remember the alamo-第25章

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　　　　　　　　　　　Though　no　man　understands　it。
　　　　　　　　　God　loves　his　few　pet　lambs；
　　　　　　　　　　　And　saves　his　one　pet　nation；
　　　　　　　　　The　rest　he　largely　damns；
　　　　　　　　　　　With　swinging　reprobation。〃

　　　　　　　　〃The　Church　may　loose　and　bind；
　　　　　　　　　But　Mind；　immortal　Mind；
　　　　　　　　　As　free　as　wave　or　wind；
　　　　　　　　　　　Came　forth；　O　God；　from　Thee。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BLACKIE。

Dr。　Worth　had　set　his　daughter　a　task　of　no　light　magnitude。　
It　was　true；　that　Rachela　and　Fray　Ignatius　could　no　longer
disturb　the　household　by　their　actual　presence；　but　their
power　to　cause　unhappiness　was　not　destroyed。　　Among　the
Mexican　families　loyal　to　Santa　Anna　the　dismission　of　the
priest　and　the　duenna　had　been　a　source　of　much　indignant
gossip；　for　Rachela　was　one　of　those　women　who　cry
out　when　they　are　hurt；　and　compel　others　to　share　their
trouble。　　The　priest　had　not　therefore　found　it　necessary　to
explain　WHY　the　Senora　had　called　upon　a　new　confessor。　　He
could　be　silent；　and　possess　his　dignity　in　uncomplaining
patience；　for　Rachela　paraded　his　wrongs　as　a　kind　of　set…off
to　her　own。

Such　piety！　　Such　virtues！　　And　the　outrageous　conduct　of
the　Senor　Doctor！　　To　be　sure　there　was　cause　for　anger　at　the
Senorita　Antonia。　　Oh；　yes！　　She　could　crow　her　mind　abroad！　
There　were　booksOh；　infamous　books！　　Books　not　proper　to　be
read；　and　the　Senorita　had　them！　　Well　then；　if　the　father
burned　them；　that　was　a　good　deed　done。　　And　he　had　almost
been　reviled　for　itsent　out　of　the　houseyes；　it　was　quite
possible　that　he　had　been　struck！　　Anything　was　possible　from
those　American　heretics。　　As　for　her　own　treatment；　after
twenty　years　service；　it　had　been　cruel；　abominable；　more　than
thatiniquitous；　but　about　these　things　she　had　spoken；　and
the　day　of　atonement　would　come。　　Justice　was　informing　itself
on　the　whole　matter。

Such　conversations　continually　diversified；　extended；　repeated
on　all　hands；　quickly　aroused　a　prejudice　against　the　doctor's
family。　　Besides　which；　the　Senora　Alveda　resented　bitterly
the　visits　of　her　son　Luis　to　Isabel。　　None　of　the　customs　of
a　Mexican　betrothal　had　taken　place；　and　Rachela　did　not　spare
her　imagination　in　describing　the　scandalous　American
familiarity　that　had　been　permitted。　　That；　this　familiarity
had　taken　place　under　the　eyes　of　the　doctor　and　the　Senora
only　intensified　the　insult。　　She　might　have　forgiven
clandestine　meetings；　but　that　the　formalities　due　to　the
Church　and　herself　should　have　been　neglected　was　indeed
unpardonable。

It　soon　became　evident　to　the　Senora　that　she　had　lost　the
good…will　of　her　old　friends；　and　the　respect　that　had　always
been　given　to　her　social　position。　　It　was　difficult　for　her
to　believe　this；　and　she　only　accepted　the　humiliating　fact
after　a　variety　of　those　small　insults　which　women　reserve　for
their　own　sex。

She　was　fond　of　visiting；　she　valued　the　good　opinion　of　her
caste；　and　in　the　very　chill　of　the　gravest　calamities　she
worried　her　strength　away　over　little　grievances　lying
outside　the　walls　of　her　home　and　the　real　affections　of　her
life。　　And　perhaps　with　perfect　truth　she　asserted　that　SHE
had　done　nothing　to　deserve　this　social　ostracism。　　Others　had
made　her　miserable；　but　she　could　thank　the　saints　none　could
make　her　guilty。

The　defeat　of　Cos　had　been　taken　by　the　loyal　inhabitants　as
a　mere　preliminary　to　the　real　fight。　　They　were　very　little
disturbed　by　it。　　It　was　the　overt　act　which　was　necessary　to
convince　Mexico　that　her　clemency　to　Americans　was　a　mistake；
and　that　the　ungrateful　and　impious　race　must　be　wiped　out　of
existence。　　The　newspapers　not　only　reiterated　this　necessity；
but　proclaimed　its　certainty。　　They　heralded　the　coming　of
Santa　Anna；　the　victorious　avenger；　with　passionate
gasconading。　　It　was　a　mere　question　of　a　few　days　or　weeks；
and　in　the　meantime　the　people　of　San　Antonio　were　〃making　a
little　profit　and　pleasure　to　themselves　out　of　the
extravagant　reprobates。〃　　There　was　not　a　day　in　which　they
did　not　anticipate　their　revenge　in　local　military　displays；
in　dances　and　illuminations；　in　bull…fights；　and　in
splendid　religious　processions。

And　Antonia　found　it　impossible　to　combat　this　influence。　　It
was　in　the　house　as　certain　flavors　were　in　certain　foods；　or
as　heat　was　in　fire。　　She　saw　it　in　the　faces　of　her　servants；
and　felt　it　in　their　indifference　to　their　duty。　　Every　hour
she　watched　more　anxiously　for　some　messenger　from　her　father。　
And　as　day　after　day　went　by　in　a　hopeless　sameness　of　grief；
she　grew　more　restless　under　the　continual　small　trials　that
encompassed　her。

