Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-29
The Savior of a CITY
[Origlnal.l

~ III W liiiS country was Il young
couple who called themselves Wehren-
stein. They showed a great difference
In refinement from the other settlers.
the wife especially Indicating by her
manner and n certain fineness of phys-
ical texture that she had come from
the better classes. That they were Ger
man was indicated by their name,
That was a period when Europe was
In continual warfare, the main causes
being the issues between the two re.
ligious divisions, Catholics 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 a people depended Oh their success
full defense, for in those days it was
not uncommon on capturing a 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 Oh to the very
ramparts, they carried them at the
point Of their pixies. The leader of the
defenders was killed, and all seemed
lost when q young officer, grasping a
flag that lay on the ground beside the
dead body Of the man who had borne
1t and raising it aloft, cried out to his
comrades to meet death like men, since
they must die, and not wait to be
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
were climbing over the breastworks,
were checked, then recoiling gave way
and clambered back over the walls and
fled down the declivity.
The city was saved. But there was a
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 a stretcher and carried to q
hospital, where the doctors did what
they could to 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 besieged
with anxious inquiries regarding him,
to which they could only respond with
out comfort. The unconscious hero lay
in a stupor for hours, then groaned and
opened his eyes. Near him sat q
young girl who was evidently a nurse.
"Is the city saved?" he cried, with as
much vigor as he could command.
"It is, and you are considered its
savior"
The man closed his eyes again and
fell back into Inconsistencies.
Six weeks later a ceremony vas held
at the palace. The sovereign gave an
audience to the hero, who had recov.
cred, at which a gold medal was to be
presented him on one side Of which
| was his name, on the other an inscrip.
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, I ask the honor Of pinning this
| medal on our hero's breast"
ut 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"
AS the girl attached the decoration
it was plain to all present who saw the
| lovelight 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 he now discover
ed was a connection Of the prince
There is a great gulf fixed between
royal and plebeian blood, and the
couple knew that even the savior OF
a 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 hin
would be far worse than death he said
care you willing to resign your ranl
for me"
"Iam."
'Then go with me to that far country
beyond the Atlantic, where those who
would be free from u European in
justices are making themselves new
homes. There live unknown as a 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"
II have chosen. l will go with you
When a few months later a plainly
dressed bride descended from a shiI
and stepped on to the dock at Philadel
phia those looking on were strucl
with the high born air that chung tt
her even in the wilds Of America. Th'
couple called themselves Wehrenstein
which was an assumed name. Nothing
of the hero who had saved the city re
NAMED to the man; nothing Of the prin
cess remained to the woman, except
bearing neither could lay off. 10 tn