andreas hofer-第99节

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brother　Andreas；　and　do　not　forget　what　you　have　to　do。　When　the
bride　enters　by　the　small　side…door；　you　go　to　meet　her；　take　her
hand；　and　conduct　her　to　the　altar。　After　they　are　married；　you
offer　her　your　hand　again　and　beg　of　her　permission　to　accompany　her
to　the　door　of　her　room。〃

〃All　right；　I　will　do　so；〃　said　Andreas。　〃Come；　let　us　go　down　to
the　chapel。〃

A　dim　twilight　reigned　in　the　small　chapel。　Only　two　of　the　tall
wax…lights　burned　on　the　altar；　and　shed　their　flickering　rays　on
the　vigorous　form　of　the　Capuchin；　who　was　standing　in　front　of　it；
and　praying　in　a　low　voice　with　clasped　hands。　Close　to　him；　near
the　steps　of　the　altar；　stood　Andreas　Hofer；　his　head　bent　down；　and
his　hands　clasped　on　the　small　crucifix　which　was　to　be　seen　about
his　neck　by　the　side　of　the　gold　medal　and　chain。

Footsteps　were　heard　now　in　the　aisle　of　the　chapel；　and　a　tall　man
in　dark　civilian's　dress　approached　the　altar。　Andreas　Hofer　drew
himself　up　to　his　full　height　and　went　to　meet　him。

〃God　bless　you；　Captain　Ulrich！〃　he　said；　kindly；　〃I　hope　you　will
accept　me　as　witness　of　your　marriage。〃

〃I　thank　you；　commander…in…chief；　for　consenting　to　be　our　witness；〃
said　Ulrich；　cordially；　〃and　I　thank　you　also；　Father　Haspinger；　for
coming　to　Innspruck　from　such　a　distance　to　marry　us。〃

〃I　come　whenever　Eliza　Wallner　calls　me　and　needs　me；〃　said　the
Capuchin；　solemnly。

A　small　side…door　now　opened；　and　a　female　form　in　a　long　white　silk
dress　came　in。　Her　head　was　covered　and　concealed　with　a　white　veil；
which　surrounded　her　whole　form　like　a　cloud；　and　flowed　down　to　the
ground。　On　her　head；　over　the　veil；　she　wore　the　diadem　of　the
virgin　and　bride；　a　blooming　myrtle…wreath。

While　Andreas　Hofer　went　to　meet　her　and　took　her　hand　to　conduct
her　to　the　altar；　Ulrich　contemplated　her　with　a　throbbing　heart；
and　unutterable　bliss　filled　his　bosom。

〃She　has　kept　her　word；〃　he　thought；　〃she　has　doffed　the　costume　of
the　Tyrolese　girls　and　thereby　divested　herself　of　her　whole　past。
Oh；　how　splendid　her　form　looks　in　this　dress；　she　seems　taller　and
prouder；　and　yet　so　lovely　and　sweet。〃

He　gazed　at　her　as　she　approached　slowly　with　alight　springing　step；
leaning　on　Andreas　Hofer's　arm；　he　saw　only　her！

He　did　not　hear　a　door　opening　softly　yonder　in　the　vestry；　which
contained　several　latticed　windows；　he　did　not　see　the　dark　female
form　which　approached　the　windows；　and　whose　pale　face　looked　out
for　a　moment　and　then　disappeared　hastily。　He　saw　only　her；　his
beloved；　his　bride；　who　stood　now　by　his　side；　whose　hot；　trembling
hand　now　rested　in　his　own；　and　who　returned　gently　the　tender
pressure　of　his　hand。

And　now　Father　Haspinger　raised　his　voice　and　spoke　in　devout　and
impressive　words　to　the　bride　and　bridegroom　of　the　solemnity　of
this　sacred　hour；　of　the　importance　of　the　union　which　they　were
about　to　enter　upon　before　God；　and　of　the　sacred　duties　the
fulfilment　of　which　they　were　to　vow　before　the　altar。

〃And　now　I　ask　you；　Captain　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；〃　he　said；　in　a
loud　voice；　〃will　you　take　your　betrothed　here　for　your　wife；　and
love　and　cherish　her　all　your　life　long？〃

