andreas hofer-第52节

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ghastly　than　before。

〃Eliza　Wallner　fought；　then；　very　bravely　againstagainst　my
countrymen？〃　he　asked；　pantingly。

〃No；　she　did　not　fight；　sir；　but　she　went　into　the　thickest　shower
of　bullets　to　carry　away　the　wounded　Tyrolese；　and　attend　to　their
injuries；　and　she　drove　a　hay…wagon　directly　toward　the　enemy；　and
our　men　were　concealed　behind　the　hay；　and　she　brought　a　keg　of　wine
to　our　men　while　the　bullets　were　whistling　round　her；　and；　finally；
she　and　the　other　women　escorted　the　Bavarian　prisoners　to　Castle
Steinach。〃

The　young　man　uttered　a　cry；　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。

〃What　a　disgrace；　oh；　what　a　disgrace！〃　he　groaned；　despairingly；
and　in　his　grief　he　seemed　to　have　entirely　forgotten　the　presence
of　the　servant；　for　he　wept；　wept　so　bitterly　that　large　scalding
tears　trickled　down　between　his　fingers。　〃Our　brave　soldiers　were
defeated　by　miserable　peasants；〃　he　wailed。　〃The　Bavarian　prisoners
were　marched　off　under　an　escort　of　women！〃

Schroepfel　stood　as　if　petrified；　and　this　outburst　of　the　grief　of
the　usually　haughty　and　laconic　young　man　filled　him　with　the　utmost
surprise　and　confusion。

However；　the　captain　suddenly　dried　his　tears　and　dropped　his　hands
from　his　face。

〃And　Eliza　Wallner；　you　say；　led　the　women　who　escorted　the　Bavarian
prisoners？〃　he　asked；　in　a　firm；　almost　menacing　voice。

〃Yes；　sir；　she　did；〃　said　Schroepfel。　〃And　now　her　father　is
reconciled　with　her；　and；　to　prove　it；　he　will　marry　his　daughter　to
you　to…day。〃

The　captain　said　nothing；　only　a　proud；　scornful　smile　played　around
his　lips　for　a　moment。

〃Yes；〃　added　Schroepfel；　〃the　wedding　will　come　off　to…day。
Immediately　after　their　return　the　procession　will　move　to　the
church；　where　a　thanksgiving　service　will　be　held；　it　will　be
followed　by　the　marriage　ceremony。　Mr。　Wallner　wrote　to　his　wife　to
send　you　to　the　church　as　soon　as　the　bells　commenced　ringing；　and
to　keep　you　in　the　vestry　until　you　were　sent　for。　Remember；
therefore；　as　soon　as　the　bells　commence　ringing；　I　shall　call　for
you　and　take　you　to　the　vestry。〃

The　young　man　was　silent；　and　gazed　thoughtfully　before　him；　be　then
threw　back　his　head　with　an　air　of　bold　resolution。

〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　accompany　you。　Did　you　not　say　that
my　baggage　had　been　sent　hither　from　the　castle？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Miss　Elza　sent　every　thing　hither　by　her　servants；　and
she　herself　came　with　them。　And　during　the　first　days；　when　you　had
the　wound…fever；　she　came　here　at　least　three　times　a　day　and　asked
how　you　were；　and　cried　and　lamented；　and　entreated　me　for　God's
sake　to　admit　her　to　your　room　only　for　a　brief　moment。　But　I　had
sworn　not　to　admit　any　one　to　my　prisoner；　nor　to　permit　him　to
speak　with　any　one；　hence；　I　could　not　make　an　exception　even　in
favor　of　the　kind…hearted　young　lady。　She　comes　nevertheless　every
day　and　inquires　about　you；　and　she　begged　hard　and　long　until　Mrs。
Wallner　permitted　her　to　send　your　dinner　always　from　the　castle。　As
you　will　be　free　to…day；　I　may　tell　you　all　this；　for　it　will　no
longer　do　any　harm。〃

