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Wallner； the young heroine of the Tyrol。 But Eliza would not see
anybody。 She remained in the room which had been assigned to her at
the hospital； and she spoke and prayed only with the priest who had
administered the last unction to her father。
On the day after the funeral the Emperor Francis sent one of his
chamberlains to Eliza； to induce her to remain in Vienna。 He would
provide for her bountifully； and reward her for what her father had
done。 The chamberlain was also instructed to conduct Eliza to the
emperor； that he might thank and console her personally。
Eliza shook her head； gravely。 〃The emperor need not thank me；〃 she
said； 〃for I did no more for him than he did for the Tyrol。 He is
unable to console me； God alone can do that； and He will also
provide for me。 I cannot see the emperor； for my heart is too deeply
afflicted。 But if you will give me money enough； sir； to return
quickly to my dear Tyrol and my beloved mother； I shall accept it
and be grateful to you。 I must return to my mother and weep with
her； and my dear home； my dear mountains will console me。〃
〃You can set out as soon as you please；〃 said the chamberlain。 〃The
emperor has interceded in your behalf and obtained this safeguard
for you in case you wished to return to your native country。 No one
will molest you； and you and your family can live quietly at your
home。〃
〃If the emperor had done as much for my father as he does for me； my
father would not have died；〃 said Eliza； gravely； accepting the
paper。 〃Now he has no longer need of an emperor。 He is with God； and
I would I were with him above！ But I must not leave my mother。 I
must console her and stay with her as long as it pleases God。〃
＇Footnote： Eliza Wallner returned to Windisch…Matrey； and lived
there in quiet retirement。 She never married。 After the death of her
mother she yielded to Joachim Haspinger's entreaties and went to
live at his house。 The Capuchin was ordained and appointed pastor of
Jotelsee； and afterward of Traunfeld。 Eliza lived with him as his
adopted daughter； and was still with him at the time of his death；
which took place in 1856； at Salzburg。See Sehallhammer's 〃Joachim
Haspinger；〃 p。 184。＇
CHAPTER XLIV。
ANDREAS HOFER'S DEATH。
The court…martial at Mantua had passed sentence of death upon
Andreas Hofer for fighting against the French after the last
proclamation of Eugene Beauharnais offering a general amnesty。 But
the court…martial had not adopted this decision unanimously； several
members had voted for long confinement； and two had had the courage
to vote for his entire deliverance。 By a singular revolution of
fortune； the same General Bisson； who had been taken prisoner at
Innspruck at the outbreak of the insurrection； and with whom Major
Teimer had made his triumphal entry into Innspruck； was now governor
of Mantua； and president of the court…martial which tried the
commander…in…chief of the Tyrolese。 The general； in consideration of
his captivity among the Tyrolese； wished to act mildly and
impartially； and sent a telegraphic dispatch to the viceroy at Milan
to inquire what was to be done with Andreas Hofer； inasmuch as the
sentence of the court…martial had not been passed unanimously。 An
answer was returned very soon。 It contained the categorical order
that Andreas Hofer should be shot within twenty…four hours。
Commissioners of the military authorities； therefore； entered
Andreas Hofer's cell on the 21st of February； and informed him that
he would suffer death within two hours。
He listened to them standing； and with unshaken firmness。 〃I shall
die； then； at least as a soldier； and not as a criminal；〃 he said；
nodding his head gently。 〃I am not afraid of bullets； nor of the
good God either； He was always kind to me； and it is even now kind
in Him to relieve me from my sufferings here。 I am ready to appear
before the judgment…seat of God。〃
〃If you have any special wishes to prefer； communicate them to us
now； and if it is possible； they shall be granted；〃 said one of the
officers； profoundly moved。
〃There are some wishes which I should like to prefer；〃 replied
Hofer； musingly。 〃In the first place； I wish to see once more my
dear Cajetan Doeninger； who was separated from me and confined in
another cell； and then I wish to dictate a letter and my last will；
and would request that both be sent to my dear brother…in…law。〃
〃These wishes shall be complied with； I promise it to you in the
name of General Bisson。 Do you desire to prefer any additional
requests？〃
〃I wish further that a priest be sent to me； that he may receive my
confession； and grant me absolution； and finally； I should like to
see once more my dear countrymen； who are imprisoned in the
casemates here； and take leave of them in a few words。〃
〃A confessor will be sent to you； but your last request can not be
complied with；〃 was the reply。 〃An exciting and perhaps disorderly
scene would ensue； and such things must be avoided。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Andreas； sighing； 〃send me my dear secretary； and
afterward the priest。〃
A few minutes after the officers had withdrawn； the door opened； and
Cajetan Doeninger came in。 He burst into tears； rushed toward
Andreas Hofer； and folding him to his heart； exclaimed mournfully：
〃Is it true； then； that they intend to kill you？ Is it true that
they are going to assassinate the noblest and best man like a
criminal？〃
〃Hush； hush； Cajetan；〃 said Andreas； gently； pressing Doeninger
tenderly to his heart； 〃do not scold； but submit as I do。 I die
gladly； for it is better that I should sacrifice myself for my
native country than that others should die for my sake； or for the
fatherland。〃 ＇Footnote： Hofer's own wordsSee 〃Gallery of Heroes：
Andreas Hofer；〃 p。 195。＇
〃Oh； would that I could die for you！〃 sobbed Doeninger； 〃my life is
worthless without you。 Is it possible that you must suffer now so
ignominious a punishment for all your noble deeds and aspirations？〃
〃God alone knows what is good；〃 said Andreas； mildly； 〃and I have
doubtless committed many errors； for which I have to suffer now。
But； Cajetan； will you fulfil my last request？〃
〃Name it； and I will comply with it。〃
〃Then weep no more； my dear friend； for your tears give me pain。 Be；
as formerly； manful and firm。〃
〃I will；〃 said Doeninger； and he dried his tears and forced himself
to be calm and composed。
〃And now； Cajetan； be my secretary for the last time；〃 said Andreas；
gently。 〃I will dictate to you a letter to my brother…in…law Pohler；
at Neustadt。 The jailer has already laid paper； pen； and ink on the
table。 Sit down； therefore； and write。〃
Cajetan went to the table and seated himself。 〃I am ready；
commander…in…chief；〃 he said； 〃dictate to me now。〃
Andreas walked up and down several times musingly； he then stood
still near the table； a wondrous expression of serene calmness and
peace beamed from his face； and he dictated in a clear； quiet voice
which did not once tremble with emotion。
〃Dearest brother…in…law： It was God's will that I should exchange
here at Mantua my earthly life for a better one。 ButGod be praised
for his divine mercy！it seems to me as litt