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Eliza had received this afternoon another letter from her friend；
with a melancholy smile she read Elza's description of her domestic
happiness； and her eyes had unconsciously filled with tears which
rolled slowly down her pale cheeks。 She dried them quickly； but her
mother； who sat opposite her near the lamp and seemed to be busily
sewing； had already seen them。
〃Why do you weep； Lizzie？〃 she asked。 〃Have you got bad news from
Elza？〃
Eliza shook her head with a mournful smile。 〃No； dear mother；〃 she
said； 〃thank God； my Elza is happy and well； and that is my only
joy。〃
〃And yet you weep； Eliza？〃
〃Did I weep； then？〃 she asked。 〃It was probably a tear of joy at my
Elza's happiness。〃
〃No； Lizzie； it was no tear of joy；〃 cried her mother； mournfully。
〃I see you often in tears； when you think that I do not notice it。
You are grieving； Lizzie； do not deny it； you are grieving。 You
sacrificed your love and happiness to Elza； and she does not even
know it； she does not thank you； and you will pine away。 I see very
well how sad you are； and you become paler and more emaciated from
day to day。 Yes； yes； you will die of grief； for you still love
Ulrich von Hohenberg。〃
〃No；〃 cried Eliza； vehemently； blushing deeply； 〃I do not love him。
I have buried my love in my heart； and it reposes there as in a
shrine。 It is true I think of it very often； I pray to it； but I
have no unholy thoughts and feel no sinful desires。 I am glad that
my Elza is so happy； yes； I am glad of it and thank God for it。 But
how can I be merry and laugh； mother； so long as my dear； dear
father has not returned to us？ He must hide like a criminal； they
are chasing him like a wild beast； he is always in danger； and we
must constantly tremble for his safety。 And I cannot do any thing
for him； I cannot share his dangers； I cannot be with him in the
dreadful solitude on the Alp above。 I must look on in idleness； and
cannot be useful to any one； neither to my father； nor to my
brothers； nor to you； dear mother。 I cannot help my father and
brothers； and cannot comfort you； mother； for I myself am in
despair； and wouldwhat was that； mother？ Did not some one knock at
the window…shutter？〃
〃Hush； hush！〃 whispered her mother； 〃let us listen。〃
They listened with bated breath。 Eliza had not been mistaken； some
one knocked a second time at the window…shutter； and the voice of a
man whispered； 〃Mrs。 Wallner； are you in the room？ Open the door to
me！〃
〃It must be a good friend of ours； for the dogs do not bark；〃 said
Eliza； 〃we will let him come in。〃
She took the lamp and went out courageously to draw the bolt from
the street…door and open it。
Yes； she had not been mistaken； it was really a good friend of
theirs； the man who entered the house was one of the few friends who
had not denied Anthony Wallner； and who had not turned their backs
upon his family since it was outlawed and in distress。
〃You bring us bad news； Peter Siebermeier？〃 asked Eliza； anxiously；
gazing into the mountaineer's pale and dismayed face。
〃Unfortunately I do；〃 sighed Siebermeier； stepping hastily into the
sitting…room and shaking hands with Eliza's mother。 〃Mrs。 Wallner；〃
he said； in breathless hurry； 〃your husband is in the greatest
danger； and only speedy flight can save him。〃
Mrs。 Wallner uttered a piercing cry； sank back into her chair； wrung
her hands； and wept aloud。 Eliza did not weep； she was calm and
courageous。 〃Tell me； Siebermeier； what can we do for father？ What
danger threatens him？〃
〃A bad man。 I believe； the clerk of the court； has informed the
French that Anthony Wallner is still on one of the heights in this
neighborhood。 General Broussier intends to have him arrested。 A
whole battalion of soldiers will march to…morrow morning to the
mountain of Ober…Peischlag and occupy it。〃
〃Great God！ my husband is lost； then！〃 cried Eliza's mother；
despairing； 〃nothing can save him now。〃
〃Hush； mother； hush！〃 said Eliza； almost imperatively； 〃we must not
weep now； we must think only of saving him。 Tell me； friend
Siebermeier； is there no way of saving him？〃
〃There is one；〃 said Siebermeier； 〃but how shall we get up to him？ A
friend of mine； who is acquainted with the members of the court；
informed me quite stealthily that； if Aichberger could be saved yet；
it should be done this very night。 Now listen to the plan I have
devised。 I intended to set out to…morrow morning to peddle carpets
and blankets； for money is very scarce in these hard times。 I
procured； therefore； a passport for myself and my boy； who is to
carry my bundle。 Here is the passportand look！ the description
corresponds nearly to Wallner's appearance。 He is of my stature and
age； has hair and whiskers like mine； and might be passed off for
myself。 I am quite willing to let him have my passport； and conceal
myself meanwhile at home and feign sickness。 The passport would
enable him to escape safely； of course he would have to journey
through the Alps； for every one knows him in the plain。 However； the
passport cannot do him any good； for there is no one to take it up
to him。 I would do so； but the wound which I received in our last
skirmish with the Bavarians； in my side here； prevents me from
ascending the mountain…paths； and； even though I could go up to him；
it would be useless； for we two could not travel together； the
passport being issued to two persons； Siebermeier； the carpet…
dealer； and the boy carrying his bundle。 The boy is not described in
the passport； therefore； I thought； if one of your sons were in the
neighborhood； he might go up to his father； warn him of his danger；
and accompany him on his trip through the mountains。〃
〃But neither of the boys is here；〃 said Mrs。 Wallner； despairingly；
〃Schroepfel took them to the Alpine but near Upper Lindeau； and is
with them。 We two are all alone； and there is； therefore； no way of
saving my dear husband。〃
〃Yes； mother； there is；〃 cried Eliza； flushed with excitement。 〃I
will go up to father。 I will warn him of his danger； carry him the
passport； and flee with him。〃
〃You！〃 cried her mother； in dismay。 〃It is impossible！ You cannot
ascend the road； which is almost impassable even for men。 How should
a girl； then； be able to get over it； particularly in the night； and
in so heavy a snow…storm？〃
〃You will be unable to reach your father； Lizzie；〃 said Siebermeier；
〃the road is precipitous and very long； you will sink into the snow；
your shoes will stick in it； and the storm will catch your dress。〃
〃No road is too precipitous for me if I can save my father；〃
exclaimed Eliza； enthusiastically。 〃I must reach him； and God will
enable me to do so。 Wait here a moment； I will be back immediately。
I will prepare myself for the trip； and then give me the passport。〃
〃She will lose her life in the attempt；〃 said Mrs。 Wallner；
mournfully； after she had hastened out of the room。 〃Alas！ alas！ I
shall lose my husband； my sons； and my daughter too！ And all has
been in vain； for the Tyrol is ruined； and we have to suffer these
dreadful misfortunes without having accomplished anything！〃
〃And the enemy acts with merciless cruelty in the country；〃 s