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and he thought so； too； and； O God！ I believe I love him。 It seemed
to me as though a dagger pierced my heart when you said that he was
your bridegroom。 I could not hear it； and hastened into the house in
order not to see and hear any thing further。 I meant to seat myself
quietly in the dining…room here and submit to all that might happen；
and yet I was drawn irresistibly toward the balcony； and orb rushing
out I saw you holding him in your lap and pressing his dear pale
head to your bosom。 I felt as though the heavens were falling down
on me； I had to cry out aloud in my anguish and despair。 I hurried
back into the room； fell on my knees； and prayed that death might
deliver me from my pains。 O God； God！ it did not； I must carry on
life's dreary burden and cannot die！〃
She buried her face in her hands and sobbed aloud。
While Elza was speaking； Eliza had turned paler and paler； a slight
tremor passed through her whole frame； and she compressed her lips
firmly； as if to restrain the cry oppressing her bosom。
Now she laid her hand gently on Elza's head。 〃You love him； Elza；〃
she said mildly。 〃I understand your heart； dearest Elza； you love
him。 And now dry your tears and listen to what I have to say to you。
But first you must look at me； Elza； and you must show me your dear
face； otherwise I won't tell you the good news I have got for you。〃
Elza dropped her hands from her face； and looked； smiling amid her
tears； into Eliza's countenance； which seemed now again entirely
calm and serene。
〃Now listen； Elza；〃 she whispered； hurriedly； 〃Ulrich is not my
bridegroom； and he never told me that he loved me。〃
Elza uttered a cry of joy； and a sunbeam seemed to illuminate her
face。
〃I merely said so in order to save him；〃 added Lizzie； 〃that was the
reason why I uttered that impudent lie； which God Almighty； I hope；
will forgive me。 I saw that my father was just about to hill him and
my heart told me I ought to save him at all hazards。 I hastened to
my father； and the words escaped my lips； I myself do not know how。
I said I loved him； he would marry me； and was my affianced bride…
groom； and this saved him； for he was intent on dying rather than
fall alive； as he said； into the hands of the peasant…rabble。 That
was the reason why he was so bold； abused the Tyrolese so violently；
and would not cease resisting them。 Therefore； I had to save him not
only from my father； but from his own rage； and I did it。〃
〃But do you not love him？〃 asked Elza smiling。
〃Do you not know that Joseph Thurmwalder has been courting me for a
year past？ My father will be glad to have me marry him； for he is
the son of rich parents and the most skillful and handsome hunter in
the whole Puster valley。〃
〃But you have often told me that you did not love him？〃
〃Have you not often told me likewise that you did not love Ulrich；
Elza？ We girls are queer beings； and never say whom we love！〃
〃But Ulrich！ He loves you！ Yes； yes； I know he loves you。 I have
suspected it a long time； and always teased him with his attachment
to you。〃
〃And he always denied it； did he not？〃
〃Yes； he did； and yet〃
〃And he denied it to…day too； when the lie would have saved him at
once。 He would die rather than be a peasant…girl's bridegroom！ You
see； therefore； that he does not love me； Elza。 But my lie saved his
life； and no one must find out that Ulrich is not my bridegroom。 For
if my father and his friends should discover it； they would kill
him； because he insulted them too deeply to be forgiven。 He must
remain my bridegroom until tranquillity is re…established in the
country。〃
〃Yes； my Lizzie； my darling！〃 exclaimed Elza； encircling Eliza's
neck with her arms； 〃yes； let him remain your bridegroom； my
sagacious； brave Tyrolese girl。 I always said and knew that you
would be a heroine if you should have to meet a great danger； and
to…day you WERE a heroine。〃
〃Not yet Elza； but I shall be one。 I am going to prove to my father
and all his friends that I am a true daughter of the Tyrol； even
though the Bavarian captain is my bridegroom。 And now； farewell；
dearest Elza； I must go down again to my father。 But listen； I have
to tell you something else yet。 I shall leave our village with my
father to…day。 We shall march with our friends to Andreas Hofer； for
the Tyrolese must concentrate their whole forces in order to be
strong enough when they have to meet the enemy。 Hence； it was
resolved at the very outset； that； so soon as it was time for the
people to rise against the Bavarians； Speckbacher and his friends；
and my father with the peasants of the Puster valley； should join
the men of the Passeyr valley under Hofer's command。 I know that
father will set out to…day； and I shall accompany him； Elza。 I am
not afraid of death and the enemy； I know that our cause is just；
and that the good God will be on our side。〃
〃But； nevertheless； many noble hearts will be pierced for this just
cause； and yours； dearest Lizzie； may be among them；〃 exclaimed
Elza； tenderly folding her friend to her heart。 〃Oh； stay here； my
darling； let the men fight it out alone； stay here！〃
〃No； Elza； I must go with them。 My honor requires it； and forbids me
to stay at our house with Ulrich von Hohenberg； for whose sake my
father called me publicly to…day a recreant daughter of the Tyrol；
and threatened to disown me forever。 I must prove to all the world
that I am a loyal daughter of the Tyrol； and I feel； Elza； that it
will do me good to contribute my mite to the deliverance of the
fatherland。 I am not gentle and patient enough to sit quietly at
home and wait until dear Liberty looks into my door and says to me；
'God bless you； Lizzie！ I am here now。 and you also may profit by
the happiness which will be caused by my arrival。' No； Elza； I must
go with my father； I must help him to find this dear Liberty on the
mountains and in the valleys； and must say to her； 'God bless thee；
Liberty！ I am here now； and thou mayst profit by my strength； and I
will help thee that thou mayst rule again over the mountains and
valleys of our dear Tyrol。'〃
〃Oh； Lizzie； you are a genuine heroine！〃 exclaimed Elza； 〃I blush to
think that I shall not accompany you and fight by your side for
Liberty。〃
〃You cannot；〃 said Lizzie； gravely。 〃You have an aged father who
will stay at home； and whom you must take care of； and the poor and
sick count upon you； for they know that Elza will always be their
good angel。 Stay at home and pray for me。 But never go down to my
father's house； do not inquire for Ulrich； and do not try to have
him brought to the castle here。 He is under Schroepfel's
surveillance； and Schroepfel would shoot him if he should suspect
that all is not as it should be。 But if God should decree my death；
Elza； Ulrich would be free at once； and my father would not injure
him； inasmuch as he was his Lizzie's affianced bridegroom。 He would
set him free。 Ulrich would then come to you； and； Elza； you will
tell him not to think that Lizzie Wallner was a bad girl； and that
she was intent only on getting an aristocratic husband。 You will
tell him that my sole object was to save his life； and that I never