andreas hofer-第59章

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Aichberger。　How　splendid　the　commander…in…chief　looked；　and　how
beautiful　was　Lizzie；　walking　by　his　side；　handsomely　dressed；　and
wearing　a　beautiful　bouquet　in　her　bosom！　Her　attentive　father　had
despatched　a　special　messenger　to　his　wife　for　Lizzie's　holiday
dress　and　her　trinkets；　so　that　Lizzie；　the　pride　and　joy　of　his
heart；　might　make　her　entrance　in　a　becoming　manner　into　Windisch…
Matrey。

Lizzie　looked　really　splendid　in　her　holiday　attire。　Her　raven　hair；
flowing　down　in　heavy　tresses　on　her　neck；　was　interwoven　with　dark
red　ribbons；　and　large　rosettes　of　the　same　color　were　fastened　with
silver　pins　to　her　head。　Her　low…necked　corset；　adorned　with　silver
trimmings；　was　fastened　on　the　breast　with　silver　chains；　and　above
it　rose　a　white　chemisette　trimmed　with　laces；　and　veiling　chastely
her　faultless　bust　and　beautifully…shaped　shoulders。　Large　white
sleeves　covered　her　arms　and　were　fastened　to　her　wrists　with　dark…
red　rosettes。　An　ample　skirt　of　fine　dark…red　wool；　trimmed　with
black　velvet；　fell　from　her　slender　waist　down　to　her　ankles；　and
her　small　feet　were　encased　in　handsome　stockings　and　shoes　adorned
with　large　silver　buckles。　The　boys　had　brought　to　her　the　splendid
bouquet　which　she　wore　in　her　bosom；　and　had　told　her；　amid　laughter
and　cheers；　that　her　betrothed　sent　her　the　bouquet　as　a　wedding…
present。

But　these　words　had　rendered　Lizzie　silent　and　sad。　The　smile　had
disappeared　from　her　lips；　and　the　color　had　faded　from　her　cheeks；
she　looked　anxiously　at　her　father；　but　he　nodded　to　her　and　said
laughingly：　〃Do　not　ask　me　any　questions　to…day；　Lizzie；　for　I　will
not　tell　you　any　thing。　Await　quietly　the　events　that　will　take
place；　and　bear　in　mind　that　your　father　loves　you　dearly；　and　is
anxious　to　make　his　little　daughter　happy　and　contented。〃

Eliza　tried　to　divine　what　these　words　of　her　father　meant；　and　a
gloomy　foreboding；　a　terror　which　she　was　unable　to　explain　to
herself；　filled　her　heart。

She　listened　no　longer　to　the　joyous　shouts　of　the　boys；　and　ceased
singing　with　Panzl　the　fine　songs　of　the　Tyrolese　mountains；　but
walked　along；　pale；　silent；　and　hanging　her　head。

Now　they　reached　Windisch…Matrey；　and　stood　still　at　the　entrance　of
the　street；　where　the　clergy；　municipal　authorities；　and　the
beautifully…dressed　girls；　bade　them　welcome。　Oh；　it　was　a　soul…
stirring　moment；　a　sacred　festival　of　welcome！　The　brave　men　had
gone　out　to　fight　for　their　native　country；　their　emperor；　and　the
liberties　of　the　Tyrol；　and　God　had　granted　them　victory。　He　had
assisted　them　in　all　contests；　the　country　was　free；　the　emperor　was
again　master　of　the　Tyrol；　and　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey　returned
victoriously　to　their　homes。　All　seemed　to　greet　them　with　glowing
looks　of　love；　the　whole　earth　seemed　to　shout　〃Welcome！〃　to　them。
Even　the　glistening　snow…clad　summits　of　the　Gross…Glockner　seemed
to　look　at　them　over　the　other　mountains　with　an　air　of　curiosity
and　solemn　kindness；　and　on　the　green　mountain…pastures　stood　the
red　cows　so　proud　and　handsome；　as　if　they　had　placed　themselves
there　for　the　purpose　of　adorning　the　landscape　for　the　returning
heroes。　And　the　wild　Iselbach　murmured　merrily　at　the　roadside　and
sent　its　silvery　spray　into　the　air；　and　the　boys　laughed　and　sang；
the　bells　pealed　so　loudly　and　solemnly；　and　received　ringing
responses　from　the　villages　farther　down　in　the　valley；　the　priests
stood　with　solemn；　devout　faces　at　the　entrance　of　the　place；
blessing　the　heroes　with　uplifted　hands；　and　eyes　turned　to　heaven；
and　the　girls　and　matrons；　strewing　flowers　to　the　returning　men；
stood　on　both　sides　of　the　street；　and　greeted　them　with　beaming
smiles。

Oh；　this　sweet；　sublime　moment　silenced　all　cares　and　doubts。　The
smile　returned　to　Eliza's　lips；　her　cheeks　crimsoned；　and　her　eyes
beamed　with　the　purest　joy。　With　a　loud　cry　of　delight　she　threw
herself　into　the　arms　of　her　mother；　and　kissed　her　a　thousand
times；　and　scarcely　listened　to　the　address　of　the　curate；　who
returned　thanks　to　her　in　the　name　of　the　whole　parish　for　her
courage　and　the　assistance　she　had　rendered　to　her　countrymen
wounded　in　battle。

