Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-13
THE TRAITORS WIFE.
How a Jewess Proved Her Devo-
ton to Her Country.

Close to the village of Macy emethy 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 GREY
ices in the walls to sun themselves. In sum-
MGR, ttocks OF birds make their nests in the
garden, where no one thinks of disturb
ing them. In winter, wolves, gaunt and
sinister-eyed, glide slyly among the leaf1ess
trees and bushes
In front of this gloomy house is a 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
ry body hastens by, the Christians making
the sign of the cross and the Jews softly
murinuring prayer for the dead.
Nearly forty years ago, when the people
awakened on all sides and began to shake
of their chains, this house was inhabited by
young Jewish family, Adolph Sonnenfeld
a grain dealer, and his wife, Sarah Her
second name was Byzantine, and she was
usually called Egla.
While Sonnenfeld 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 impossible to find a 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 a certain
extent, and had read much more than was
usually the case with the Jewish country
girls OF that epoch. He was a 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
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
feverish interest, and reioiced in the
growth Of the revolution which was spread
ing in Hungary. Her favorite revolutionary
heroes were Petof 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 a 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 its measure of
energy, soon showed itself in its full force
She began by interesting herself in the de-
bates of the Diet, then in the threatening
conflict between the government and the
cdnGrillG at Vienna. and in the first scenes
of the cival war. When she learned in the
month CT October, that the Hungarian army
had arrived at the gates of Vienna, she
could no longer contain herself.
"Adolphi' 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 hcsitated to sacrifice themselves;
do You intend to remain behindw
Are you crazy!" cried Sonnenfeld with |
an indignant and almost frightened air; |
''what does Hungarian liberty matter to |
me! am Jew, and even if should have |
an idea of going to WAY. people would laugh |
at me for i don't even know how to load |
gun
'You can learn"
II have no desire. We have enough |
soldiers, and am not a hero.''
Sonnentield was right. He had nothing
of the hero about him, ana mis- wife was
soon convinced of it. Some hussars passed
through the village. and those inhabitants
who remained at home up to that time
fastened to follow the flag. Sonnenfeld
alone declined and disappeared as though
the earth had swallowed MIN up. He was
not seen again until the last cavalier had
quilted -Nemethy.
Egla then learned that he had concealed
himself in the cellar, where the cook carried
him his food. She was filed with disgust.
Her first impulse was to take her children
and leave this man whom she could no
longer love; but Sonnenfeld beSought her
50, he poured out so many tears, and his
weeping children pleaded so well his cause,
that Egla remained with him. From that
day onward, she treated him with adisdain-
full GOODNESS that affected him much more
than reproaches and frequent Quarrels
would have done.
ESIa S new atuGuQe produced 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
Windischgretz, 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 cou5rai his joy. When Budapest was
taken by the imperial troops and the Hun
garian Government had retired to Debrec-
gin. Sonnenfels thought that every thing