andreas hofer-第88部分

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〃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　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　th