andreas hofer-第98节

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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　that　I　cannot　act　otherwise；〃　he　said；　anxiously。
〃But　you　are　sad？　I　see　a　cloud　on　your　forehead；　Eliza。〃

〃No；　not　a　cloud；〃　she　exclaimed；　shaking　her　head。　〃Every　thing　is
clear　in　my　mind；　and　I　see　distinctly　what　I　must　do。　Come；　then；
to　the　chapel　at　nine；　every　thing　will　be　in　readiness　there。〃

〃You　will　be　there；　my　lovely　bride；〃　exclaimed　Ulrich；　blissfully；
opening　his　arms　to　her。　〃Oh；　do　not　avoid　me；　Eliza；　you　are　mine
now；　your　place　is　on　my　heart；　do　not　avoid　me！　See；　I　am
submissive　and　obedient；　and　I　will　not　take　what　you　do　not　give　me
of　your　own　accord。　But　give　me　now　your　bridal　present；　Eliza；　give
me　the　first　kiss　of　love！〃

〃No；　sir；〃　she　said；　almost　anxiously；　〃on　the　wedding…day　no　pious
bride　must　desecrate　her　lips　by　kissing　or　partaking　of　food　before
going　to　the　altar。　Only　devout　thoughts　should　fill　her　heart；　and
she　ought　to　pray　and　implore　the　saints　to　vouchsafe　happiness　to
her。　Let　me　go；　therefore；　and　fulfil　my　sacred　duties。〃

〃Yes；　my　sweet；　innocent　dove；　I　will　let　you　go；〃　said　Ulrich；
gently。　〃Pray　to　God　and　the　saints　for　you　and　me；　but　be　punctual
to…night。〃

〃I　shall；　sir。　Now；　farewell。　Go　out　by　this　door；　for　Elza　is
coming　to　me。　I　have　to　tell　her　a　great　many　things　yet。〃

〃She　will　know　your　secret　then？　You　will　confide　to　her　what　I　am
not　to　betray　to　any　one？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　shall　tell　her　nothing　about　it。　No　one　but　God　must
know　my　secret。　For　the　last　time；　then；　farewell；　sir！〃

〃Farewell；　Eliza！　Oh；　give　me　your　hand！　Let　me　press　it　once　to　my
heart！　Oh；　fear　nothing；　Eliza；　my　unholy　lips　shall　not　desecrate
even　your　hand　to…day。　Now　I　will　go；　my　child；　farewell　until　to…
night；　my　sweet　love！〃

He　bowed　to　her　with　a　blissful　smile；　and　left　the　room　quickly。
Eliza　looked　after　him；　motionless；　breathless；　listening　to　his
footsteps；　and　heaving　a　deep　sigh　when　they　died　away　in　the
distance。　Then　she　laid　both　her　hands　convulsively　on　her　heart。

〃Oh；　it　is　in　great　pain！〃　she　murmured。　〃It　seemed　at　one　time　as
though　it　would　break；　and　as　though　I　should　die　on　the　spot。　But　I
must　not　die；　nor　even　weep。　And　I　feel　that　the　good　God　helps　me；
and　that　he　approves　of　what　I　am　going　to　do。　It　was　God　Himself
who　prompted　me　to　ask　Ulrich　if　he　would　accompany　me　to　my　father。
He　was　obliged　to　reply　that　he　could　not　go　to　the　enemy；　though
this　enemy　was　to　become　his　father…in…law。　When　he　told　me　that；　my
heart　bridled　up；　and　was　once　more　glad　and　strong。　I　knew　all　at
once　that　I　was　doing　right；　and　I　will　carry　out　my　plan　to　the
bitter　end。　But　hush；　hush！　here　comes　Elza！　I　must　put　on　a
cheerful　face　now。〃

〃Lizzie；　my　Lizzie；　are　you　here？〃　asked　Elza；　opening　the　door。

〃Yes；　here　I　am；　Elza；〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　who　hastened　with　a　smiling
face　to　her　friend。

