按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
longer do any harm。〃
〃No； it will no longer do any harm；〃 said the captain； with a
peculiar smile。 〃Listen； I wish to dress up for to…day's ceremony；
and don my gala uniform。 Therefore be so kind as to fetch it。〃
〃I will； captain； I will fetch the uniform and be back directly；〃
said Schroepfel； cheerfully； limping hastily toward the door。 But
outside he stood still and pressed his finger thoughtfully to his
nose。 〃I do not know exactly what to think of it；〃 he murmured to
himself。 〃At first he uttered a loud cry and said Lizzie Wallner was
not his betrothed； afterward he lamented piteously because Lizzie
Wallner escorted the Bavarian prisoners； and finally he asked for
his gala uniform in order to dress up for the ceremony。 Well； we
shall see very soon if he has honest intentions toward Lizzie and
really loves her。 If he thinks he can play her a trick； he had
better； beware； for I shall never lose sight of him； I shall always
be behind him； and if he does not treat the girl as he ought to； I
will strike him down with my fists like a mad bull！ I will do it； so
help me God！〃
CHAPTER XXI。
THE CATASTROPHE。
The bells were ringing； the men were rejoicing； and the girls of
Windisch…Matrey and its environs took position with baskets of
flowers on both sides of the street。 For the victorious defenders of
the country were approaching； their cheers were already heard at a
distance； and they already saw the merry boys who had gone out to
meet them； and who now headed the procession amid manifestations of
the liveliest delight。 Yes； they were coming； they were coming！
Yonder； down the mountain…slope； moved the motley procession of the
Tyrolese； resembling a glittering serpent of gigantic proportions。
How their rifles flashed in the sun！ How beautifully the bouquets
adorned their pointed green hats！ And now they were already able to
distinguish the faces and the individual forms。 Immediately behind
the boys； at the head of the procession； walked Anthony Wallner…
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 retur