remember the alamo-第14章

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Paola　saddled　the　fleetest　horse　in　the　stable；　and　after　one
solemn　five　minutes　with　his　daughter；　Robert　Worth　rode　away
into　the　midnight　darkness；　and　into　a　chaos　of　public　events
of　which　no　man　living　could　forecast　the　outcome。

Rode　away　from　wife　and　children　and　home；　leaving　behind　him
the　love　and　labor　of　his　lifetime

　　　　　　　　〃The　thousand　sweet；　still　joys　of　such
　　　　　　　　　As　hand　in　hand　face　earthly　life。〃

For　what？　　For　justice；　for　freedom　of　thought　and　action；　for
the　rights　of　his　manhood；　for　the　brotherhood　of　race
and　religion　and　country。　　Antonia　and　Isabel　stood　hand　in
hand　at　the　same　lattice　from　which　the　Senora　had　watched　her
son　away；　and　in　a　dim；　uncertain　manner　these　thoughts
connected　themselves　in　each　mind　with　the　same　mournful
inquiryIs　it　worth　while？

As　the　beat　of　the　horse's　hoofs　died　away；　they　turned。　　The
night　was　cold　but　clear；　and　the　sky　appeared　so　high　that
their　eyes　throbbed　as　they　gazed　upward　at　the　grand　arch；
sprinkled　with　suns　and　worlds。　　Suddenly　into　the　tranquil
spaces　there　was　flung　a　sound　of　joy　and　revelry；　and　the
girls　stepped　to　a　lattice　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　and
looked　out。

The　residencia　of　Don　Salvo　Valasco　was　clearly　visible　from
this　site。　　They　saw　that　it　was　illuminated　throughout。　
Lovely　women；　shining　with　jewels；　and　soldiers　in　scarlet　and
gold；　were　chatting　through　the　graceful　movements　of　the
danza；　or　executing　the　more　brilliant　Jota　Aragonesa。　　The
misty　beauty　of　white　lace　mantillas；　the　glitter　and　color　of
fans　and　festival　dresses；　made　a　moving　picture　of　great
beauty。

And　as　they　watched　it　there　was　a　cessation　of　the　dance；
followed　by　the　rapid　sweep　of　a　powerful　hand　over　the
strings　of　a　guitar。　　Then　a　group　of　officers　stepped
together；　and　a　great　wave　of　melodious　song；　solemn　and
triumphant；　thrilled　the　night。　　It　was　the　national　hymn。　
Antonia　and　Isabel　knew　it。　　Every　word　beat　upon　their
hearts。　　The　power　of　association；　the　charm　of　a　stately；
fervent　melody　was　upon　them。

〃It　is　Senor　Higadillos　who　leads；〃　whispered　Isabel；　as　a
resonant　voice；　powerful　and　sweet；　cried


〃O　list　to　the　summons！　　The　blood　of　our　sires；
　Boils　high　in　our　veins；　and　to　vengeance　inspires！
　Who　bows　to　the　yoke？　who　bends　to　the　blow？〃

and；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　the　answer　came　in　a
chorus　of　enthusiastic　cadences

〃No　hero　will　bend；　no　Mexican　bow；
　Our　country　in　tears　sends　her　sons　to　the　fight；
　To　conquer；　or　die；　for　our　land　and　our　right。〃


〃You　see；　the　Mexicans　think　THEY　are　in　the　rightTHEY
are　patriots　also；　Antonia。〃

The　sorrowful　girl　spoke　like　a　puzzled　child；　fretfully　and
uncertainly；　and　Antonia　led　her　silently　away。　　What
could　she　answer？　　And　when　she　remembered　the　dear　fugitive；
riding　alone　through　the　midnightriding　now　for　life　and
libertyshe　could　not　help　the　uprising　again　of　that　cold
benumbing　question〃Is　it　worth　while？〃



CHAPTER　VII。

A　MEETING　AT　MIDNIGHT。

〃All　faiths　are　to　their　own　believers　just；
　For　none　believe　because　they　will；　but　must；
　The　priest　continues　what　the　nurse　began；
　And　thus　the　child　imposes　on　the　man。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DRYDEN。

〃if　he　be　called　upon　to　face
　Some　awful　moment；　to　which　heaven　has　joined
　Great　issues　good　or　bad　for　humankind；
　Is　happy　as　a　lover；　and　attired
　With　sudden　brightness；　like　a　man　inspired；
　And　through　the　heat　of　conflict　keeps　the　law
　In　calmness　made；　and　sees　what　he　foresaw；
　Or；　if　an　unexpected　call　succeed；
　Come　when　it　will；　is　equal　to　the　need。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。