〃And　where　is　Ulrich？　Why　is　he　not　here？　Oh；　I　sat　with　such　a
throbbing　heart　at　father's　bedside；　I　longed　so　much　for　him　to
fall　asleep！　Oh；　Lizzie；　I　have　to　tell　you　so　many　things！　Ah；　you
do　not　know　how　happy　I　was　during　this　splendid；　charming　journey！
To　be　always　by　Ulrich's　side；　what　a　bliss！　And　how　tenderly　and
attentively　he　took　care　of　my　dear　old　father；　just　like　a　good；
grateful　son；　who　would　like　to　guess　from　his　father's　eyes　every
wish　he　might　entertain。　I　often　wept　tears　of　joy　on　seeing　him
support　my　father；　almost　carrying　him　into　the　carriage；　and
arranging　his　seat　for　him；　and　on　hearing　him　comfort　the　old　man
in　gentle　yet　manly　words。　Ulrich　did　not　speak　of　God　and　the
saints；　and　yet　what　he　said　was　pious；　pious　as　a　prayer　of　holy
charity。　Oh；　how　noble；　good；　brave；　and　gentle；　Ulrich　is！〃

〃And　you　love　him；　Elza；　do　you　not？〃

〃Yes。　I　love　him　with　all　my　heart；　and　shall　for　evermore。　But
where　is　he？　Where　is　Ulrich？　Was　he　not　with　you？〃

〃He　was；　Elza；　he　left　me　at　the　moment　when　you　came。〃

〃He　was　here　so　long？　And　what　did　you　speak　of？　Oh；　tell　me；　Eliza；
what　did　you　speak　of？〃

〃Of　you；　Elza；〃　said　Eliza；　with　a　wondrous；　radiant　expression。

〃Ah；　of　me！〃　exclaimed　Elza；　joyfully。　〃Oh；　tell　me；　Lizzie；　do　you
think　he　loves　me？〃

〃I　do　not　believe　it；　Elza；　I　know　it　for　certain。　He　intrusted　me
with　an　important　commission　for　you；　and　asks　of　you　a　great　proof
of　your　love。　Come；　Elza；　let　us　go　to　my　room。　We　will　be　sure
there　not　to　be　overheard　by　any　one。　I　will　tell　you　everything
there。〃




CHAPTER　XXXVIII。

THE　WEDDING。


Night　had　come；　and　the　people　of　Innspruck　had　not　yet　set　bounds
to　their　rejoicings。　All　the　streets　were　brilliantly　illuminated；　a
festive　performance　was　played　at　the　theatre；　and　the　apartments　at
the　imperial　palace　began　to　fill　with　the　guests　who　had　been
invited　to　the　ball。

But　while　the　palace　was　shining　with　splendid　lustre　for　the　first
and　last　time　during　the　reign　of　Andreas　Hofer；　one　of　its　wings
had　remained　gloomy　and　silent。　It　seemed　as　though　the　loud　voices
of　the　world　shrank　from　penetrating　hither。　Even　the　sentinel
pacing　the　long；　deserted　corridor；　trod　more　softly　and　crossed
himself　every　time　he　reached　the　end　of　the　passage。　For　the
imperial　chapel　lay　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　in　this　wing　of　the
palace；　and　through　the　high　windows　there　one　could　look　down　upon
the　altar　and　the　holy　lamp。

The　sentinel　had　just　walked　up　the　corridor　once　more　slowly　and
dreamily；　when　he　suddenly　saw　two　men　coming　along。　He　stood　still
respectfully　and　presented　arms。　These　two　men　were　Andreas　Hofer；
the　commander…in…chief；　and　Old　Red…beard；　Joachim　Haspinger；　who
was　walking　by　his　side；　in　his　brown　cowl　and　his　heavy　leather
shoes。　On　approaching　the　sentinel；　Andreas　Hofer　stood　still　and
nodded　kindly　to　him。　〃It　is　not　necessary　for　you；　Joe；　to　stand
here　all　alone　and　present　arms。　I　know　you　are　one　of　the　best
dancers　in　the　Passeyr　valley；　and　as　there　is　a　ball　at　the　palace；
you　had　better　go　there　and　dance。　I　believe　the　good　God　Himself
will　watch　over　His　chapel　here。〃

