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your honor would be lost； not only in Bavaria； but also here among
us。 The brave men would despise you； and the temptI felt it when
you looked at me so disdainfully yesterdayis worse than death。 Go；
therefore； my dear sir； your honor requires it。〃
〃Well； then； you are right： I will go。 I see that I must not apply
for your hand at this juncture。 But I shall return so soon as peace
is restored to the country； and when all these troubles are over。
Promise me； Eliza； that you will wait for me and not forget me。 For
I swear to you； I shall return and marry you； in spite of the whole
world。〃
〃You will not；〃 she said； shaking her bead； 〃for I shall not take
you。 I do not love you。〃
〃Eliza；〃 he cried； seizing her hand impetuously； and gazing deep
into her eyes； 〃you are just as much mistaken as I was myself。 I
loved you a long time without knowing it； and thus； sweet one； you
love me too！〃
〃No；〃 she exclaimed； vehemently； and turning very pale； 〃no； I do
not love you！〃
〃Yes； you do；〃 he said； tenderly。 〃I felt it； and knew it by the
tone in which； stepping before me； and shielding me with your body；
you exclaimed yesterday； 'If you shoot him； you shall kill me too。'
Pity and compassion do not speak thus； only love has such tones of
anguish； despair； and heroism。 I felt it at that moment； and the
blissful delight which filled my heart on recognizing it； made me at
length conscious of my own love。 I confessed to myself that I never
should be able to love any other woman on earth； and never would
marry any other woman than you。 Ob； Eliza； let us no longer resist
the happiness that is in store for us。 Let the whole past be buried
behind us。 Let the future be ours； and with it love and happiness！〃
She shook her head slowly。 〃You have read badly in my heart；〃 she
said； 〃you do not understand the letters written in it； and what you
spell from it is false。 I do not love you； and would never consent
to become your wife。 Let us drop the subject。 We two can never be
husband and wife； but we may remember each other as good friends。
And so； sir； I will always remember you； and shall be glad to hear
that you are well and happy。 But let us say no more about it； and
go。 You have a march of seven hours before you； I must be at home
again by eight o'clock； in order not to keep the men waiting。 Let us
part； therefore。〃
〃Well； then；〃 sighed Ulrich； 〃it is your will； and we must part； but
not forever。 I swear； by God Almighty and my love； I shall return
when the war is over； and when the quarrels of the nations are
settled。 I shall return to ask you if you will be mine； my beloved
wife； and if you will at last crown my love with happiness。 Hush； do
not contradict me； and do not tell me again that you do not love me。
I hope in the future； and we shall see whether it will bring me
happiness or doom me to despair。 Farewell； then； Eliza； and if you
will yet give to the poor wanderer； to whom you have given life；
food； money； and clothes； a priceless treasure； a talisman that will
shield him from all temptations of the world； then give me a kiss！〃
〃No； sir； an honest Tyrolese girl never kisses any man but the one
whose wife she is to be。 You see； therefore； that I cannot give you
a kiss。 Go； sir。 But have you no commissions to give me for your
uncle and my dear Elza？〃
〃Greet them both； tell them that I love you； Eliza； and that you
rejected my proposals。〃
〃That does not concern anybody； and only we two and the good God
shall know it； but no one else。 But； sir； give me a souvenir for
Elza； it will gladden her heart。〃
〃I have nothing to give her；〃 he said； shrugging his shoulders。
She pointed to the crimson Alpine roses blooming at their feet
amidst the grass and moss。
〃Gather some of these flowers； and give them to me；〃 she said； 〃I
will take them to Elza； and tell her that you gathered the flowers
for her。〃
He knelt down； gathered a handful of Alpine roses； and tied them
together with a few blades of grass。 〃I would；〃 he said； still
kneeling in the grass； 〃they were myrtles that I was gathering for
you； Eliza； for you； my affianced bride； and that you would accept
them at my hands as the sacred gift of love。 There； take the bouquet
for Elza； and give it to her with my greetings。〃
She stretched out her hand to take it； but Ulrich； instead of giving
it to her； pressed the bouquet to his lips； and imprinted an ardent
kiss on the flowers； then only did he hand it to Eliza。〃Now；
Eliza；〃 he said； 〃take it。 You refused me a kiss； but you will carry
my glowing kiss home with you； and with it also my heart。 I shall
come back one day to demand of you your heart and my kiss。 Farewell！
It is your will； and so I must go。 I do not say； forget me not； but
I shall return； and ask you then： ‘Have you forgotten me？ Will you
become my wife？' Until then； farewell！〃
He gazed at her with a long look of love and tenderness； she avoided
meeting his look； and when he saw this； a smile； radiant as sunshine
and bliss； illuminated his features。
〃Go； sir；〃 she said； in a low voice； averting her face。
〃I am going； Eliza；〃 he exclaimed。 〃Farewell！〃
He seized her hand impetuously； imprinted on it a burning kiss
before she was able to prevent him； dropped it； and turned to
descend the slope with a slow step。
Eliza stood motionless； and as if fascinated； she gazed after him；
and followed with an absorbed look his tall； noble form； descending
the mountain； surrounded by a halo of sunshine。
All at once Ulrich stood still and turned to her。 〃Eliza；〃 he
shouted； 〃did you call me？ Shall I return to you？〃
She shook her head and made a violent gesture indicating that he
should not return； but said nothing； the words choked in her breast。
He waved his hand to her； turned again； and continued descending the
slope。
Eliza looked after him； her face turned paler and paler； and her
lips quivered more painfully。 Once they opened as if to call him
back with a cry of anguish and love； but Eliza； pressing her hand
violently upon her mouth； forced the cry back into her heart； and
gazed down on Ulrich's receding form。
Already he had descended half the slope； now he reached the edge of
the forest； and alas！ disappeared in the thicket。
Eliza； uttering a loud cry； knelt down； and tears； her long…
restrained； scalding tears； streamed like rivers down her cheeks。
She lifted her arms； her clasped bands； to heaven； and murmured with
quivering lips： 〃Protect him； my God； for Thou knowest how intensely
I love him！〃
She remained a long time on her knees； weeping； praying； struggling
with her grief and her love。 But then all at once she sprang to her
feet； brushed the tears from her eyes； and drew a deep breath。
〃I must and will no longer weep；〃 she said to herself in a loud；
imperative voice。 〃Otherwise they would see that I had been weeping；
and no one must know that。 I must descend in order to be at home in
time； and then I will tell father and the other men that Ulrich
never was my betrothed； and that I said so only to save his life。
They will forgive me for helping him to escape when I tell them that
I never loved him nor would have taken him； because