andreas hofer-第53节

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returned　thanks　to　her　in　the　name　of　the　whole　parish　for　her
courage　and　the　assistance　she　had　rendered　to　her　countrymen
wounded　in　battle。

But　now　Eliza　heard　a　dear　familiar　voice；　which　caused　her　to　raise
herself　from　her　mother's　arms　and　look　up。　Yes；　it　was　the　old；
kind…hearted　Baron　von　Hohenberg　who　was　standing　before　her；　and
held　out　his　hand　to　her　with　his　sunniest　and　kindest　smile。　〃My
brave　daughter；〃　he　said；　feelingly；　〃give　me　your　hand。　You　know
that　I　love　you　as　though　you　were　my　own　child；　and　now　I　am　proud
of　you；　for　you　have　become　a　heroine；　and　have　done　honor　to　our
Tyrol。　Elza　was　right　after　all　in　always　calling　you　another　Maid
of　Orleans；　and　saying　you　were　a　born　heroine。〃

〃But　where　is　Elza？〃　said　Lizzie；　anxiously；　to　the　old　castellan。

〃Here　I　am；　dearest　Eliza；〃　said　the　young　lady；　who　had　hitherto
kept　herself　behind　her　father　and　the　clergyman。

〃Oh；　my　Elza；　my　dear；　dear　Elza！〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　rapturously；　and
she　encircled　her　friend's　neck　with　her　arms；　and　imprinted　a
glowing　kiss　on　her　lips。

But　she　felt　that　Elza's　lips　quivered；　that　she　did　not　return　the
kiss；　nor　press　the　friend　to　her　heart；　and　it　seemed　to　Eliza　as
though　a　cold　hand　suddenly　touched　her　heart　and　pressed　it　rudely
and　cruelly。　She　raised　her　head　from　Elza's　shoulder；　and　looked
her　full　in　the　face。　It　was　not　until　now　that　she　saw　how　pale
Elza　was；　how　red　her　eyes　with　weeping；　and　how　forced　her　smile。

〃You　are　sick；　Elza；〃　she　said；　anxiously。

〃No；〃　whispered　Elza；　〃I　am　not。〃

〃Then　you　love　your　Lizzie　no　longer？〃　asked　Eliza；　pressingly。

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　Elza；　in　a　hollow　voice；　and　with　a　wondrously
mournful　smile。　〃I　do　love　you；　and；　to　prove　it；　I　present　you　with
this　wreath。　God　bless　you；　dear　Lizzie；　may　He　grant　you
happiness！〃

〃Elza；〃　cried　Eliza；　anxiously；　〃Elza；　pray　come　to　me　and　tell　me
what　it　means；　what〃

〃Hush；　Lizzie；　hush；〃　said　her　father；　seizing　her　hand　and　drawing
her　forward。　〃Do　you　not　see　that　the　procession　is　moving　on；　and
that　we　must　go　with　it？　See；　the　curate　and　the　castellan　are
already　far　ahead；　and　we　must　go　too。〃

〃But　where；　father；　where？〃

〃To　the　church；　you　dear　little　goose！〃

〃To　the　church？　What　are　we　to　do　there？　Why　do　we　not　go　home？〃

〃Have　you　become　so　impious　during　your　campaign；　Lizzie；　as　not　to
know　that　we　must　always　render　homage　to　God　first　and　above　all
things？　We　are　going　to　church　to　return　thanks；　come　with　me；　and
ask　no　more　questions。〃

〃But　I　will　take　off　the　myrtle…wreath！〃　exclaimed　Lizzie；　lifting
her　hand　anxiously　to　the　wreath。　But　her　father　drew　back　her　hand。

〃No；　Lizzie；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　remove　the　wreath。　It　fits　well　on
your　head。〃

〃But　I　am　no　bride　going　to　church　on　her　wedding…day。〃

〃Really；　Lizzie；　are　you　not；〃　asked　her　father；　laughing。

〃But　hush　now；　my　child；　we　are　already　at　the　church…door；　and　do
you　not　hear　the　glorious　swelling　notes　of　the　organ？　Let　us　enter
the　church；　dear　Lizzie。〃

