The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-15

Egla new aUJlUuQc produced d rtlHdFhd-
BILE effect upon her husband. Until then he
had shown himself Indifferent to politics
and the struggles Of his country; but he
now began to take an interest in them; he
hated the agitators who had alienated Egla' IS
heart from him; he despised the brave COM
batants whose heroism revealed him as a
coward.
When the imperial troops, commanded by
Windischgratz, crossed the frontier on
] their way to the Hungarian capital, Egla be-
came silent and sombrc Sonnenfeld, on
the contrary, in spite of all his efforts, could
not conceal his joy. When Budapest was
taken by the imperial troops and the Hun
| garian Government had retired to Debrec-
gin, Sonnenfeld thought that every thing
| was settled. He strutted about gayly, as
| though he had inherited million or gained
| great victory.
eff l had taken up arms for the country
| what would be my recompense to day!" he
said; ''his highness''-he always gave Win
dischgraetz this title-"Would have paid me
with the bastinado"
Egla did not deign to reply.
Shortly after this the first detachment of
| light horsemen arrived at Macy Nemethy.
They were soon followed by brigade,
which established its camp near the village.
Some of the soldiers were billeted on the in
habitants, and the General selected Sonnen-
| fields house for himself. The Jew surpassed
himself in hospitality and servile demon
strations. He cringed like dog before the
General, and was, in consequence treated as
| such by the officer.
Egla, who, timid and hostile, kept out of
the way, saw the General kick her husband
out of the house one day. The sight made
| the blood rush to her face, but she concealed
her trouble and suffered in silence.
Some days later, the Hungarian hussars
exchanged few shots with the imperial
lists, and at night the Hungarians advanced
from all sides and threatened to surround
the Austrian brigade. Every body was on
the alert, and, while the cavalrymen pa
trolled the unfortunate country, all the
women remained in the streets, anxiously
telling their fears to each other
Egla dressed herself hurriedly. She no.
ticed that her husband had crept slyly out
of the house, and she went down to look for
him. She soon saw him, standing near the
garden wall, talking with the General, who
smiled graciously, while Sonnenfeld bowed
humbly to him. She did not know why,
but the Generals smile caused her more an
guish than the kicking he had given her
huoOduu pH0 COulu near only lSOl2UCQ
phrases of the conversation, but she soon
understood that the General complained be-
cause he found no one among the popula-
ton disposed to act as spy, not even among
the poor Jews. She also heard Sonnenfeld
assure the General OF his devotion; then the
two men separated.
At the same moment several neighbours
came up to Egla, and announced with signs
of 1iUn1Iy IN not ba u,,,, ro,on
tinued to advance from all sides. At sun
rise, the imperalists had disappeared. An
aide-de-camp had brought to the General or
ders to abandon this position and move to-
ward the south with his brigade.
Throughout this winter campaign in Hun
gary each day brought contradictory news.
Egla was agitated and sorrowful. She
could not sleep at night, and when morning
came, she fell asleep from fatigue, and only
awakened after terrible dreams when the
sun was far above the horizon.
Business was at a stand-still. Sonnenfeld
alone showed any activity, fact which
greatly worried his wife. He furnished
provisions of all kinds for the imperial
troops. Suspicious-looking men often came
to seen him, and after each visit Sonnenfeld
went away from the house for some time.
Egla, with heavy heart, watched him
with increasing mistrust.
One winters day some hussars, with their
carbines loaded, suddenly appeared in the
village. They were loudly acclaimed, and
the joy increased when they were followed
by battalion of infantry. The Hungarians
halted, threw out pickets in all directions,
and began to prepare their dinner. The in
habitants generously gave up all they pos
sessed to recompense the brave Hungarian
soldiers for their fatigues and sufferings.
Egla, not being able to follow this example
without her husbands consent, began to
look for him, as he had suddenly disap-
peared. After she had searched in vain
about the house and the neighborhood, an
evil suspicion began to force itself upon her.
At night, when all the inhabitants of
Macy -Nemethy were asleep, Egla remained
awake. Seated upon her bed, she listened
to the slightest noise. It seemed to her that
something terrible was about to happen,
something which she had felt coming for
long time She remained thus for an hour
or two; then, worn out, she fell asleep.
Suddenly she was awakened by musllctry
shots and a confused roar. Horses thun-
dered by at a gallop, drums beat, and Off
GERS cried out their orders. The shots
sounded closer; she opened her window and
Ddll SUIuCh Ullc wall USSluc uCT. DIG uEcW
back quickly and eXtinguished the light.
The struggle went on in the streets, The
imperial troops had returned, and in the
darkness had surprised and attacked the
Hungarian infantry with superior forces.
A very small number of Hungarians sue
ceeded in escaping with their flag. The rest
were killed or made prisoners.
Egla, her ideas all confused, remained
seated in her chamber An hour passed;
then she heard voices in the neighboring
room. One was that of her husband; the
other, clear, vibrating, and foreign, evil
IDENTIFY accustomed to command, thanked
Sonnenfeld and promised him a handsome
reward.
While the imperial troops, and her hus-
band with them, retired toward the east,
Egla muffled up her children and fastened
to her parents house. Having placed her
children in security, on the third day she
returned home. Her husband was still alb
sent. During the following night he crept
into his house like thief. He was greatly
agitated when he saw his wife come out of
her chamber with light in her hand. She
placed the light upon the table, sat down,
and began to question her husband as
coldly and severely as judge on the bench.
''Where have you been?"
81 have made an important transaction.
I have furnished lard and bread to the