〃Ah！　love；　let　us　be　true
　To　one　another；　through　the　world　which　seems
　To　lie　before　us　like　a　land　of　dreams！〃

The　gathering　at　Don　Valasco's　was　constantly　repeated　in
various　degrees　of　splendor　among　the　loyal　Mexicans　of　the
city。　　They　were　as　fully　convinced　of　the　justice　of　their
cause　as　the　Americans　were。　　〃They　had　graciously
permitted　Americans　to　make　homes　in　their　country；　now　they
wanted　not　only　to　build　heretic　churches　and　sell　heretic
bibles；　but　also　to　govern　Texas　after　their　own　fashion。〃　
From　a　Mexican　point　of　view　the　American　settlers　were　a
godless；　atheistical；　quarrelsome　set　of　ingrates。　　For　eaten
bread　is　soon　forgotten；　and　Mexicans　disliked　to　remember
that　their　own　independence　had　been　won　by　the　aid　of　the
very　men　they　were　now　trying　to　force　into　subjection。

The　two　parties　were　already　in　array　in　every　house　in　the
city。　　The　Senora　at　variance　with　her　daughters；　their　Irish
cook　quarrelling　with　their　Mexican　servants；　only　represented
a　state　of　things　nearly　universal。　　And　after　the　failure　of
the　Mexicans　at　Gonzales　to　disarm　the　Americans；　the
animosity　constantly　increased。

In　every　church；　the　priestsmore　bitter；　fierce　and
revengeful　than　either　the　civil　or　military　powerurged　on
the　people　an　exterminating　war。　　A　black　flag　waved　from　the
Missions；　and　fired　every　heart　with　an　unrelenting　vengeance
and　hatred。　　To　slay　a　heretic　was　a　free　pass　through　the
dolorous　pains　of　purgatory。　　For　the　priesthood　foresaw
that　the　triumph　of　the　American　element　meant　the　triumph　of
freedom　of　conscience；　and　the　abolition　of　their　own
despotism。　　To　them　the　struggle　was　one　involving　all　the
privileges　of　their　order；　and　they　urged　on　the　fight　with
passionate　denunciations　of　the　foe；　and　with　magnificent
promises　of　spiritual　favors　and　blessings。　　In　the　fortress；
the　plaza；　the　houses；　the　churches；　the　streets；　their　fiery
words　kept　society　in　a　ferment。

But　through　all　this　turmoil　the　small　duties　of　life　went　on。　
Soldiers　were　parading　the　streets；　and　keeping　watch　on　the
flat　roofs　of　the　houses；　men　were　solemly｛sic｝　swearing
allegiance　to　Santa　Anna；　or　flying　by　night　to　the　camp　of
the　Americans；　life　and　death　were　held　at　a　pin's　fee；　but
eating　and　dressing；　dancing　and　flirting　were　pursued　with　an
eagerness　typical　of　pleasure　caught　in　the　passing。

And　every　hour　these　elements　gathered　intensity。　　The　always
restless　populace　of　San　Antonio　was　at　a　feverish　point　of
impatience。　　They　wanted　the　war　at　their　own　doors。　　They
wanted　the　quarrel　fought　out　on　their　own　streets。　
Business　took　a　secondary　place。　　Men　fingered　weapons　and
dreamed　of　blood；　until　the　temper　of　the　town　was　as
boisterous　and　vehement　as　the　temper　of　the　amphitheatre　when
impatiently　waiting　for　the　bulls　and　the　matadores。

Nor　was　it　possible　for　Antonia　to　lock　the　door　upon　this
pervading　spirit。　　After　Doctor　Worth's　flight；　it　became
necessary　for　her　to　assume　control　over　the　household。　　She
had　promised　him　to　do　so；　and　she　was　resolved；　in　spite　of
all　opposition；　to　follow　out　his　instructions。　　But　it　was　by
no　means　an　easy　task。

Fray　Ignatius　had　both　the　Senora　and　Rachela　completely　under
his　subjection。　　Molly；　the　Irish　cook；　was　already
dissatisfied。　　The　doctor　had　saved　her　life　and　given　her　a
good　home　and　generous　wages；　and　while　the　doctor　was　happy
and　prosperous　Molly　was　accordingly　grateful。　　But　a　few
words　from　the　priest　set　affairs　in　a　far　pleasanter　light　to
her。　　She　was　a　true　Catholic；　the　saints　sent　the　heretic
doctor　to　help。　　It　was　therefore　the　saints　to　whom　gratitude
was　due。　　Had　she　not　earned　her　good　wage？　　And　would　not
Don　Angel　Sandoval　give　her　a　still　larger　sum？　　Or　even
the　Brothers　at　the　Mission　of　San　Jose？　　Molly　listened　to
these　words　with　a　complacent　pleasure。　　She　reflected　that　it
would　be　much　more　agreeable　to　her　to　be　where　she　could
entirely　forget　that　she　had　ever　been　hungry　and　friendless；
and　lying　at　death's　door。

