andreas hofer-第97节

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always　that　I　am　nothing　but　Thy　unworthy　servant；　and　that　Thou
alone　vouchsafest　us　victory　and　blessest　our　cause！〃

The　imperial　palace　was　festively　decorated　to…day；　and　a　splendid
banquet　was　to　take　place　there　in　honor　of　the　celebration。　All　the
functionaries　of　Innspruck　had　been　invited；　a　brilliant　ball　was　to
be　given　at　night　in　the　large　throne…hall；　and　the　beautiful　girls
of　Innspruck　were　to　dance　to　the　inspiring　notes　of　the　orchestra
in　honor　of　the　festive　day。　For　the　first　time　Andreas　Hofer　had
permitted　music　and　dancing；　and　all　the　beautiful　girls　of
Innspruck　were　preparing　to　take　part　in　the　brilliant　festival　and
enjoy　the　rare　amusement。

All　faces　were　radiant；　even　Eliza's　sweet　countenance　was　lit　up
to…day　with　the　sunshine　of　happiness。　A　great　joy　had　fallen　to　her
share　to…day；　for　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　had　arrived　early　in　the
morning；　and　with　him　his　uncle；　old　Baron　von　Hohenberg；　and　his
daughter　Elza。　Ulrich　bad　redeemed　his　promise；　precisely　two　weeks
had　elapsed　since　his　departure；　and　now；　after　these　terrible　days
of　suspense；　which　Eliza　had　passed　in　tears；　in　silence；　and　at　the
same　time　in　mysterious　activity；　Ulrich　had　returned；　and　with　him
Elza；　Eliza's　dearest　friend。

Ulrich　had　looked　on　with　an　expression　of　quiet　happiness　when
Eliza　embraced　her　Elza；　again　and　again　with　tears　of　joy；　she
knelt　down　repeatedly　by　the　side　of　the　couch　on　which　had　been
laid　the　old　baron；　whose　strength　had　been　utterly　exhausted　by　the
journey；　the　excitement；　and　the　sufferings　he　had　endured　in
prison；　she　pressed　his　hands　to　her　lips　tenderly；　and　withal
humbly；　and　thanked　God　that　her　good　old　friend　and　her　Elza；　the
better　half　of　her　life；　bad　been　restored　to　her。

But　after　this　impetuous　and　joyous　meeting；　the　old　baron　felt　so
very　feeble　that　he　urgently　needed　repose　and　silence；　and　Elza　had
to　conduct　him　to　the　bedroom　which　had　been　prepared　for　him。

Eliza　and　Ulrich　were　alone　now。　She　trembled；　and；　wishing　to　avoid
this　tete…a…tete；　glided　softly　to　the　door；　but　Ulrich　hastened
after　her　and　seized　her　hand。

〃Eliza；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　〃I　have　fulfilled　all　your　wishes。　I
have　brought　back　with　me　my　uncle　and　your　friend　Elza；　the　King　of
Bavaria　accepted　the　exchange　which　I　offered；　he　released　the　baron
and　his　daughter；　and　Andreas　Hofer　sets　me　free　in　his　turn。　I　am；
therefore；　no　longer　a　prisoner；　and　as　a　free　man　I　ask　you　now；　do
you　remember　the　oath　you　swore　to　me　on　the　day　of　my　departure？〃

　〃I　do；〃　she　whispered　in　a　low　voice。

〃Repeat　the　oath　to　me；〃　he　said；　imperatively。

〃My　oath　was　as　follows：　'I　swear　by　the　Holy　Virgin　that；　if　you
bring　my　Elza　to　me　here；　you　shall　receive　your　bride；　who　loves
you　with　infinite　tenderness；　at　the　hands　of　the　priest。'〃

〃You　have　not　forgotten　the　words；　Eliza。　But　will　you　fulfil　them
now？〃

〃You　insist　on　it？〃　she　asked；　looking　up　to　him　timidly　and
mournfully。

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　he　said；　with　a　blissful　smile。

