andreas hofer-第31部分

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〃What　is　the　use　of　talking　about　it　now？〃　asked　Elza；　vehemently。
〃He　is　YOUR　bridegroom；　he　has　sworn　eternal　fidelity　to　you；　and　I
shall　not　dispute　him　with　you。　Marry　him　and　be　happy。〃

〃And　would　your　Lizzie　be　happy　if　her　Elza　were　not　content　with
her？〃　asked　Eliza；　tenderly。　〃Tell　me　only　this：　your　father　and　his
parents　thought　you　were　a　good　matchdid　they　not？〃

〃Yes；　they　did；〃　whispered　Elza；　bursting　again　into　tears。

〃My　father　told　me　yesterday　that　it　was　his　wish；　as　well　as　that
of　Ulrich's　parents。〃

〃And　Ulrich　told　you；　too；　that　he　loved　you　and　would　marry　you？
Tell　me　the　truth；　Elza。　Never　mind　what　I　said　in　the　court　yard
about　Ulrich　being　my　bridegroom。　Remember　only　that　I　am　your
Lizzie；　who　loves　you　better　than　she　can　tell　you；　but　who　will
prove　it　to　you　if　the　good　God　will　permit　her　to　do　so。　Tell　me
therefore；　my　darling；　Ulrich　said　to　you　he　loved　you　and　wished　to
marry　you？〃

〃No；　he　did　not　say　so；　Lizzie；　butbut　I　thought　so；　I　believe；
and　he　thought　so；　too；　and；　O　God！　I　believe　I　love　him。　It　seemed
to　me　as　though　a　dagger　pierced　my　heart　when　you　said　that　he　was
your　bridegroom。　I　could　not　hear　it；　and　hastened　into　the　house　in
order　not　to　see　and　hear　any　thing　further。　I　meant　to　seat　myself
quietly　in　the　dining…room　here　and　submit　to　all　that　might　happen；
and　yet　I　was　drawn　irresistibly　toward　the　balcony；　and　orb　rushing
out　I　saw　you　holding　him　in　your　lap　and　pressing　his　dear　pale
head　to　your　bosom。　I　felt　as　though　the　heavens　were　falling　down
on　me；　I　had　to　cry　out　aloud　in　my　anguish　and　despair。　I　hurried
back　into　the　room；　fell　on　my　knees；　and　prayed　that　death　might
deliver　me　from　my　pains。　O　God；　God！　it　did　not；　I　must　carry　on
life's　dreary　burden　and　cannot　die！〃

She　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　and　sobbed　aloud。

While　Elza　was　speaking；　Eliza　had　turned　paler　and　paler；　a　slight
tremor　passed　through　her　whole　frame；　and　she　compressed　her　lips
firmly；　as　if　to　restrain　the　cry　oppressing　her　bosom。

Now　she　laid　her　hand　gently　on　Elza's　head。　〃You　love　him；　Elza；〃
she　said　mildly。　〃I　understand　your　heart；　dearest　Elza；　you　love
him。　And　now　dry　your　tears　and　listen　to　what　I　have　to　say　to　you。
But　first　you　must　look　at　me；　Elza；　and　you　must　show　me　your　dear
face；　otherwise　I　won't　tell　you　the　good　news　I　have　got　for　you。〃

Elza　dropped　her　hands　from　her　face；　and　looked；　smiling　amid　her
tears；　into　Eliza's　countenance；　which　seemed　now　again　entirely
calm　and　serene。

〃Now　listen；　Elza；〃　she　whispered；　hurriedly；　〃Ulrich　is　not　my
bridegroom；　and　he　never　told　me　that　he　loved　me。〃

Elza　uttered　a　cry　of　joy；　and　a　sunbeam　seemed　to　illuminate　her
face。

〃I　merely　said　so　in　order　to　save　him；〃　added　Lizzie；　〃that　was　the
reason　why　I　uttered　that　impudent　lie；　which　God　Almighty；　I　hope；
will　forgive　me。　I　saw　that　my　father　was　just　about　to　hill　him　and
my　heart　told　me　I　ought　to　save　him　at　all　hazards。　I　hastened　to
my　father；　and　the　words　escaped　my　lips；　I　myself　do　not　know　how。
I　said　I　loved　him；　he　would　marry　me；　and　was　my　affianced　bride…
groom；　and　this　saved　him；　for　he　was　intent　on　dying　rather　than
fall　alive；　as　he　said；　into　the　hands　of　the　peasant…rabble。　That
was　the　reason　why　he　was　so　bold；　abused　the　Tyrolese　so　violently；
and　would　not　cease　resisting　them。　Therefore；　I　had　to　save　him　not
only　from　my　father；　but　from　his　own　rage；　and　I　did　it。〃

