?" demanded
Meria Theresa, indignantly.
Because do not despair of our final sue
cess, you Majesty?" asked Kaunltz.
"But all our combinations. Kaunitz, are
wrecked. The dreadful rout of the French
army at Eossbach, on the 5th of November,
renders our alliance with King Louis the Fif-
teenth almost useless. Our own treasury is
empty"
I'VE have to raise new army, your
Majesty"
''But how, Kaunitz-how?" the Empress
asked, in voice of feverish anxiety.
austria can always raise fresh armiesp'
said Kaunitz, almost solemnly.
"Yes, Kaunitz; but only to be beaten
again and again."
king Frederick, your Majesty" rejoined
the Minister, sis the greatest captain of the
age. But the resources of his little kingdom
are well-nigh exhausted. Ours are still i'm
mense. If your Majesty will go to Presburg
and appear once more in the Diet of the Hun
garian Delegates, we shall have plenty of SOL
diers and funds in less than three weeks.'
THAT will certainly do" cried Maria
Theresa. "The Magyars are my most loyal
and chivalrous subjects. They will leni
willing ear to my affecting appeal.''
mo doubt, your Majesty, no Doubt" said
Kaunitz. "But something else that might
do us great deal of good has occurred to
me-"
.And what is that, Kaunitz?"
Suppose King Frederick himself should
fall into our hands, your Majesty?"
This time Maria Theresa could not help
laughing.
''What do you take me for, Kaunitz? '' she
asked. Frederick is guarded by the most
devoted set of soldiers ever heard OFF,
Your Majesty, l am not talking about
military capture" replied Kaunitz; 81 think
there are other ways for us to get the King
OF Prussia into our hands,"
What other ways?"
"Strategems! Treachery!'
"Ah! But who would devise The strata
gems? Who would commit the treachery p,
II have my eyes on man who believe
would be very serviceable tool for such
scheme"
3Who is he. Kaunitz?"
''Warkotsch, your Majesty'
"What! Baron Warkotsch, the Tyrolese
rebel?' asked the Empress in surprise.
1.-The same, your majesty"
"But he is to be broken on the wheel for
high treason tomorrow, Kaunitz'
The Prime Minister stepped close I'D TO
Maria Theresa and whispered few words to
her.
She gave start.
"Can that be true, Kaunitz?' she ex.
claimed.
sit is literally true, your Majesty"
"And you say, Kaunitz, that Warkotsch
will entrap the King of Prussia, so that we
can hold him prisoner?"
"He has been in Prussia before. All he
demands is full pardon and 100000 for
ins.'
''He shall have both.'
"Will your Majesty see him ?"
! "Why not, Kaunitz?''
He stepped to the door and called cham.
berlain.
''Send to the Governor of the Stock House
1.-THE criminal jail and have Baron Warkotsch
conveyed before her Majesty without delay"
Au hour afterward a middle-aged man,
heavily ironed, was ushered into the boudoir
Of Maria Theresa, where the Empress had re-
manned in the meantime engaged in an ami
mated conversation with her Prime Minister.
The prisoner was a man Of comma pdipo
appearance. His face was indicative of con-
sders ala rrnsarno Of mind IIIa lsssl..aI