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could act so dishonorably and meanly as to join the rebels！ No；
never！ Never will the daughter of the rebel Anthony Wallner become
my wife！ Kill me now if you want to do so。 You may take my life； but
you cannot dishonor me！〃
Eliza sat still motionless； and as if petrified。 She had heard； as
if in a dream； the captain's words； and； as if in a dream； she saw
that Schroepfel rushed forward and raised his powerful arm against
him； and that all the men crowded up to him with menacing gestures；
as if in a dream； she heard wild shouts and imprecations。
All at once two ice…cold； trembling hands seized Eliza's arms； and a
beloved voice penetrated her ear with the vehemence of mortal
anguish and terror。
〃Eliza！〃 cried this voice〃Eliza； will you allow them to kill him？〃
〃Elza！〃 murmured Eliza； as if starting up from a trance； 〃Elza； what
is the matter？〃
〃They will assassinate him； Eliza！〃 wailed Elza。 〃They have tied and
gagged him； and say that they will take him out and shoot him。
Eliza； you alone can save him！ Have mercy； forget what he said in
his rage and grief。 Have mercy upon him； upon me！ For I tell you；
they will assassinate him。 Oh； see； they are forming a circle round
him； and dragging him down the aisle！ They are taking him out to the
public place！ They intend to shoot him！ Save him； Eliza； save him！〃
Eliza made no reply； she sprang up from her seat and hastened down
the aisle after the men； who were just issuing from the church…door；
and in whose midst was walking Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg；
conducted by Anthony Wallner； and his servant； lame old Schroepfel；
his hands tied on his back； and a gag in his mouth。
But the sharpshooters surrounded the prisoner like a thick；
impenetrable wall。 Vainly did Eliza beg and implore the men to let
her pass； vainly did she try with the strength of despair to elbow
her way through the ranks。 The men pushed her back impetuously。
〃You shall not intercede。 in behalf of the infamous villain；〃 they
said； 〃you shall not save the life of the mean Bavarian who calls us
rebels and traitors； and yet did not keep his own word。 He shall and
must die； he has forfeited his life。〃 And their strong arms pushed
her from the circle which they now formed on the large place in
front of the church。 In its middle stood the captain； by his side
Anthony Wallner； and behind him Schroepfel； like a watch…dog ready
at any moment to tear his enemy。
Anthony lifted his arm with slow； solemn tranquillity； and dropped
it heavily on the captain's shoulder。
〃Ulrich von Hohenberg；〃 he said； 〃you are an infamous villain； for
you pledged your word to my daughter that you would marry her； and
now you repudiate her。 You are a liar and a slanderer； for you call
us infamous rebels and traitors merely because we fought for our
country and our emperor。 Therefore； you have sinned against God；
man； and honor。 Ulrich von Hohenberg； you must die！〃
〃Yes； you must die！〃 shouted the men； and they took the rifles from
their shoulders and loaded them。
Anthony Wallner and Schroepfel stepped back from the prisoner； and
the men who had stood behind him moved out of the way。 Hence the
circle； which had hitherto been impenetrable； now opened。 Eliza saw
it； and sprang forward； regardless of the sharpshooters； who were
just raising their muskets； regardless of the danger menacing
herself。 Pale； with panting breath； her hands lifted to heaven； she
sped across the open space toward the captain； and； placing herself
before him； exclaimed； with flashing eyes； and in an exulting voice：
〃Now shoot； men； shoot！ For I tell you he shall not die alone； and
if you shoot him； you shall kill me too。〃
〃Eliza！〃 cried her father； beseechingly； and withal angrily； 〃Eliza；
stand back！ He is a traitor； and must die。〃
〃He is no traitor； nor must he die； and if you assassinate him you
shall assassinate me too；〃 cried Eliza。
〃But； Lizzie； did you not hear； then； how he repudiated and abused
you； the faithless Bavarian？〃 asked her father。
〃I did； and I forgive him；〃 she said gently； 〃for I know full well
that he does not mean what he says。 Are you so stupid； men； as not
to comprehend that he cannot act otherwise； and that he must speak
thus and not otherwise？ Father； you said I was a true daughter of
the Tyrol； and that you loved me and were content with me。 I pray
you； then； dearest father； spare the life of my betrothed until to…
morrow morning； and have him taken back as a prisoner to our house
until then。 Schroepfel may watch him； and not take his eyes from
him。 Oh； dear； kind friends； brave men； have mercy upon me！ Bear in
mind that we fought together for our beloved country； and that you
told me you would never forget me； and would comply with my wishes
whenever you could。 I wish now that you spare the life of my
betrothed only until to…morrow morning。〃
〃He says he is not your betrothed； Lizzie； and will never marry
you！〃 exclaimed the men； with irresolute faces； and already half
softened by the beseeching； touching expression of Eliza's
countenance。
〃He says so；〃 she said； casting a fiery glance on the captain； who
stood pale and motionless； heard every word； and was unable to make
a reply； 〃he says so； but I know that he loves me； and will be
joyously ready to…morrow morning to do what I ask of him。 Father；〃
she added； in a low voice； seizing Anthony Wallner's arm； and
drawing him aside quickly； 〃do you not comprehend； then； that Ulrich
cannot speak differently？ Would not his king； after his return to
Bavaria； pronounce him a traitor； and charge him with having joined
us and the Austrians； and with having convicted himself by marrying
a Tyrolese girl？ Be wise； dearest father； and see how shrewdly
Ulrich manages every thing； and that he acts precisely as I told
him。 It must look as though he did not marry me of his own accord；
but compelled by you； otherwise his king and his father； who is a
very proud man； would never forgive him。 But when they hear what has
occurred here； and that you threatened to shoot Ulrich because he
would not marry me； the gentlemen at Munich will understand that
Ulrich had to take me in order to save his life。〃
〃And are you satisfied to have it look as though he married you only
under compulsion？〃 asked her father； gloomily。
〃I am； father；〃 she said； 〃for I love my betrothed； and he shall not
become unhappy for my sake and forfeit the good graces of his king
and his father。 State all this to your friends； dear father； and
tell them to let Ulrich and me alone for to…day； but ask them all to
come to our house to…morrow morning and accompany the bride and
bridegroom to the church； for Ulrich will marry me at nine to…morrow
morning。〃
〃But； Lizzie； why not to…day？〃 asked her father。 〃Why not at this
hour？〃
〃It will not do； father。 If you had told me beforehand what was to
be done here； I should have told you at once what I am telling you
now： it will not do for a young girl to appear before God's altar
without due preparation； and as though she were going to a dance。
What I am going to do is something very serious； and I will do it
seriously。 I will pray to God to…day； go to confession； and