〃But　do　you　not　love　him？〃　asked　Elza　smiling。

〃Do　you　not　know　that　Joseph　Thurmwalder　has　been　courting　me　for　a
year　past？　My　father　will　be　glad　to　have　me　marry　him；　for　he　is
the　son　of　rich　parents　and　the　most　skillful　and　handsome　hunter　in
the　whole　Puster　valley。〃

〃But　you　have　often　told　me　that　you　did　not　love　him？〃

〃Have　you　not　often　told　me　likewise　that　you　did　not　love　Ulrich；
Elza？　We　girls　are　queer　beings；　and　never　say　whom　we　love！〃

〃But　Ulrich！　He　loves　you！　Yes；　yes；　I　know　he　loves　you。　I　have
suspected　it　a　long　time；　and　always　teased　him　with　his　attachment
to　you。〃

〃And　he　always　denied　it；　did　he　not？〃

〃Yes；　he　did；　and　yet〃

〃And　he　denied　it　to…day　too；　when　the　lie　would　have　saved　him　at
once。　He　would　die　rather　than　be　a　peasant…girl's　bridegroom！　You
see；　therefore；　that　he　does　not　love　me；　Elza。　But　my　lie　saved　his
life；　and　no　one　must　find　out　that　Ulrich　is　not　my　bridegroom。　For
if　my　father　and　his　friends　should　discover　it；　they　would　kill
him；　because　he　insulted　them　too　deeply　to　be　forgiven。　He　must
remain　my　bridegroom　until　tranquillity　is　re…established　in　the
country。〃

〃Yes；　my　Lizzie；　my　darling！〃　exclaimed　Elza；　encircling　Eliza's
neck　with　her　arms；　〃yes；　let　him　remain　your　bridegroom；　my
sagacious；　brave　Tyrolese　girl。　I　always　said　and　knew　that　you
would　be　a　heroine　if　you　should　have　to　meet　a　great　danger；　and
to…day　you　WERE　a　heroine。〃

〃Not　yet　Elza；　but　I　shall　be　one。　I　am　going　to　prove　to　my　father
and　all　his　friends　that　I　am　a　true　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　even
though　the　Bavarian　captain　is　my　bridegroom。　And　now；　farewell；
dearest　Elza；　I　must　go　down　again　to　my　father。　But　listen；　I　have
to　tell　you　something　else　yet。　I　shall　leave　our　village　with　my
father　to…day。　We　shall　march　with　our　friends　to　Andreas　Hofer；　for
the　Tyrolese　must　concentrate　their　whole　forces　in　order　to　be
strong　enough　when　they　have　to　meet　the　enemy。　Hence；　it　was
resolved　at　the　very　outset；　that；　so　soon　as　it　was　time　for　the
people　to　rise　against　the　Bavarians；　Speckbacher　and　his　friends；
and　my　father　with　the　peasants　of　the　Puster　valley；　should　join
the　men　of　the　Passeyr　valley　under　Hofer's　command。　I　know　that
father　will　set　out　to…day；　and　I　shall　accompany　him；　Elza。　I　am
not　afraid　of　death　and　the　enemy；　I　know　that　our　cause　is　just；
and　that　the　good　God　will　be　on　our　side。〃

〃But；　nevertheless；　many　noble　hearts　will　be　pierced　for　this　just
cause；　and　yours；　dearest　Lizzie；　may　be　among　them；〃　exclaimed
Elza；　tenderly　folding　her　friend　to　her　heart。　〃Oh；　stay　here；　my
darling；　let　the　men　fight　it　out　alone；　stay　here！〃

〃No；　Elza；　I　must　go　with　them。　My　honor　requires　it；　and　forbids　me
to　stay　at　our　house　with　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　for　whose　sake　my
father　called　me　publicly　to…day　a　recreant　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；
and　threatened　to　disown　me　forever。　I　must　prove　to　all　the　world
that　I　am　a　loyal　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　and　I　feel；　Elza；　that　it
will　do　me　good　to　contribute　my　mite　to　the　deliverance　of　the
fatherland。　I　am　not　gentle　and　patient　enough　to　sit　quietly　at
home　and　wait　until　dear　Liberty　looks　into　my　door　and　says　to　me；
'God　bless　you；　Lizzie！　I　am　here　now。　and　you　also　may　profit　by
the　happiness　which　will　be　caused　by　my　arrival。'　No；　Elza；　I　must
go　with　my　father；　I　must　help　him　to　find　this　dear　Liberty　on　the
mountains　and　in　the　valleys；　and　must　say　to　her；　'God　bless　thee；
Liberty！　I　am　here　now；　and　thou　mayst　profit　by　my　strength；　and　I
will　help　thee　that　thou　mayst　rule　again　over　the　mountains　and
valleys　of　our　dear　Tyrol。'〃