But　now　Eliza　heard　a　dear　familiar　voice；　which　caused　her　to　raise
herself　from　her　mother's　arms　and　look　up。　Yes；　it　was　the　old；
kind…hearted　Baron　von　Hohenberg　who　was　standing　before　her；　and
held　out　his　hand　to　her　with　his　sunniest　and　kindest　smile。　〃My
brave　daughter；〃　he　said；　feelingly；　〃give　me　your　hand。　You　know
that　I　love　you　as　though　you　were　my　own　child；　and　now　I　am　proud
of　you；　for　you　have　become　a　heroine；　and　have　done　honor　to　our
Tyrol。　Elza　was　right　after　all　in　always　calling　you　another　Maid
of　Orleans；　and　saying　you　were　a　born　heroine。〃

〃But　where　is　Elza？〃　said　Lizzie；　anxiously；　to　the　old　castellan。

〃Here　I　am；　dearest　Eliza；〃　said　the　young　lady；　who　had　hitherto
kept　herself　behind　her　father　and　the　clergyman。

〃Oh；　my　Elza；　my　dear；　dear　Elza！〃　exclaimed　Eliza；　rapturously；　and
she　encircled　her　friend's　neck　with　her　arms；　and　imprinted　a
glowing　kiss　on　her　lips。

But　she　felt　that　Elza's　lips　quivered；　that　she　did　not　return　the
kiss；　nor　press　the　friend　to　her　heart；　and　it　seemed　to　Eliza　as
though　a　cold　hand　suddenly　touched　her　heart　and　pressed　it　rudely
and　cruelly。　She　raised　her　head　from　Elza's　shoulder；　and　looked
her　full　in　the　face。　It　was　not　until　now　that　she　saw　how　pale
Elza　was；　how　red　her　eyes　with　weeping；　and　how　forced　her　smile。

〃You　are　sick；　Elza；〃　she　said；　anxiously。

〃No；〃　whispered　Elza；　〃I　am　not。〃

〃Then　you　love　your　Lizzie　no　longer？〃　asked　Eliza；　pressingly。

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　Elza；　in　a　hollow　voice；　and　with　a　wondrously
mournful　smile。　〃I　do　love　you；　and；　to　prove　it；　I　present　you　with
this　wreath。　God　bless　you；　dear　Lizzie；　may　He　grant　you
happiness！〃

〃Elza；〃　cried　Eliza；　anxiously；　〃Elza；　pray　come　to　me　and　tell　me
what　it　means；　what〃

〃Hush；　Lizzie；　hush；〃　said　her　father；　seizing　her　hand　and　drawing
her　forward。　〃Do　you　not　see　that　the　procession　is　moving　on；　and
that　we　must　go　with　it？　See；　the　curate　and　the　castellan　are
already　far　ahead；　and　we　must　go　too。〃

〃But　where；　father；　where？〃

〃To　the　church；　you　dear　little　goose！〃

〃To　the　church？　What　are　we　to　do　there？　Why　do　we　not　go　home？〃

〃Have　you　become　so　impious　during　your　campaign；　Lizzie；　as　not　to
know　that　we　must　always　render　homage　to　God　first　and　above　all
things？　We　are　going　to　church　to　return　thanks；　come　with　me；　and
ask　no　more　questions。〃

〃But　I　will　take　off　the　myrtle…wreath！〃　exclaimed　Lizzie；　lifting
her　hand　anxiously　to　the　wreath。　But　her　father　drew　back　her　hand。

〃No；　Lizzie；〃　he　said；　〃do　not　remove　the　wreath。　It　fits　well　on
your　head。〃

〃But　I　am　no　bride　going　to　church　on　her　wedding…day。〃

〃Really；　Lizzie；　are　you　not；〃　asked　her　father；　laughing。

〃But　hush　now；　my　child；　we　are　already　at　the　church…door；　and　do
you　not　hear　the　glorious　swelling　notes　of　the　organ？　Let　us　enter
the　church；　dear　Lizzie。〃

He　drew　her　forward；　and　Eliza　followed　him：　but　indescribable
anguish　oppressed　her　soul；　she　did　not　know　why；　and　she　felt　as
though　something　dreadful　were　about　to　happen　here；　and　as　though
she　ought　to　flee；　flee　far　into　the　mountains；　into　solitude。

But　her　father　held　her　by　the　hand；　and　walked　with　her　up　the　main
aisle　to　the　large　altar。　Rows　of　chairs；　decorated　with　flowers；
had　been　placed　here；　and　Eliza　had　to　seat　herself　on　one　of　these
chairs；　by　her　side　sat　her　father；　opposite　her；　the　castellan　and
her　friend　Elza；　then　came　the　municipality；　and　John　Panzl；
lieutenant…commander　of　the　men　of　Windisch…Matrey；　and　behind　them
stood　the　dense　crowd　of　the　sharpshooters　of　the　Pusterthal。

Eliza　cast　a　searching　glance　on　the　dense　crowd；　she　looked　at　all
the　pews；　and　yet　she　did　not　know　what　she　was　looking　for；　nor
what　alarmed　her　heart　so　much。

All　at　once　she　started　in　sudden　terror；　and　her　cheek　turned
deadly　pale。　Yonder；　behind　the　windows　of　the　vestry；　she　beheld　a
young　man　in　a　handsome　uniform；　it　was　he；　he　whom　she　had　looked
for　without　knowing　it　her