〃Well；　then；〃　she　whispered；　almost　inaudibly；　〃I　shall　keep　my
oath。〃

He　uttered　a　joyous　cry；　pressed　her　hand　to　his　lips；　and　gazed
with　an　expression　of　infinite　tenderness　into　her　blushing；
quivering　face。

〃Oh；　do　not　tremble；　love；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　look　anxiously　into　the
future。　I　shall　know　how　to　protect　my　wife　from　grief　and
humiliation。　To　make　you　happy　shall　be　my　sweetest　joy；　to　see　you
honored　and　recognized　by　society　will　be　my　incessant　effort；　as　it
will　be　my　bounden　duty。　You　will　fulfil　your　oath；　and　you　must　do
it　this　very　day。　Let　me　go；　then；　and　get　a　priest；　and　you；　my
sweet　girl；　place　a　myrtle…wreath　on　your　head；　for　I　shall　call　for
you　soon　and　conduct　you　triumphantly　to　the　great　church　of
Innspruck；　for　our　marriage　shall　take　place　publicly　and　in　the
face　of　the　whole　population。〃

〃No；　sir；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　head　gently。　〃I　will　redeem　my
promise；　but　I　beg；　nay；　I　implore　you；　permit　me　to　make　all
necessary　arrangements；　and　let　me　have　for　once　my　own　way。〃

〃And　what　do　you　wish；　then；　beloved？〃

〃I　wish　that　no　one　should　learn　of　our　plan；　and　that　you　should
conceal　it　all　day　long　from　every　one；　and　speak　of　it　to　no　one；
neither　with　your　uncle；　nor　with　Elza；　nor　with　Andreas　Hofer。〃

〃But　how　am　I　to　get　a　priest　to　marry　us？〃

〃Leave　it　all　to　me；　sir。　I　will　get　a　priest。　I　have　confided　only
to　my　dear　old　friend　Joachim　Haspinger；　the　Capuchin；　who　was
lately　in　Innspruck；　what　would　take　place　in　case　you　should　return
with　my　Elza；　and　he　promised　that　he　himself　would　marry　us。
Accordingly；　on　being　informed　this　morning　by　the　courier　of　your
speedy　arrival；　I　sent　at　once　a　mounted　messenger　to　Father
Haspinger；　and　I　am　sure　that　he　will　come　to　Innspruck　to…day。〃

〃You　intended；　then；　to　redeem　your　promise　of　your　own　accord！〃
exclaimed　Ulrich；　joyfully；　〃you　thought　of　it　without　being
reminded　of　it。　Oh；　I　thank　you；　my　Eliza；　for　I　see　now　that　you
really　love　me。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　really　love　you；〃　said　Eliza；　solemnly。　〃You　will　find
it　out　this　very　day。　Will　you　promise　me　now　to　conceal　our　plan
from　every　one；　and　let　me　make　all　necessary　arrangements？〃

〃I　do；　my　sweet　girl。　Tell　me　what　I　am　to　do；　and　I　will　obey　you
silently　and　unconditionally。〃

〃Well；　then；　dear　Ulrich；〃　she　said；　in　a　tremulous　voice；　〃come　to…
night；　at　nine　o'clock；　to　the　chapel　here　in　the　imperial　palace。
As　a　witness；　I　hope　you　will　find　there　our　dear　commander…in…
chief；　Andreas　Hofer。　Father　Haspinger　will　stand　before　the　altar；
and　your　betrothed　will　kneel　before　the　altar　too；　ready　to　become
your　wife；　and　love　and　serve　you　all　her　life。〃

〃And　I　shall　find　there　my　betrothed；　to　whom　I　shall　plight　my
faith　before　the　altar；　and　whom　I　will　love　and　cherish　all　my
life！〃　exclaimed　the　captain；　in　profound　emotion。

She　bent　her　head　gently；　as　if　to　accept　his　solemn　vow。　〃Then　you
will　come　to　the　chapel　at　nine？〃　she　asked。

〃I　will；〃　he　said；　smilingly；　〃and　you　may　be　sure　that　I　shall　be
promptly　on　hand。　I　shall　be　as　punctual　as　the　digger　after　a
hidden　treasure；　who　must　disinter　it　at　the　stated　hour；　if　he　does
not　want　to　lose　it　entirely。　I　shall　be　at　the　chapel　at　nine
o'clock。〃

