The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-18
A MODERN DEBORAH.

At the eastern extremity of the long,
struggling street OF Nagy-Nemethy are
the crumbling ruins Of deserted house.
More than 40 years ago, when the Hun
garian people awoke and began to rattle
their chains, there lived in this house a
young Jewish couple Adolf Sonnenfeld
and his wife Eglantine. Although scarce
" Is years OF age when her husband first
took her from her parents watchful care,
she was no half opened bud, but glorious
woman, a blooming rose of Sharon. Son
nenfeld, like many u young German towns
man, was IL slender, fair haired young fell
low. His wife Egla was lovely Jewess
Of the purest type. Suppressed fervor
lurked behind the cold gaze Of her dark,
scornful eyes, and the mobile mouth could
soften sweetly to the warming kiss or hard
en- with deliberation for command. Her
husband was merely practical man Of
business, of a sly and cunning disposition,
called good humored by his friends because
he was too cautious to risk doing an in
jury.
In spite Of the differences in their char
acters Egla seemed to love her husband
even more than her fatherland, and that
speaks volumes, for she was an ardent
Hungarian. She had borne her husband
two children. and through her teaching
they were growing up with fervent love
of home and fatherland.
The storms Of February swept over Paris
and the feverish March days in Vienna
were followed by the Hungarian rising,
while her character was developing from
day to day in strength and energy. But
whom i'm October the revolution brought
the Hungarian army before Vienna, her
zeal for the national cause at length took
a tangible form.
One morning at breakfast having scan
ned the newspaper, she commenced:
adolf, every one is taking up arms for
the fatherlaDd-old men, boys, and even
women. Why do you hold back"
Are you msd:" cried Sonnenfeld, half
irritated, half frightened. what is Hun
garian liberty TO mes am Jew. Even
IL / wanted To go TO the war they would
only laugh ut me. i don't know how To
hold gun"
Il shan't think of it," cried Sonnen-
field, cutting her short I'VE have soldiers
enough. 4 am no hero!'
The truth came home to Egla that her
husband was no hero very shortly. Hus-
who had hitherto held back came forward
and joined the colors. Sonnenfeld alone
was not 10 be seen. He seemed to have
disappeared and only came in sight again
after the last horseman had quilted Macy
Nemetbr. Egla found out afterward that
he had been hidden in the cellar and
supplied with food and drink by the cook.
Her first impulse was to take away heI
children and leave the husband whom she
despised for his cowardice. Sonpenfeld
fell on his knees and begged her TO stay.
He raised his hands to heaven and i'm.
plored her with tears in his eyes not to
leave him, and when at last the children
interceded she remained.
From that day she treated him with 81.
lent disdain That proved more CALLING
than open hostility or reproaches. Hither.
to he had taken no interest whatever in
the struggles Of the fatherland, but now
he began TO interest himself more and
more. But his sympathies were all with
the anti Magyar party. He hated the agi.
tators who had robbed him of his wife's
love and the patriots whose heroic courage
branded him us "a coward He could bare.
ly hide his JOY when Windischgratz with
the imperial troops, crossed the frontier
and pushed on to Budapest, but Egla
grew ever paler, ever quieter. When the
Hungarian capital fell and the national
troops fcli back on Debriezin, Sonnenfeld
felt sure that all was over. He went about
radiant and joyful, as IL he had won the
victory or inherited n million.
1t was not long before the First Impcr.
isiist light cavalry showed themselves in
Macy -Nemethy. A whole brigade followed
and pitched camp in the neighborhood.
Some of the soldiers were billctcd in the
village, and the general himself took up
bis quarters in Sonnenfeld's house The
husband surpassed himself in hospitality,
loyalty and attention to the wants Of his
guest. Egla, who held herself aloof, timid
but inimical, one day saw the general kick
her husband out Of the door. She felt as
II her heart were crushed; then the blood
rushed 10 her face, but she endured In
silence.
A few days later hussars appeared in the
neghborhood, and the imperialst outposts
exchanged shots with them. During the
night the brigade became alarmed, for the
Hungarlans approached on all sides and
threatened 10 overwhelm them. Every one
was afoot, the inhabitants stood In the
street doors whispering, while cannon and
heavily armed cavalry ratified by. Elga,
VIM ptrSsu HtFScIl lOuuu
TINT her husband had left the house. She
glided out after him, only to find him by
the garden hedge deep In conversation with
the general. Sonnenfeld bowed obsequi-
Nusly ~ he spoke, and the general laughed
amiably. That laugh seemed to Egla even
more insulting than the kick he had given
her husband few days back. She only
caught detached words and isolated phrases
OF the conversation. But she gathered that
while her husband was assuring him of
his devotion the general was complaining
that he could gnin no information, even
from the poorest peasant. At sunrise an
adjutant arrived bearing n sealed letter
for the general, on reading which nc gave
the order for the impcrialist troops to with.
draw 20 tho south.
The chaDgeful scenes Of the Hungarian
winter campaign followed in quick rota-
tion, each day bringing contradictory re.
ports Egla was consumed with anxiety
and excitement, and she passed slecpless
nights Of watching, only to sink, weariei
ana exhausted, on her couch Nc daylight
approached, and when che bright sunlight
streamed In upon her she would awake
with start as n aroused by some borrfd