The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-06-20
THE TRAITORS WIFE.

THE TRAITORS WIFE.
How a Jewess Proved Her Devo-
ton to Her Country.
Close to the village of Macy Nemethv is a
ruined house surrounded by an uncultiva-
ted garden. Owls and bats have established
their abode in it, and when the sun spreads
Its warm rays upon the rotten flooring liz
ards and snakes crawl out from the crew
ices in the walls to sun themselves. In sum-
mer, focks Of birds make their nests in tho
garden, where no one thinks of disturb
ing them. In winter, wolves, gaunt and
sinister-eyed, glide slyly among the leafless
trees and bushes.
In front of this gloomy house is linden
tree, its large branches bare in summer as
in winter. Mistletoe still grows upon its
trunk, which is almost dead; but no one
ever touches the tree or the mistletoe Eve
~ body hastens by, the Christians making
the sign of the cross and the Jews softly
murmuring prayer for the dead
Nearly forty years ago, when the people
awakened on all sides and began to shake
off their chains, this house was inhabited by
ayoung Jewish family, Adolph Sonnenfeld,
grain dealer, and his wife, Sarah. Her
second name was Byzantine, and she was
usually called Egla.
While Sonnenfcld recalled no Biblical
hero by his appearance or manners. being
blonde, rosy and thin like any German,
Egla was real Jewish woman beautiful.
intelligent and calm, with dark, passionate
eyes, small mouth and disdainful lips. 1t
would be impo ssible to find stronger con-
trast than these two walking along the
streets; he, with his head inclined, humble
and smiling deprecatingly; she, with easy
step and proud air.
Their character and intelligence were not
less unlike. Sonnenfeld had remarkable
aptitude for the grain business, but this was
about all he was capable of doing. Egla,
on the contrary, was educ ated to certain
extent, and had read much more than was
usually the case with the Jewish country
girls of that epoch. He was simple man.
but sly and practical She was witty. i'm.
aginative and prompt at repartee. She
showed sometimes an energy of will which
seemed to lie at the bottom of her soul like
some mysterious and threatening power.
Her heart was always ready to be enthusi
astic for every thing that appeared to her
sublime
In spite of this great difference of tenn
permanent, Intelligence and character, which
would seem frequently to provoke antipathy
and hostility, Sonnenfeld and his wife loved
each other tenderly. Egla even went so far
as to love her husband more than her cOun-
try, which is saying a good deal, for she
was an exalted and ardent Hungarian pa
triot She read the Magyar poetry with a
fevehsh interest, and rejoiced in the
growth of the revolution which was spread
ing in Hungary. Her favorite revolutionary
heroes were Petoef and Kossuth. Believing
in better future, she inculcated in her two
children the love of country and the passion
Of liberty and independence
Restricted to the narrow limits of her
household. Egla led vigorously feminine
existence. But when the February revolu-
ton broke out at Paris, soon followed by
that of Vienna and the uprising of the
Hungarians, her character which had long
surpassed the ordinary in it's measure of
energy, soon showed itself in it's full force.
She began by interesting herself in the de-
bates OF the Diet, then in the threatening
conflict between the government and the
ramaritla at Vienna, and in the first scenes
of the cival war. When she learned, in the
month OF October, that the Hungarian army
had arrived at the gates of Vienna, she
could no longer contain herself.
"Adolph!' she cried, one morning at the
breakfast-table, throwing down the news
paper, ''every body is taking up arms for
the country; old men, women and children
have not hesitated to sacrifice themselves :;
DO you intend to remain behind:'
care you crazy?" cried Sonnenfeld with
an indignant and almost frightened air;
''what does Hungarian liberty matter to
me? am Jew, and even if l should have
an idea OF going to war, people would laugh
at me for don't even know how to load q
gum
"You can learn,
II have no desire. We have enough
soldiers, and I am not hero.''
Sonnentield was right. He had nothing
of the hero about him, and his wife was
soon convinced of it. Some I1ussars passed
through the village, and those inhabitants
who remained at home up to that time
fastened to follow the flag. Sonnenfield
alone declined and disappeared as though
the earth had swallowed him up. He was
not seen again until the last cavalier had
quilted Nagy-Nemethy
Egla then learned that he had concealed
himself in the cellar, where the cook carried
him his food. She was filled with disgust.
Her first impulse was to take her children
and leave this man whom she could no
so, he poured out so many tears, and his
weeping children pleaded so we'll his cause,
that Egla remained with him. From that
day onward, she treated him with disdain-
full GOODNESS that affected him much more
than reproachcs and frequent quarrels
would have done.
Egla's new attitude produced a remarka-
bic 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's
heart from him; he despised the brave COM
batants whose heroism revealed him as
coward.
When the imperial troops, commanded by
Windischgr@tz, crossed the frontier on
their way to the Hungarian capital, Egla be-
came silent and sombre. 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-
Yin, Sonnenfeld thought that every thing
was settled. He strutted about gayly, as
though he had inherited million or gained
agrcat victory.
what would be my recompense to day!" he
said; ''his highness''-hea always gave Win
dischgrmtz this title-''would have paid me
with the bastinado.''
Hgla did not deign to reply.
Shortly after this the first detachment of
fight horsemen arrived at Nagy-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-