remember the alamo-第21章

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the　night；　through　woods　haunted　by　savage　men　and　beasts；　to
succor　some　little　child　struggling　with　croup；　or　some
frontiersman　pierced　with　an　arrow。　　The　Senora　had　always
fretted　and　scolded　a　little　when　he　thus　exposed　his　life。　
But　the　storming　of　the　Alamo！　　That　was　a　bravery　she　could
understand。　　Her　Roberto　was　indeed　a　hero！　　Though　she　could
not　bring　herself　to　approve　the　cause　for　which　he　fought；
she　was　as　sensitive　as　men　and　women　always　are　to　victorious
valor　and　a　successful　cause。

Rachela　was　in　a　state　of　rebellion。　　Nothing　but　the　express
orders　of　Fray　Ignatius；　to　remain　where　she　was；　prevented
her　leaving　the　Worths；　for　the　freedom　so　suddenly　given　to
Isabel　had　filled　her　with　indignation。　　She　was　longing　to　be
in　some　house　where　she　could　give　adequate　expression　to　the
diabolical　temper　she　felt　it　right　to　indulge。

In　the　afternoon　it　was　some　relief　to　see　the　confessor
coming　up　the　garden。　　He　had　resumed　his　usual　deliberate
pace。　　His　hands　were　folded　upon　his　breast。　　He　looked　as
the　mournful　Jeremiah　may　have　looked；　when　he　had　the
burden　of　a　heavy　prophecy　to　deliver。

The　Senora　sat　down　with　a　doggedly　sullen　air；　which　Antonia
understood　very　well。　　It　meant；　〃I　am　not　to　be　forced　to
take　any　way　but　my　own；　to…day〃；　and　the　wise　priest
understood　her　mood　as　soon　as　he　entered　the　room。　　He　put
behind　him　the　reproof　he　had　been　meditating。　　He　stimulated
her　curiosity；　he　asked　her　sympathy。　　No　man　knew　better　than
Fray　Ignatius；　when　to　assume　sacerdotal　authority　and　when　to
lay　it　aside。

And　the　Senora　was　never　proof　against　the　compliment　of　his
personal　friendship。　　The　fight；　as　it　affected　himself　and
his　brotherhood　and　the　convent；　was　full　of　interest　to　her。　
She　smiled　at　Brother　Servando's　childish　alarm；　she　was　angry
at　an　insult　offered　to　the　venerable　abbot；　she　condoled　with
the　Sisters；　wept　at　the　danger　that　the　famous　statue　of　the
Virgin　de　Los　Reinedias　had　been　exposed　to；　and　was
altogether　as　sympathetic　as　he　could　desire；　until　her　own
affairs　were　mentioned。

〃And　you　also；　my　daughter？　　The　sword　has　pierced　your
heart　too；　I　am　sure！　　To　know　that　your　husband　and　sons　were
fighting　against　your　God　and　your　country！　　Holy　Mother！　　How
great　must　have　been　your　grief。　　But；　for　your　comfort；　I
tell　you　that　the　saints　who　have　suffered　a　fiery　martyrdom
stand　at　the　feet　of　those　who；　like　you；　endure　the　continual
crucifixion　of　their　affections。〃

The　Senora　was　silent；　but　not　displeased　and　the　priest　then
ventured　a　little　further：

〃But　there　is　an　end　to　all　trials；　daughter　and　I　now　absolve
you　from　the　further　struggle。　　Decide　this　day　for　your　God
and　your　country。　　Make　an　offering　to　Almighty　God　and　the
Holy　Mother　of　your　earthly　love。　　Give　yourself　and　your
daughters　and　all　that　you　have　to　the　benign　and　merciful
Church。　　Show　these　rebels　and　hereticsthese　ungrateful
recipients　of　Mexican　bountywhat　a　true　Catholic　is　capable
of。　　His　Divine　Majesty　and　the　Holy　Mary　demand　this　supreme
sacrifice　from　you。〃

〃Father；　I　have　my　husband；　and　my　sons；　to　them；　also；　I　owe
some　duties。〃

〃The　Church　will　absolve　you　from　them。〃

〃It　would　break　my　heart。〃

〃Listen　then：　　If　it　is　your　right　hand；　or　your　right　eye
that　is；　if　it　is　your　husband；　or　your　childyou　are
commanded　to　give　them　up；　orit　is　God's　wordthere　is　only
hell　fire。〃

〃Mother　of　Sorrows；　pity　me！　　What　shall　I　do？〃

She　looked　with　the　terror　of　a　child　into　the　dark；　cruel
face　of　the　priest。　　It　was　as　immovably　stern　as　if　carved
out　of　stone。　　Then　her　eyes　sought　those　of　Antonia；　who　sat
at　a　distant　window　with　her　embroidery　in　her　hand。　　She　let
it　fall　when　her　mother's　pitiful；　uncertain　glance　asked　from
her　strength　and　counsel。　　She　rose　and　went　to　her。　　Never
had　the　tall；　fair　girl　looked　so　noble。　　A　sorrowful　majesty；
that　had　something　in　it　of　pity　and　something　of　anger；　gave
to　her　countenance；　her　movements；　and　even　her　speech；　a　kind
of　authority。

