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necessary arrangements； and let me have for once my own way。〃
〃And what do you wish； then； beloved？〃
〃I wish that no one should learn of our plan； and that you should
conceal it all day long from every one； and speak of it to no one；
neither with your uncle； nor with Elza； nor with Andreas Hofer。〃
〃But how am I to get a priest to marry us？〃
〃Leave it all to me； sir。 I will get a priest。 I have confided only
to my dear old friend Joachim Haspinger； the Capuchin； who was
lately in Innspruck； what would take place in case you should return
with my Elza； and he promised that he himself would marry us。
Accordingly； on being informed this morning by the courier of your
speedy arrival； I sent at once a mounted messenger to Father
Haspinger； and I am sure that he will come to Innspruck to…day。〃
〃You intended； then； to redeem your promise of your own accord！〃
exclaimed Ulrich； joyfully； 〃you thought of it without being
reminded of it。 Oh； I thank you； my Eliza； for I see now that you
really love me。〃
〃Yes； sir； I really love you；〃 said Eliza； solemnly。 〃You will find
it out this very day。 Will you promise me now to conceal our plan
from every one； and let me make all necessary arrangements？〃
〃I do； my sweet girl。 Tell me what I am to do； and I will obey you
silently and unconditionally。〃
〃Well； then； dear Ulrich；〃 she said； in a tremulous voice； 〃come to…
night； at nine o'clock； to the chapel here in the imperial palace。
As a witness； I hope you will find there our dear commander…in…
chief； Andreas Hofer。 Father Haspinger will stand before the altar；
and your betrothed will kneel before the altar too； ready to become
your wife； and love and serve you all her life。〃
〃And I shall find there my betrothed； to whom I shall plight my
faith before the altar； and whom I will love and cherish all my
life！〃 exclaimed the captain； in profound emotion。
She bent her head gently； as if to accept his solemn vow。 〃Then you
will come to the chapel at nine？〃 she asked。
〃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 he