The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-29
The Deserter From Mat1e|nsdod
BY Julius Loewy.

AS one may read in all the chronicles
from that time, the winter lIS9-90 was
very mild, and trees and bushes were
blooming and budding everywhere at
christmas time. This came as a great
surprise after the severe winters of the
preceding years. In 1883 the influenza,
or, as it was then called, the Russian
catarrh," appeared in Vienna for the
first time, and more than SO. 900 fell vic
Tins TO Il. Vienna "as IKE .n i'm
Jnense tomb then, no sign of joy any
where. only an unending line of fu-
1erals.
And now the delightful spring OF 1889
had come, but the beautiful weather
had failed TO ous the people of
Vienna from their depression. The EN-
peror, the beloved Joseph H., who,
though misunderstood by many, had
earnestly tried to be a father to his
people, was dying. and everybody
bowed down with grief.
Emperor J%oseph's reforms had been
many, and had affected all branches of
public life. In the army, however, he
had changed very little, with the ex-
ception of creating the union regiments
and the Bombardiers. Though the most
liberal Of men, he demanded perfect
s~elf-sacriice and discipline In the army,
and he thought the occupation of a sol
der the highest of all. He was the first
monarch to Wea a uniform al court
functions.
In October 1879. Anton Krenmayer,
the ,allest and handsomest Of all the
young men in MatZleinsdorf, was draft
ed for military service n put in the
Uniform of the Hohenzollern Cuirassiers,
the regiment in Which Archduke Franz
served as an officer. When he appeared
in his dazzling uniform in the cottage
of his parents, his sweetheart, the
pretty Salerl. from Nicolsdorf, laid her
head on his shoulder and cried bitterly.
What 1, 1t, darling?" Anton asked,
anda took he in his arms.
oh, Anton, 1t makes me SO sad to
think that they a V made you a SOL
der for my sake" she cried.
For your sake? l do not UNDER
stand you
Salerl wiped away her tears, and then
told how a young nobleman was run
him that she was engaged to the strong
Anton krenmayer he had sworn that
he would soon get him out of the town.
Anton turned red as blood at her
words. the Veins in his forehead stood
out like cords, and, drawing a deep
breath, he burst tie straps which held
together his glittering rmo which fell
to the floor with a crash.
THE regiment will never see me any
more" he said, with q mighty oath, n
rushed out.
! The deserter was not caught. When
the soldiers came to his parents home
he was with Salerl at Nicolsdorf, and
when they arrived he ran away like a
deer. Then an order was made out for
his arrest, and when the authorities
proved unable to capture him, a regi-
ment was stationed at Metzleinsdorf.
Now Anton Krennayer had a friend.
Franz WOlfinger, a rough and ready fell
low, r-{xL H. - -f- 49,
worst poacher for miles around. One
day the young baron who was in owe
with Saierl came to him and said:
"Wolf1nger. do you see the purse full Of
gold coins? 1t Is yours as soon as Kren-
mayer is caught"
They shall have him in an hour
Franz said, and hurried out.
Antnn Krennayer was al Nicolsdorf,
and was trying to cheer up Salerl, when
there was q knock on the door. Snatch
ing his pistol Anton jumped to his feet.
Who is there" he shouted.
Franz Wolinger," came the answer.
Austin opened the door to his friend,
with the two, left again, saying they
would probably rather De alone. AS he
went out he left his pipe behind, and
hurried to the garden. where the SOL
diers We're hidden. He made a sign to
them to follow him.
tASdIu ne hl1OthcO OIL Inc uOOT.
Il forgot my pipe. Anton"
The moment the door was opened. thu
soldiers forced their way In, and, In
spite OF his furious resistance, Anton
was soon bound and sent to the mill
tary prison in Vienna
For almost a year he sat there, the
dreadful monotony OF prison life only
broken by the visits of Salerl. who tried
in every way to cheer him up.
II will soon have you out, Toni" she
said, one day, and IN two weeks VIZ will
be marrfed-in two weeks. No, / will not
tell you how, you must have patience, and
watt
girl found her way into the imperial pal
ace. She was stopped by the sentry who
guarded the smperor'x private apart
ments.
The emperor is sick. He cannot see
YOU"
Butt must see him. 1t IL q matter Of
life and death. You just tell him that, and
II lie says no. ] have nothing TO do but to
jump in the Danube"
%.What do you want with the emperor 2"
Vhe heard a feeble voice ask, and when
she turned around a tall bony man, in the
green uniform of the Chevaux IIegers,
stood before her.
Salcrl recognized the beloved monarch,
and threw herself down before him. He
gently lifted her up, and made her tell the
whole sad story. She told him how proud
Anton had been that he had been chosen
to serve the emperor until she told him
why he had been put IN the uniform.
The pale features of the sick monarch
turned still paler, and his eyes shot fire.
II thank you from my Inmost heart for
having come to me, and as sure rs there
is a God above us I shall bring the ecouu-
drcls to justice. Go home. Salerl, and trust
10 me. Your Toni will soon be with you"
How Salerl ever got home she could
never tell. but the next day Anton came
home to M~atzleindorf a free man. The
will Of the emperor had opened the prison
doors. Franz Wolfinger was taken to serve
in the Cuirassiers in his place, hut Whist
happened to the Baron no one knows. He
" as never seen in the neighborhood again.
Only three weeks later. on the goth Of
February. 1870. emperor Joseph died, and
when he was dnrled two days later all
Vienna was in tears. But probably no one
cried more OF prayed more sincerely for the
rcst of his soul than Salerl from NicoA-
dorf and the deserter from Matzleinsdorf
whose happiness was due to the dying
monarch's love of justice to all, even ths
humblest of his subjects.
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