〃Dear　mother；　do　as　the　beloved　and　kindhearted　Ruth　did。　
Like　you；　she　married　one　not　of　her　race　and　not　of　her
religion。　　Even　when　God　had　taken　him　from　her；　she　chose
to　remain　with　his　peopleto　leave　her　own　people　and
abide　with　his　mother。　For　this　act　God　blessed　her；
and　all　nations　in　all　ages　have　honored　her。〃

〃Ruth！　　Ruth！　　Ruth！　　What　has　Ruth　to　do　with　the　question？　
Presumptuous　one！　　Ruth　was　a　heathen　womana　Moabitea　race
ten　times　accursed。〃

〃Pardon；　father。　　Ruth　was　the　ancestress　of　our　blessed
Saviour；　and　of　the　Virgin　Mary。〃

〃Believe　not　the　wicked　one；　Senora？　　She　is　blinded　with
false　knowledge。　　She　is　a　heretic。　　I　have　long　suspected　it。　
She　has　not　been　to　confession　for　nine　months。〃

〃You　wrong　me；　father。　　Every　day；　twice　a　day；　I　confess　my
sins　humbly。〃

〃Chito！　　You　are　in　outrageous　sin。　　But；　then；　what　else？　　I
hear；　indeed；　that　you　read　wicked　bookseven　upon　your　knees
you　read　them。〃

〃I　read　my　Bible；　father。〃

〃Bring　it　to　me。　　How　could　a　child　like　you　read　the　Bible？　
It　is　a　book　for　bishops　and　archbishops；　and　the　Immaculate
Father　himself。　　What　an　arrogance？　　What　an　insolence　of
self…conceit　must　possess　so　young　a　heart？　　Saints　of　God！　
It　confounds　me。〃

The　girl　stood　with　burning　cheeks　gazing　at　the　proud；
passionate　man；　but　she　did　not　obey　his　order。

〃Senora；　my　daughter！　　See　you　with　your　own　eyes　the　fruit　of
your　sin。　　Will　you　dare　to　become　a　partner　in　such
wickedness？〃

〃Antonia！　　Antonia！　　Go　at　once　and　bring　here　this　wicked
book。　　Oh；　how　can　you　make　so　miserable　a　mother　who　loves
you　so　much？〃

In　a　few　moments　Antonia　returned　with　the　objectionable　book。　
〃My　dear　grandmother　gave　it　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃Look；　mi
madre；　here　is　my　name　in　her　writing。　　Is　it　conceivable　that
she　would　give　to　your　Antonia　a　book　that　she　ought　not　to
read？〃

The　Senora　took　it　in　her　hands　and　turned　the　leaves　very
much　as　a　child　might　turn　those　of　a　book　in　an　unknown
tongue；　in　which　there　were　no　illustrations　nor　anything　that
looked　the　least　interesting。　　It　was　a　pretty　volume　of
moderate　size；　bound　in　purple　morocco；　and　fastened　with
gilt　clasps。

〃I　see　the　word　GOD　in　it　very　often；　Fray　Ignatius。　
Perhaps；　indeed；　it　is　not　bad。〃

〃It　is　a　heretic　Bible；　I　am　sure。　　Could　anything　be　more
sinful；　more　disrespectful　to　God；　more　dangerous　for　a　young
girl？〃　and　as　he　said　the　words　he　took　it　from　the　Senora's
listless　hands；　glanced　at　the　obnoxious　title…page；　and　then；
stepping　hastily　to　the　hearth；　flung　the　book　upon　the
burning　logs。

With　a　cry　of　horror；　pain；　amazement；　all　blended；　Antonia
sprang　towards　the　fire；　but　Fray　Ignatius　stood　with
outstretched　arms；　before　it。

〃Stand　back！〃　he　cried。　　〃To　save　your　soul　from　eternal
fires；　I　burn　the　book　that　has　misled　you！〃

〃Oh；　my　Bible！　　Oh；　my　Bible！　　Oh；　mother！　mother！〃　and
sobbing　and　crying　out　in　her　fear　and　anger；　she　fled　down
stairs　and　called　the　peon　Ortiz。

〃Do　you　know　where　to　find　the　Senor　Doctor？　　If　you　do；
Ortiz；　take　the　swiftest　horse　and　bring　him　here。〃

The　man　looked　with　anger　into　the　girl's　troubled　face。　　For
a　moment　he　was　something　unlike　himself。　　〃I　can　find　him；　I
will　bring　him　in　fifteen　minutes。　　Corpus　Christi　it　is　here
he　should　be。〃