He　replied　in　a　loud；　joyous　voice；　〃Yes。〃

〃And　you；　young　maiden；〃　added　the　Capuchin；　〃will　you　take　your
betrothed　here　for　your　husband；　and　love　and　cherish　him　all　your
life　long？〃

A　low；　timid　〃Yes〃　fell　from　her　lips。　Stifled　sobs　and　groans
resounded　in　the　direction　of　the　vestry。

〃Join　hands；　then。〃　said　the　Capuchin；　solemnly；　〃and　let　me
exchange　your　rings　in　token　of　your　union。　I　marry　you　now　in　the
name　of　God；　and　henceforth　you　are　man　and　wife。　What　God　hath
joined　together；　let　not　man　put　asunder。　Kneel　down　now　and　receive
the　benediction。〃

The　bride　and　bridegroom　knelt　down　hand…in…hand　before　the　altar；
the　concealed　woman　knelt　down　in　the　vestry　alone；　trembling　and
quivering　with　anguish。

When　the　benediction　had　been　given　and　the　bride　and　bridegroom
arose；　she　rose　likewise　from　her　knees。　〃Holy　Virgin；〃　she　prayed
in　a　low　voice；　〃give　me　strength　now！　Thou　beholdest　my　heart；　and
seest　what　I　am　suffering！　Oh；　be　with　me　in　Thy　mercy；　and　give　me
strength　and　constancy！〃

The　ceremony　was　over　now；　and　Andreas　Hofer　approached　the　bride。
〃As　your　father　was　prevented　from　being　present；〃　he　said；　〃permit
me　to　take　his　place　and　conduct　you　to　your　room。　I　suppose　you　do
not　object　to　it；　Captain　Ulrich！〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　am　obliged　to　you　for　taking　the　place　of　my
sweet　bride's　father。　Lead　the　way；　I　will　follow　you。〃

〃No；　sir；　wait　a　moment；〃　exclaimed　Father　Haspinger；　solemnly。　〃I
must　speak　a　few　words　with　you　privately。〃

〃And　I　have　to　thank　you　for　your　kindness　in　coming　to　our
wedding；〃　said　Ulrich；　standing　still　in　front　of　the　alter　and
following　only　with　his　eyes　his　bride；　who　was　just　leaving　the
chapel　with　Andreas　Hofer　by　the　side…door。

〃Captain　Ulrich；〃　said　the　Capuchin；　after　the　door　had　closed
behind　the　two；　〃I　have　complied　with　Eliza　Wallner's　request；　and
married　you　to　your　betrothed。　You　are　now　man　and　wife；　and　nothing
but　death　can　separate　you　from　your　wife。　Do　not　forget　this；　sir。
But　will　you　also　do　what　I　am　now　about　to　ask　of　you？〃

〃I　promise　to　do　it；　if　it　be　in　my　power。〃

〃In　the　vestry　yonder　is　one　who　wishes　to　see　you。　Go　to　her。　But
promise　me　by　all　that　is　sacred　to　you　that　you　will　listen　to　her
calmly；　that；　whatever　she　may　say　to　you；　you　will　not　inveigh
against　her；　and　that　you　will　overcome　your　heart　and　submit　like　a
brave　man　to　that　which　cannot　be　helped。〃

〃I　do　not　comprehend　what　you　mean；〃　said　Ulrich；　smilingly；　〃but　I
promise　to　submit　like　a　brave　man　to　that　which　cannot　be　helped。〃

〃Go；　then；　to　the　vestry；〃　said　Father　Haspinger；　〃I　will　leave　the
chapel；　for　no　one　except　God　should　hear　what　she　has　to　say　to
you。〃

He　bowed　to　Ulrich；　and　quickly　walked　down　the　passage　to　the　large
door　of　the　chapel。　Ulrich　hastened　to　the　vestry；　and；　opening　the
door；　murmured　to　himself：　〃What　a　strange　mystery！　Who　can　await　me
here？〃

〃I　await　you　here；　sir；〃　said　a　low；　tremulous　voice。

Ulrich　looked　up；　and　stared　at　her　who　stood　before　him　with
clasped　hands　and　gazed　at　him　with　beseeching　eyes。