〃Very　well；　at　nine　o'clock。　And　now　farewell　until　then；　sir。　I
have　a　great　deal　to　attend　to　yet　in　getting　up　the　bridal　dress
and　ornaments；　for　I　do　not　want　you　to　be　ashamed　of　me　to…day；
Ulrich。　Your　bride　must　not　look　like　a　peasant…girl。　She　must　be
dressed　up　beautifully；　like　an　aristocratic　ladylike　Elza；　for
instance。〃

〃Dress　as　you　please；〃　he　said；　smilingly；　〃but　do　not　believe　that
I　shall　ever　be　ashamed　of　the　peasant…girl；　and　try　to　conceal　the
descent　of　my　sweet；　lovely　wife。〃

〃And　will　you　ride　with　me　to…morrow　to　my　father's　house？〃　she
asked。　〃Will　you　present　yourself　to　my　father；　Anthony　Wallner；
commander　of　the　Puster　valley；　as　his　son…in…law？　Oh；　you　know　full
well；　Anthony　Wallner　is　a　hero；　not　only　the　Tyrol；　but　all　Germany
is　familiar　with　the　heroic　deeds　which　he　performed　at　the　battle
of　Taxenbach　against　the　Bavarians。　He　has　taken　the　field　again；
and；　after　joining　the　forces　under　Joseph　Speckbacher；　and　Father
Haspinger；　he　will　attack　the　Bavarians　at　the　Pass　of　Lueg；　and；　if
it　please　God；　defeat　them。　I　suppose；　Ulrich；　you　will　accompany　me
to　my　father；　Anthony　Wallner；　and　ask　your　father…in…law　to　give
you　his　blessing？〃

〃But　you　told　me　just　now；　Eliza；　that　he　is　not　at　home？〃

〃Well；　then；〃　she　exclaimed；　earnestly；　〃we　will　ride　to　the　Pass　of
Lueg。〃

Ulrich　was　silent；　and　looked　down　in　evident　confusion；　he　did　not
see　that　Eliza　fixed　her　eyes　on　him　with　a　searching；　mournful
expression。

〃Eliza；〃　he　said；　after　a　pause；　lifting　his　head　slowly；　〃you
possess　a　magnanimous　heart　and　a　delicate　soul。　Your　heart　will
forgive　me；　therefore；　for　not　fulfilling　your　wish；　and　your　soul
will　understand　that　I　cannot　fulfil　it。　Your　father　is　the
commander　of　the　Tyrolese；　who　have　risen　in　rebellion　against
Bavaria；　and　he　is　fighting　against　the　Bavarians；　my　countrymen　and
comrades。　I　have　recovered　my　liberty；　but　I　had　to　swear　not　to
take　up　arms　again　during　the　present　war　against　the　Tyrolese。　The
King　of　Bavaria　permitted　me　to　take　this　oath；　and　ordered　me　to
return　to　Munich；　where　I　am　to　remain　till　the　end　of　the　war。　I
must　set　out　for　the　Bavarian　capital　to…morrow；　and　my　sweet；
beloved　wife　will　accompany　me。　After　the　war　is　over；　and　when
there　is　peace　again　in　the　beautiful　Tyrol；　I　shall　return　with　my
Eliza　to　her　home；　and　ask　my　father…in…law；　Anthony　Wallner；　to
give　me　his　blessing。　I　shall　be　at　liberty　then　to　praise　his
heroism　loudly；　and　love　and　honor　him　as　my　wife's　father。　Do　you
understand　that　I　cannot　act　otherwise；　beloved？〃

〃I　do；〃　she　replied；　〃I　do　understand　that　the　Bavarian　Captain
Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　cannot　now　go　to　the　Tyrolese　commander；
Anthony　Wallner；　ask　him；　while　he　is　fighting　against　the
Bavarians；　to　bless　him；　and　call　him　father…in…law。　Let　us　leave　it
to　the　future　to　grant　us　peace　and　happiness。〃

〃You　understand