The　saddled　horse　in　the　stable　was　mounted　as　he　muttered　one
adjuration　and　oath　after　another；　and　Antonia　sat　down　at　the
window　to　watch　for　the　result　of　her　message。　　Fortunately；
Rachela　had　been　so　interested　in　the　proceedings；　and　so
determined　to　know　all　about　them；　that　she　seized　the
opportunity　of　the　outcry　to　fly　to　〃her　poor　Senora；〃　and
thus　was　ignorant　of　the　most　unusual　step　taken　by　Antonia。

Indeed；　no　one　was　aware　of　it　but　herself　and　Ortiz；　and　the
servants　in　the　kitchen　looked　with　a　curious　interest　at　the
doctor　riding　into　the　stable　yard　as　if　his　life　depended
upon　his　speed。　　Perhaps　it　did。　　All　of　them　stopped　their
work　to　speculate　upon　the　circumstance。

They　saw　him　fling　himself　from　the　saddle　they　saw　Antonia
run　to　meet　him；　they　heard　her　voice　full　of　distressthey
knew　it　was　the　voice　of　complaint。　　They　were　aware　it　was
answered　by　a　stamp　on　the　flagged　hall　of　the　doctor's　iron…
heeled　bootwhich　rang　through　the　whole　house；　and　which　was
but　the　accompaniment　of　the　fierce　exclamation　that　went　with
it。

They　heard　them　mount　the　stairs　together；　and　then　they　were
left　to　their　imaginations。　　As　for　Antonia；　she　was　almost
terrified　at　the　storm　she　had　raised。　　Never　had　she　seen
anger　so　terrible。　　Yet；　though　he　had　not　said　a　word
directly　to　her；　she　was　aware　of　his　full　sympathy。　　He
grasped　her　hand；　and　entered　the　Senora's　room　with　her。　　His
first　order　was　to　Rachela

〃Leave　the　house　in　five　minutes；　no；　in　three　minutes。　　I
will　tell　Ortiz　to　send　your　clothes　after　you。　　Go！〃

〃My　Senora！　　Fray　I〃

〃Go！〃　he　thundered。　　〃Out　of　my　house！　　Fly！　　I　will　not
endure　you　another　moment。〃

The　impetus　of　his　words　was　like　a　great　wind。　　They　drove
the　woman　before　him；　and　he　shut　the　door　behind　her　with　a
terrifying　and　amazing　rage。　　Then　he　turned　to　the　priest

〃Fray　Ignatius；　you　have　abused　my　hospitality；　and　my
patience。　　You　shall　do　so　no　longer。　　For　twenty…six　years　I
have　suffered　your　interference…〃

〃The　Senor　is　a　prudent　man。　　The　wise　bear　what　they
cannot　resist〃；　and　with　a　gentle　smile　and　lifted　eyebrows
Fray　Ignatius　crossed　himself。

〃I　have　respected　your　faith；　though　it　was　the　faith　of　a
bigot；　and　your　opinions；　though　they　were　false　and　cruel；
because　you　believed　honestly　in　them。　　But　you　shall　not
again　interfere　with　my　wife；　or　my　children；　or　my　servants；
or　my　house。〃

〃The　Senor　Doctor　is　not　prince；　or　pope。　　‘Shall；'　and
‘SHALL　NOT；'　no　one　but　my　own　ecclesiastical　superiors　can
say　to　me。〃

〃I　say；　you　shall　not　again　terrify　my　wife　and　insult　my
daughter；　and　disorganize　my　whole　household！　　And；　as　the　God
of　my　mother　hears　me；　you　shall　not　again　burn　up　His　Holy
Word　under　my　roof。　　Never；　while　I　dwell　beneath　it；　enter　my
gates；　or　cross　my　threshold；　or　address　yourself　to　any　that
bear　my　name；　or　eat　my　bread。〃　　With　the　words；　he　walked　to
the　door　and　held　it　open。　　It　was　impossible　to　mistake　the
unspoken　order；　and　there　was　something　in　the　concentrated
yet　controlled　passion　of　Robert　Worth　which　even　the　haughty
priest　did　not　care　to　irritate　beyond　its　bounds。

He　gathered　his　robe　together；　and　with　lifted　eyes　muttered
an　ejaculatory　prayer。　　Then　he　said　in　slow；　cold；　precise
tones：

〃For　the　present；　I　go。　　Very　good。　　I　shall　come　back　again。　
The　saints　will　take　care　of　that。　　Senora；　I　give　you　my
blessing。　　Senor；　you　may　yet　find　the　curse　of　a　poor　priest
an　inconvenience。〃

He　crossed　himself　at　the　door；　and　cast　a　last　look　at　the
Senora；　who　had　thown　herself　upon　her　knees；　and　was　crying
out　to　Mary　and　the　saints　in　a　passion　of　excuses　and
reproaches。　　She　was　deaf　to　all　her　husband　said。　　She　would
not　suffer　Antonia　to　approach　her。　　She　felt　that　now　was　the
hour　of