〃No；　it　will　no　longer　do　any　harm；〃　said　the　captain；　with　a
peculiar　smile。　〃Listen；　I　wish　to　dress　up　for　to…day's　ceremony；
and　don　my　gala　uniform。　Therefore　be　so　kind　as　to　fetch　it。〃

〃I　will；　captain；　I　will　fetch　the　uniform　and　be　back　directly；〃
said　Schroepfel；　cheerfully；　limping　hastily　toward　the　door。　But
outside　he　stood　still　and　pressed　his　finger　thoughtfully　to　his
nose。　〃I　do　not　know　exactly　what　to　think　of　it；〃　he　murmured　to
himself。　〃At　first　he　uttered　a　loud　cry　and　said　Lizzie　Wallner　was
not　his　betrothed；　afterward　he　lamented　piteously　because　Lizzie
Wallner　escorted　the　Bavarian　prisoners；　and　finally　he　asked　for
his　gala　uniform　in　order　to　dress　up　for　the　ceremony。　Well；　we
shall　see　very　soon　if　he　has　honest　intentions　toward　Lizzie　and
really　loves　her。　If　he　thinks　he　can　play　her　a　trick；　he　had
better；　beware；　for　I　shall　never　lose　sight　of　him；　I　shall　always
be　behind　him；　and　if　he　does　not　treat　the　girl　as　he　ought　to；　I
will　strike　him　down　with　my　fists　like　a　mad　bull！　I　will　do　it；　so
help　me　God！〃




CHAPTER　XXI。

THE　CATASTROPHE。


The　bells　were　ringing；　the　men　were　rejoicing；　and　the　girls　of
Windisch…Matrey　and　its　environs　took　position　with　baskets　of
flowers　on　both　sides　of　the　street。　For　the　victorious　defenders　of
the　country　were　approaching；　their　cheers　were　already　heard　at　a
distance；　and　they　already　saw　the　merry　boys　who　had　gone　out　to
meet　them；　and　who　now　headed　the　procession　amid　manifestations　of
the　liveliest　delight。　Yes；　they　were　coming；　they　were　coming！
Yonder；　down　the　mountain…slope；　moved　the　motley　procession　of　the
Tyrolese；　resembling　a　glittering　serpent　of　gigantic　proportions。
How　their　rifles　flashed　in　the　sun！　How　beautifully　the　bouquets
adorned　their　pointed　green　hats！　And　now　they　were　already　able　to
distinguish　the　faces　and　the　individual　forms。　Immediately　behind
the　boys；　at　the　head　of　the　procession；　walked　Anthony　Wallner…
Aichberger。　How　splendid　the　commander…in…chief　looked；　and　how
beautiful　was　Lizzie；　walking　by　his　side；　handsomely　dressed；　and
wearing　a　beautiful　bouquet　in　her　bosom！　Her　attentive　father　had
despatched　a　special　messenger　to　his　wife　for　Lizzie's　holiday
dress　and　her　trinkets；　so　that　Lizzie；　the　pride　and　joy　of　his
heart；　might　make　her　entrance　in　a　becoming　manner　into　Windisch…
Matrey。

Lizzie　looked　really　splendid　in　her　holiday　attire。　Her　raven　hair；
flowing　down　in　heavy　tresses　on　her　neck；　was　interwoven　with　dark
red　ribbons；　and　large　rosettes　of　the　same　color　were　fastened　with
silver　pins　to　her　head。　Her　low…necked　corset；　adorned　with　silver
trimmings；　was　fastened　on　the　breast　with　silver　chains；　and　above
it　rose　a　white　chemisette　trimmed　with　laces；　and　veiling　chastely
her　faultless　bust　and　beautifully…shaped　shoulders。　Large　white
sleeves　covered　her　arms　and　were　fastened　to　her　wrists　with　dark…
red　rosettes。　An　ample　skirt　of　fine　dark…red　wool；　trimmed　with
black　velvet；　fell　from　her　slender　waist　down　to　her　ankles；　and
her　small　feet　were　encased　in　handsome　stockings　and　shoes　adorned
with　large　silver　buckles。　The　boys　had　brought　to　her　the　splendid
bouquet　which　she　wore　in　her　bosom；　and　had　told　her；　amid　laughter
and　cheers；　that　her　betrothed　sent　her　the　bouquet　as　a　wedding…
present。