He　drew　her　forward；　and　Eliza　followed　him：　but　indescribable
anguish　oppressed　her　soul；　she　did　not　know　why；　and　she　felt　as
though　something　dreadful　were　about　to　happen　here；　and　as　though
she　ought　to　flee；　flee　far　into　the　mountains；　into　solitude。

But　her　father　held　her　by　the　hand；　and　walked　with　her　up　the　main
aisle　to　the　large　altar。　Rows　of　chairs；　decorated　with　flowers；
had　been　placed　here；　and　Eliza　had　to　seat　herself　on　one　of　these
chairs；　by　her　side　sat　her　father；　opposite　her；　the　castellan　and
her　friend　Elza；　then　came　the　municipality；　and　John　Panzl；
lieutenant…commander　of　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey；　and　behind　them
stood　the　dense　crowd　of　the　sharpshooters　of　the　Pusterthal。

Eliza　cast　a　searching　glance　on　the　dense　crowd；　she　looked　at　all
the　pews；　and　yet　she　did　not　know　what　she　was　looking　for；　nor
what　alarmed　her　heart　so　much。

All　at　once　she　started　in　sudden　terror；　and　her　cheek　turned
deadly　pale。　Yonder；　behind　the　windows　of　the　vestry；　she　beheld　a
young　man　in　a　handsome　uniform；　it　was　he；　he　whom　she　had　looked
for　without　knowing　it　herself；　he　from　whose　sight　her　heart　had
shrunk　with　anxiety　and　dismay。　And　yet　Eliza　had　longed　to　see　him；
for　she　had　been　uneasy　on　his　account；　she　had　feared　lest　he
should　still　suffer　gravely　from　the　consequences　of　his　wound。　But
she　had　not　dared　to　ask　any　one　about　him；　hence；　she　was　glad　to
see　that　he　was　well；　and　showed　her　gladness　in　her　gaze　at　him。
Their　eyes　met；　but　he　looked　upon　her　with　an　expression　of　hatred
and　contempt；　a　haughty；　disdainful　smile　played　round　his　lips；　and
he　threw　back　his　head　superciliously；　instead　of　nodding　pleasantly
to　her。

Eliza　felt　a　terrible　pain　in　her　heart；　she　wished　to　jump　up；　she…
…All　at　once　she　heard　her　name　drop　from　the　lips　of　the　curate；
who　was　standing　before　the　altar；　and　who　had　just　concluded　the
thanksgiving　prayer。　What　did　he　saywhy　did　he　mention　her？　She
held　her　breath　to　listen　to　him。　Great　heavens！　another　name　fell
from　the　curate's　lips。　He　uttered　the　name　of　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；
he　proclaimed　him　the　bridegroom　of　Eliza　Wallner；　who　was　present；
he　called　upon　Captain　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　to　appear　before　the
altar；　and　receive　the　consecration　of　his　union　with　his　betrothed
in　the　presence　of　all　these　witnesses。

With　a　hollow　groan；　crushed；　and　as　if　broken…hearted；　Eliza　sank
back　into　her　chair；　and　her　pale　lips　murmured

〃Now　I　am　lost；　and　so　is　he？〃

〃Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；〃　shouted　the　priest　at　the　altar；　〃come
hither　and　take　your　bride　by　the　hand。〃

The　door　of　the　vestry　opened；　and　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　stepped　in。
His　tall；　slender　form　presented　a　very　fine　appearance　in　the
brilliant　gala　uniform；　a　flashing　cross　adorned　his　breast；　in　his
hand　he　held　his　gold…laced　hat；　with　the　waving　white　plume；　only
the　sword　was　wanting　to　his　side；　and　this　alone　betokened　his
humiliating　position；　and　showed　that　he　was　a　prisoner　amidst　all
these　armed　men。　But　the　consciousness　of　this　fact　seemed　not　to
humiliate　him；　for　he　walked　up；　his　head　proudly　raised；　and　his
stern；　cold　eyes　gazing　scornfully　upon　the　assembly。