〃Eliza！〃　he　exclaimed；　starting　back　with　a　cry　of　horror；　〃Eliza；
you　are　here？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　here；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　here　to　implore　your　forgiveness。〃

〃My　forgiveness？〃　he　asked；　trembling；　and　pressing　both　his　hands
to　his　temples。　〃My　God！　my　head　swimsI　believe　I　shall　go　mad！
Eliza　is　here；　she　stands　before　me　in　her　peasant　costume；　and　she
left　me　only　a　few　moments　ago　in　a　white　bridal　dress；　and　with　a
myrtle…wreath　on　her　head。　What　does　this　quick　transformation　mean；
and　how　was　it　possible？〃

〃It　is　no　transformation；　sir；〃　said　Eliza；　bashfully。　〃I　am　Eliza
Wallner；　the　peasant…girl；　and　she　who　left　you　in　the　chapel　is
your　wedded　wife；　the　young　Baroness　von　Hohenberg〃

〃You　are　my　wedded　wife；　you　alone？〃　he　cried；　impetuously。

〃No；　sir；　I　am　not！〃

〃You　are　not？〃　he　cried；　vehemently。　〃And　who　is　she　who　went　from
me　there？〃

〃She　is　your　wife；　who　loves　you　with　all　her　heart；〃　said　Eliza；
solemnly；　〃she　is　the　wife　whom　your　parents　selected　for　you　from
your　earliest　youth；　she　is　Elza　von　Hohenberg。〃

Ulrich　uttered　a　cry　of　rage　and　despair；　and　rushed　upon　Eliza　with
uplifted　hand；　pale　as　a　corpse；　and　with　flashing　eyes。

She　bent　her　head　and　whole　form　before　him。　〃Strike　me；　I　deserve
your　anger；〃　she　said；　humbly。

Ulrich　dropped　his　arm　with　a　groan。　〃Then　you　have　cheated　me；
wretched　girl！〃　he　cried；　furiously。　〃You　wished　to　revenge　yourself
on　me；　you　lied　to　me；　you　betrayed　me；　you　enmeshed　me　with
hypocritical　falsehoods；　and　played　an　infamous　game　with　me！　Well；
why　do　you　not　laugh？　Your　efforts　were　successful；　you　have
revenged　yourself。　Oh；　I　am　in　despair；　my　rage　and　grief　will　break
my　heart。　Why　do　you　not　laugh？〃

〃I　do　not　laugh；　sir；　because　I　see　that　you　grieve；　and　because　God
knows　that　I　would　give　up　my　heart's　blood　to　spare　you　an　hour　of
suffering。〃

He　burst　into　scornful　laughter。　〃And　yet　you　have　treated　me　so
infamously？　You　have　played　a　miserable　comedy　with　me；　and　perjured
yourself？〃

〃Sir；　I　have　not　perjured　myself；〃　cried　Eliza。　〃I　have　fulfilled
faithfully　the　oath　I　swore　to　you　when　you　took　leave　of　me　and
went　to　procure　my　Elza's　release。〃

〃You　have　fulfilled　it？　False　girl！　repeat　your　oath　to　me；　that　I
may　convict　you　of　perjury。〃

〃I　said　that　if　you　would　bring　back　Elza；　you　should　receive　your
bride；　who　loved　you　with　infinite　tenderness；　at　the　hands　of　the
priest；　whether　it　was　early　in　the　morning　or　late　at　night！〃

〃Well；　then；　have　you　fulfilled　your　oath？　Have　you　not　perjured
yourself？〃

〃I　have　fulfilled　my　oath；　I　have　not　perjured　myself。　Elza　loves
you；　sir；　she　loves　you　with　infinite　tenderness。〃

〃Oh；　what　miserable；　insidious　sophistry！〃　cried　Ulrich；　sinking
despairingly　on　a　chair。　〃Your　words　were　as　full　of　duplicity　as
your　heart　is；　and　I；　poor；　short…sighted　dupe；　believed　your　words！
And　not　you　alone；　but　Elza；