But　these　words　had　rendered　Lizzie　silent　and　sad。　The　smile　had
disappeared　from　her　lips；　and　the　color　had　faded　from　her　cheeks；
she　looked　anxiously　at　her　father；　but　he　nodded　to　her　and　said
laughingly：　〃Do　not　ask　me　any　questions　to…day；　Lizzie；　for　I　will
not　tell　you　any　thing。　Await　quietly　the　events　that　will　take
place；　and　bear　in　mind　that　your　father　loves　you　dearly；　and　is
anxious　to　make　his　little　daughter　happy　and　contented。〃

Eliza　tried　to　divine　what　these　words　of　her　father　meant；　and　a
gloomy　foreboding；　a　terror　which　she　was　unable　to　explain　to
herself；　filled　her　heart。

She　listened　no　longer　to　the　joyous　shouts　of　the　boys；　and　ceased
singing　with　Panzl　the　fine　songs　of　the　Tyrolese　mountains；　but
walked　along；　pale；　silent；　and　hanging　her　head。

Now　they　reached　Windisch…Matrey；　and　stood　still　at　the　entrance　of
the　street；　where　the　clergy；　municipal　authorities；　and　the
beautifully…dressed　girls；　bade　them　welcome。　Oh；　it　was　a　soul…
stirring　moment；　a　sacred　festival　of　welcome！　The　brave　men　had
gone　out　to　fight　for　their　native　country；　their　emperor；　and　the
liberties　of　the　Tyrol；　and　God　had　granted　them　victory。　He　had
assisted　them　in　all　contests；　the　country　was　free；　the　emperor　was
again　master　of　the　Tyrol；　and　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey　returned
victoriously　to　their　homes。　All　seemed　to　greet　them　with　glowing
looks　of　love；　the　whole　earth　seemed　to　shout　〃Welcome！〃　to　them。
Even　the　glistening　snow…clad　summits　of　the　Gross…Glockner　seemed
to　look　at　them　over　the　other　mountains　with　an　air　of　curiosity
and　solemn　kindness；　and　on　the　green　mountain…pastures　stood　the
red　cows　so　proud　and　handsome；　as　if　they　had　placed　themselves
there　for　the　purpose　of　adorning　the　landscape　for　the　returning
heroes。　And　the　wild　Iselbach　murmured　merrily　at　the　roadside　and
sent　its　silvery　spray　into　the　air；　and　the　boys　laughed　and　sang；
the　bells　pealed　so　loudly　and　solemnly；　and　received　ringing
responses　from　the　villages　farther　down　in　the　valley；　the　priests
stood　with　solemn；　devout　faces　at　the　entrance　of　the　place；
blessing　the　heroes　with　uplifted　hands；　and　eyes　turned　to　heaven；
and　the　girls　and　matrons；　strewing　flowers　to　the　returning　men；
stood　on　both　sides　of　the　street；　and　greeted　them　with　beaming
smiles。

Oh；　this　sweet；　sublime　moment　silenced　all　cares　and　doubts。　The
smile　returned　to　Eliza's　lips；　her　cheeks　crimsoned；　and　her　eyes
beamed　with　the　purest　joy。　With　a　loud　cry　of　delight　she　threw
herself　into　the　arms　of　her　mother；　and　kissed　her　a　thousand
times；　and　scarcely　listened　to　the　address　of　the　curate；　who
returned　thanks　to　her　in　the　name　of　the　whole　parish　for　her
courage　and　the　assistance　she　had　ren