He　stepped　close　up　to　the　altar。　〃Reverend　father；〃　he　said；　in　a
clear；　loud　voice　to　the　priest；　〃you　have　called　me。　Here　I　am。
What　do　you　want　of　me？〃

〃I　have　called　you；　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　to　marry　you　to　your
betrothed。　Eliza　Wallner；　step　to　the　side　of　your　bridegroom。〃

But　Eliza　Wallner　did　not　rise　from　her　chair；　she　leaned　her　head；
almost　in　a　swoon；　against　the　back　of　her　chair；　and　stared；　as　if
unconscious　of　what　was　going　on　around　her；　at　the　priest　and　the
young　man；　who　fixed　his　eyes　on　her　at　this　moment　with　an　air　of
cold　contempt。

〃Eliza　Wallner；〃　he　cried　aloud；　〃do　not　come　hither；　for　I　am　not
your　betrothed；　and　never　shall　you　become　my　wife！　〃

A　deafening　cry　of　rage　burst　from　all　lips：　the　eyes　of　all　the
brave　men　in　the　church　flashed　with　anger；　and　they　laid　their
hands　menacingly　on　their　rifles。

But　Anthony　Wallner　sprang　to　his　feet；　pale　with　rage；　his　eyes
shooting　fire；　like　those　of　an　angry　tiger；　rushed　toward　the
captain；　and　sized　his　arm。

〃What！〃　he　cried；　furiously；　〃you　infamous；　perjured　scoundrel；
refuse　to　marry　my　daughter？　First　you　stole　her　love；　you　promised
to　marry　her；　and　now　that　I　would　give　her　to　you；　you　refuse　to
take　her！〃

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　cried　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　almost　joyously。　〃Never
will　Eliza　Wallner；　the　peasant…girl；　become　my　wife；　never　will　I
stoop　so　low　as　to　allow　a　wife　to　be　forced　upon　me；　merely　to　save
my　life；　and　least　of　all　her　who　has　fought　against　my　countrymen
and　brethren；　who　participated　in　the　studied　insult　inflicted　upon
the　brave　soldiers　of　my　king；　and　in　the　infamous　treason　you　have
all　committed　against　your　king　and　lord。　Yes；　I　tell　you；　you　are
infamous　rebels　and　traitors；　and　you　think　I；　Captain　Ulrich　von
Hohenberg；　a　soldier　who　took　the　oath　of　allegiance　to　his　king；
could　act　so　dishonorably　and　meanly　as　to　join　the　rebels！　No；
never！　Never　will　the　daughter　of　the　rebel　Anthony　Wallner　become
my　wife！　Kill　me　now　if　you　want　to　do　so。　You　may　take　my　life；　but
you　cannot　dishonor　me！〃

Eliza　sat　still　motionless；　and　as　if　petrified。　She　had　heard；　as
if　in　a　dream；　the　captain's　words；　and；　as　if　in　a　dream；　she　saw
that　Schroepfel　rushed　forward　and　raised　his　powerful　arm　against
him；　and　that　all　the　men　crowded　up　to　him　with　menacing　gestures；
as　if　in　a　dream；　she　heard　wild　shouts　and　imprecations。

All　at　once　two　ice…cold；　trembling　hands　seized　Eliza's　arms；　and　a
beloved　voice　penetrated　her　ear　with　the　vehemence　of　mortal
anguish　and　terror。

〃Eliza！〃　cried　this　voice〃Eliza；　will　you　allow　them　to　kill　him？〃

〃Elza！〃　murmured　Eliza；　as　if　starting　up　from　a　trance；　〃Elza；　what
is　the　matter？〃

〃They　will　assassinate　him；　Eliza！〃　wailed　Elza。　〃They　have　tied　and
gagged　him；　and　say　that　they　will　take　him　out　and　shoot　him。
Eliza；　you　alone　can　save　him！　Have　mercy；　forget　what　he　said　in
his　rage　and　grief。　Have　mercy　upon　him；　upon