〃Oh；　Lizzie；　you　are　a　genuine　heroine！〃　exclaimed　Elza；　〃I　blush　to
think　that　I　shall　not　accompany　you　and　fight　by　your　side　for
Liberty。〃

〃You　cannot；〃　said　Lizzie；　gravely。　〃You　have　an　aged　father　who
will　stay　at　home；　and　whom　you　must　take　care　of；　and　the　poor　and
sick　count　upon　you；　for　they　know　that　Elza　will　always　be　their
good　angel。　Stay　at　home　and　pray　for　me。　But　never　go　down　to　my
father's　house；　do　not　inquire　for　Ulrich；　and　do　not　try　to　have
him　brought　to　the　castle　here。　He　is　under　Schroepfel's
surveillance；　and　Schroepfel　would　shoot　him　if　he　should　suspect
that　all　is　not　as　it　should　be。　But　if　God　should　decree　my　death；
Elza；　Ulrich　would　be　free　at　once；　and　my　father　would　not　injure
him；　inasmuch　as　he　was　his　Lizzie's　affianced　bridegroom。　He　would
set　him　free。　Ulrich　would　then　come　to　you；　and；　Elza；　you　will
tell　him　not　to　think　that　Lizzie　Wallner　was　a　bad　girl；　and　that
she　was　intent　only　on　getting　an　aristocratic　husband。　You　will
tell　him　that　my　sole　object　was　to　save　his　life；　and　that　I　never
thought　of　marrying　him。　You　will　tell　him　also　that　I　forgave　him
the　injury　which　he　did　me　to…day；　and　that　I　shall　pray　to　God
Almighty　for　him。　And　when　you　stand　before　God's　altar；　and　the
priest　joins　your　hands；　think　of　me；　and　do　not　forget　that　I　loved
you；　dearest　Elza；　better　than　any　once　else　on　earth。　And　now；
farewell；　Elza；　I　shall　not　kiss　you　again；　for　it　makes　my　heart
heavy。〃

〃Lizzie；　Lizzie！〃　shouted　a　powerful　voice　outside　at　this　moment；
〃Lizzie；　where　are　you？　'Tis　time　to　set　out！〃

〃Here　I　am；　dear　father！〃　exclaimed　Lizzie；　stepping　quickly　out　on
the　balcony。　〃I　shall　come　down　to　you　now。　I　was　only　taking　leave
of　Elza。　Now　I　am　ready　to　set　out　and　fight　for　the　dear　Tyrol　and
the　dear　Emperor　Francis！〃

〃Hurrah；　we　will　do　so！〃　cried　the　Tyrolese。　〃We　will　fight　for　the
dear　Tyrol　and　the　dear　Emperor　Francis！　Hurrah！　We　will　expel　the
Bavarians！　Hurrah！　the　Austrians　are　coming！　Hurrah！　the　Tyrol　will
be　free　again！〃




CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　BRIDGE　OF　ST。　LAWRENCE。


Anthony　Wallner　and　his　men　marched　all　day　and　all　night　through
the　Puster　valley；　along　the　road　to　the　Muhlbach　pass。　His　daughter
Eliza；　and　young　John　Panzl；　his　friend　and　sympathizer；　walked　by
his　side；　and　behind　him　marched　the　brave　Tyrolese；　whose　force
gained　strength　at　every　step　as　it　advanced；　and　who；　amidst　the
most　enthusiastic　acclamations；　appointed　Anthony　Wallner　commander…
in…chief　of　the　men　of　the　Puster　Valley；　and　John　Panzl　his
lieutenant　and　assistant。

〃I　accept　the　position；　my　friends；〃　said　Wallner；　taking　off　his
hat　and　kindly　greeting　the　men；　〃yes；　I　accept　the　position；　and
will　be　your　commander；　and　will　always　lead　you　faithfully　and
honestly　against　the　enemy。　But　will　you　always　follow　me？　Will　you
not　be　afraid　of　the　enemy's　fire；　and　take　to　your　heels　before　his
artillery？〃

〃No；　we　will　not；〃　shouted　the　brave　men；　〃we　will　stand　by　you
faithfully；　and　fight　with　you　for　the　fatherland　and　the　emperor！〃

〃That　is