Antonia　knew　also　that　Rachela　was　at　heart　unfaithful；　and
soon　the　conviction　was　forced　on　her　that　servants　are　never
faithful　beyond　the　line　of　their　own　interestthat　it　is；
indeed；　against　certain　primary　laws　of　nature　to　expect　it。　
Certainly；　it　was　impossible　to　doubt　that　there　was　in　all
their　dependents　a　kind　of　satisfaction　in　their　misfortunes。

The　doctor　had　done　them　favorshow　unpleasant　was　their
memory！　　The　Senora　had　offended　them　by　the　splendor　of　her
dress；　and　her　complacent　air　of　happiness。　　Antonia's
American　ways　and　her　habit　of　sitting　for　hours　with　a　book
in　her　hand　were　a　great　irritation。

〃She　wishes　to　be　thought　wiser　than　other　womenas　wise　as
even　a　holy　priestSHE！　that　never　goes　to　mass；　and　is
nearly　a　heretic；〃　said　the　house　steward；　and　as　for　the
Senorita　Isabel；　a　little　trouble　will　be　good　for　her！　　Holy
Mary！　the　way　she　has　been　pampered　and　petted！　　It　is　an
absurdity。　　‘Little　dear；'　and　‘angel；'　are　the　hardest　words
she　hears。　　Si！　if　God　did　not　mercifully　abate　a　little　the
rich　they　would　grow　to　be　‘almightys。'〃

This　was　the　tone　of　the　conversation　of　the　servants　of　the
household。　　It　was　not　an　unnatural　tone；　but　it　was　a　very
unhappy　one。　　People　cannot　escape　from　the　mood　of　mind　they
habitually　indulge；　and　from　the　animus　of　the　words　they
habitually　use；　and　Antonia　felt　and　understood　the
antagonistic　atmosphere。　　For　the　things　which　we　know　best　of
all　are　precisely　the　things　which　no　one　has　ever　told　us。

The　Senora；　in　a　plain　black　serge　gown；　and　black　rebozo　over
her　head；　spent　her　time　in　prayers　and　penances。　　The　care　of
her　household　had　always　been　delegated　to　her　steward；　and　to
Rachela；　while　the　duties　that　more　especially　belonged　to
her；　had　been　fulfilled　by　her　husband　and　by　Antonia。　　In
many　respects　she　was　but　a　grown…up　baby。　　And　so；　in　this
great　extremity；　the　only　duty　which　pressed　upon　her　was
the　idea　of　supplicating　the　saints　to　take　charge　of　her
unhappy　affairs。

And　Fray　Ignatius　was　daily　more　hard　with　her。　　Antonia　even
suspected　from　his　growing　intolerance　and　bitterness；　that
the　Americans　were　gaining　unexpected　advantages。　　But　she
knew　nothing　of　what　was　happening。　　She　could　hear　from　afar
off　the　marching　and　movements　of　soldiers；　the　blare　of
military　music；　the　faint　echoes　of　hurrahing　multitudes；　but
there　was　no　one　to　give　her　any　certain　information。　　Still；
she　guessed　something　from　the　anger　of　the　priest　and　the
reticence　of　the　Mexican　servants。　　If　good　fortune　had　been
with　Santa　Anna；　she　was　sure　she　would　have　heard　of　〃The
glorious！　　The　invincible！　　The　magnificent　Presidente　de　la
Republica　Mexicana！　　The　Napoleon　of　the　West！〃

It　was　not　permitted　her　to　go　into　the　city。　　A　proposal　to
do　so　had　been　met　with　a　storm　of　angry　amazement。　　And　steam
and　electricity　had　not　then　annihilated　distance　and
abolished　suspense。　　She　could　but　wonder　and　hope；　and　try　to
read　the　truth　from　a　covert　inspection　of　the　face　and
words　of　Fray　Ignatius。

Between　this　monk　and　herself　the　breach　was　hourly　widening。　
With　angry　pain　she　saw　her　mother　tortured　between　the　fact
that　she　loved　her　husband；　and　the　horrible　doubt　that　to
love　him　was　a　mortal　sin。　　She　understood　the　underlying
motive　which　prompted　the　priest　to　urge　upon　the　Senora　the
removal　of　herself　and　her　daughters　to　the　convent。　　His
offer　to　take　charge　of　the　Worth　residencia　and　estate　was　in
her　convictio