Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-12
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE SAVIOR OF A CITY.


liam Penn TO this country was young
couple who called themselves Wehren-
stein. They showed great difference
in refinement from the other settlers.
the wife especially indicating by her
manner and Il certain fineneSs of phys
zeal texture that she had come from
the better classes. That they We're Ger
man was indicated by their name.
That was a period when Europe was
in continual warfare, the main causes
being the issues .e4ween the two re-
ligious divisions, CvnOlics and Protes-
tants. In one of these wars the capitol
OF one of the principal German states
was invested by the emperor who rep
resented the Catholic party. The
burghers awaited the enemy's attack
behind their breastworks, knowing that
their existence both as individuals and
as people depended on their success
full defense. for in those days it was
not uncommon on capturing city to
put the inhabitants to the sword.
AS soon as the advancing force came
within striking distance the besieged
poured a terrible fire in their faces, but
without the effect of arresting their on
ward march. Moving on to the very
ramparts, they carried them at the
point of their pixies. The leader of the
defenders was killed, and all seemed
lost wlIeh Il young officer, SraSpinG
flag that lay on the ground beside the
dead body of the man who had borne
it and raising it aloft, cried out to his
comrades To meet death Like men, since
IN ~
butchered The effect was magical.
Forming as best they could about their
new leader. they dashed forward with
the fury of despair. The enemy, who
We're climbing over the breastworks,
were checked. then recoiling gave way
and clambered back over the walls and
fed down the declivity.
The city was saved. But there was
damper on the rejoicings. The young
officer who had turned the tide. who
had given the people their lives, had
fallen desperately wounded. He was
put on Il stretcher and carried to
hospital, where the doctors did what
they could 10 save him. This was not
much; the question of his life lay with
nature. He was so far gone as to be
unconscious. and they finally left him,
expecting that he would soon die.
Meanwhile the city was ringing with
the sufferers praise, and as the sur
geons went out they were besieSed
with anxious Inquiries regarding him.
to which they could only respond with
out comfort The unconscious hero lay
in Il stupor for hours. then groaned and
opened his eyes. Near him sat
young girl who was evidently a nurse.
''Is the city saved?" he cried, with as
much vigor as he could command.
at Is, and you are considered its
savior"
The man closed his eyes again and
Eel! back into unconSciouSueSs.
Six weeks later Il ceremony was held
at the palace. The sovereign gave an
audience to the hero, who had rccOv-
cred. at which Il gold medal was to he
presented him on one side of which
was his name, on the other an inscrp
tion-"To the savior of the city" AS
the prince was about to bestow the
honor the girl who had nursed the sol
der back to life stepped forward from
behind the throne and said:
Sire / ask the honor OF pinning this
medal on our herO's breast
ct is granted" replied the prince.
"You have been one of the most faith
full of those ladies of our court who
volunteered to nurse our soldiers"
AZ the girl attached the decoration
it was plain to all present who saw the
Iovelight in the eyes of both her and
the soldier that they were lovers. The
young man by virtue of his heroism
was permitted TO spend some time with
his former nurse, who lie now discover
ed was connection of the prince.
There is a great gulf fixed between
royal and pIebeian blood, and the
couple knew that even the savior of
Il city could not aspire to the hand of
a princess. But the young man was as
daring in love as in war, and when the
girl told him that separation from him
would be far worse than death he said:
"Are you willing to resign your rank
for me?"
Il am"
'Then go with me to that far country
beyond the Atlantic, where those who
would be free from our European in
justices are making themselves new
homes There live unknown as prin-
cess of the blood. But the new world
is a barbarous country full of danger.
Instead of the flattery of courtiers you
will hear the war whoop Of savages.
Choose"
81 have chosen. l will go with YOU"
When a few months later q plainly
dressed bride descended from n ship
and stepped on TO the dock at Philadel-
phia those looking on were struck
with the high born air that chung to
her even in the wilds of America. The
couple called themselves Wehrenstein.
which was an assumed name. Nothing
of the hero who had saved the city re-
manned to the man; nothing of the prin
cess remained TO the woman, except a
bearing neither could lay off. To the
Quakers they were simply German i'm
migrants who had come. like most of the
rest of the population, to escape either
rNr x,,I-- a.