〃Much　obliged　to　you；　commander…in…chiefmuch　obliged　to　you！〃
exclaimed　the　soldier；　joyfully；　and　he　ran　down　the　corridor　as
fast　as　his　feet　would　carry　him。　〃How　gay　and　high…spirited　these
young　folks　are！〃　sighed　Hofer。

〃And　why　are　you　not　merry　too；　brother　Andy？〃　asked　the　Capuchin。
〃A　great　honor　was　conferred　upon　you　to…day；　they　paid　you　homage
and　cheered　you　as　though　you　were　the　Messiah。　The　whole　city　is
illuminated　for　your　sake　to…night；　at　the　theatre；　the　orchestra
played　flourishes　three　times；　and　the　whole　audience　rose　the
moment　the　commander…in…chief　entered　the　house。　But　scarcely　had
the　morose　hero　been　there　a　quarter　of　an　hour　when　he　sneaked　off
again。　I　followed　him　stealthily；　and　found　him　at　last　in　his
office；　and　while　the　whole　city　is　rejoicing；　he　sits　at　the　table
covered　with　papers；　and　weeps　big　tears　into　his　beard！〃

〃But　I　told　you；　brother；　that　couriers　had　arrived　from　the　valley
of　the　Adige；　and　informed　me　that　the　prospects　of　our　cause　are
very　gloomy　there。　The　people　are　split　up　into　factions；　which　are
engaged　in　bitter　wranglings。　How　can　I　rejoice　at　the　extraordinary
honors　paid　to　me；　when　there　are　such　dark　spots　in　the　country？〃
＇Footnote：　Andreas　Hofer's　own　words。See　〃Bilder　und　Erinnerungen
aus　Tyrols　Freiheitskampfen　von　1809；〃　by　Loritza；　p。　13。＇

〃Do　not　think　of　that　now；　Andy。　The　Lord　has　helped　us　hitherto；
and　He　will　help　us　henceforward；　for　our　cause　is　just；　and　no
enemy　is　able　to　stand　up　against　it。〃

〃And　do　you　think；　brother；　that　what　we　are　going　to　do　now　is　also
good　and　just？〃　asked　Hofer；　hesitatingly。

〃Yes；　I　do；　Barbone。　Lizzie　Wallner　is　a　noble；　brave　girl；　and　the
good　God　and　His　angels　love　her。〃

〃Well；　if　you　say　so；　brother　Capuchin；　it　must　be　all　right；　for
you　are　a　priest　of　the　Lord；　and　would　certainly　not　consent　to
cheat　God　in　so　holy　a　place。〃

〃God　cannot　be　cheated；〃　said　the　Capuchin；　solemnly；　〃only　short…
sighted　man　can。　Now；　Lizzie　Wallner　has　keen　eyes　and　a　pure　heart；
hence　she　looks　into　the　future；　and　sees　what　the　short…sighted
Bavarian　cannot　see；　and　helps　him　and　herself　to　escape　from　the
abyss　into　which　both　of　them　would　otherwise　fall。　She　is　a　genuine
heroine；　and　I　am　proud　and　fond　of　her。　Otherwise　I　should　not　have
come　to　Innspruck　to…day。　I　came　only　for　her　sake　and　at　her　urgent
request。　We　are　exceedingly　busy　at　the　earthworks　near　the　Pass　of
Lueg；　and　look　from　day　to　day　for　the　Bavarians　to　attack　us。　Hence
I　must　return　there　this　very　night；　that　I　may　be　with　our　men　to…
morrow　in　case　there　should　be　a　fight。〃

〃God　grant　that　you　may　be　victorious！〃　sighed　Andreas。

〃But　hark！　the　clock　strikes　nine；　and　the　sexton　is　already
lighting　the　candles　on　the　altar。〃

〃But　he　has　been　instructed　to　light　only　two　of　them；　lest　there
should　be　too　much　light；〃　said　the　Capuchin。　〃Let　us　go　down　now；
brother　Andreas；　and　do　not　forget　what　you　have　to　do。　When　the
bride　enters　by　the　small　side…door；　you　g