Towards　the　end　of　January；　General　Urrea；　at　the　head　of　the
vanguard　of　the　Mexican　army；　entered　Texas。　　His　destination
was　La　Bahia　or　Goliad；　a　strong　fortress　garrisoned　by
Americans　under　Colonel　Fanning。　　Santa　Anna　was　to　leave　in
eight　days　after　him。　　With　an　army　of　twenty　thousand　men　he
was　coming　to　the　relief　of　San　Antonio。

The　news　filled　the　city　with　the　wildest　rejoicing。　　The
little　bells　of　the　processions；　the　big　bells　of　the
churches；　the　firing　of　cannon；　the　hurrahs　of　the　tumultuous
people；　made　an　uproar　which　reached　the　three　lonely
women　through　the　closed　windows　of　their　rooms。

〃If　only　Lopez　Navarro　would　come！　　If　he　would　send　us　some
little　message！　　Holy　Mary；　even　he　has　forgotten　us！〃　cried
the　Senora　in　a　paroxysm　of　upbraiding　sorrow。

At　that　moment　the　door　opened；　and　Fray　Ignatius　passed　the
threshold　with　lifted　hands　and　a　muttered　blessing。　　He
approached　the　Senora；　and　she　fell　on　her　knees　and　kissed
the　hand　with　which　he　crossed　her。

〃Holy　father！〃　she　cried；　〃the　angels　sent　you　to　a　despairing
woman。〃

〃My　daughter；　I　have　guided　you　since　your　first　communion；
how　then　could　I　forget　you？　　Your　husband　has　deserted　you
you；　the　helpless；　tender　lamb；　whom　he　swore　to　cherish；　but
the　blessed　fold　of　your　church　stands　open。　　Come；　poor　weary
one；　to　its　shelter。〃

〃My　father〃

〃Listen　to　me！　　The　Mexican　troops　are　soon　to　arrive。　
Vengeance　without　mercy　is　to　be　dealt　out。　　You　are　the　wife
of　an　American　rebel；　I　cannot　promise　you　your　life；　or　your
honor；　if　you　remain　here。　　When　soldiers　are　drunk　with
blood；　and　women　fall　in　their　way；　God　have　mercy　upon　them！　
I　would　shield　even　your　rebellious　daughter　Antonia　from　such
a　fate。　　I　open　the　doors　of　the　convent　to　you　all。　　There
you　will　find　safety　and　peace。〃

Isabel　sat　with　white；　parted　lips　and　clasped　hands；
listening。　　Antonia　had　not　moved　or　spoken。　　But　with　the
last　words　the　priest　half…turned　to　her；　and　she　came　swiftly
to　her　mother's　side；　and　kissing　her；　whispered：

〃Remember　your　promise　to　my　father！　　Oh；　mi　madre；　do　not
leave　Isabel　and　me　alone！〃

〃You；　too；　dear　ones！　　We　will　all　go　together；　till　these
dreadful　days　are　past。〃

〃No；　no；　no！　　Isabel　and　I　will　not　go。　　We　will　die　rather。〃

〃The　Senorita　talks　like　a　foolish　one。　　Listen　again！　　When
Santa　Anna　comes　for　judgment；　it　will　be　swift　and　terrible。　
This　house　and　estate　will　be　forfeited。　　The　faithful　Church
may　hope　righteously　to　obtain　it。　　The　sisters　have　long
needed　a　good　home。　　The　convent　will　then　come　to　you。　　You
will　have　no　shelter　but　the　Church。　　Come　to　her　arms
ere　her　entreaties　are　turned　to　commands。〃

〃My　husband　told　me〃

〃Saints　of　God！　you　have　no　husband。　　He　has　forfeited　every
right　to　advise　you。　　Consider　that；　daughter；　and　if　you
trust　not　my　advice；　there　is　yet　living　your　honorable　uncle；
the　Marquis　de　Gonzaga。〃

Antonia　caught　eagerly　at　this　suggestion。　　It　at　least
offered　some　delay；　in　which　the　Senora　might　be　strengthened
to　resist　the　coercion　of　Fray　Ignatius。

〃Mother；　it　is　a　good　thought。　　My　great…uncle　will　tell　you
what　to　do；　and　my　father　will　not　blame　you　for　following　his
advice。　　Perhaps　even　he　may　offer　his　home。　　You　are　the
child　of　his　sister。〃

Fray　Ignatius　walked　towards　the　fire…place　and　stood　rubbing
slowly　his　long；　thin　hands　before　the　blaze；　while　the　Senora
and　her　daughters　discussed　this　proposal。　　The　half…frantic
mother　was　little　inclined　to　make　any　further　effort　to
resist　the　determined　will　of　her　old　confessor；　but　the　tears
of　Isabel　won　from　her　a　promise　to　see　her　uncle。

〃Then；　my　daughter；　lose　no　time。　　I　cannot　promise　you
many　days　in　which　choice　will　be　left　you。　　Go　this
afternoon；　and　to…morrow　I　will　call　for　your　decision。〃

It　was　not　a　visit　that　the　Senora　liked　to　make。　　She　had
deeply　offended　her　uncle　by　her　marriage；　and　their
intercourse　had　since　been　of　the　most　ceremonious　and
infrequent　kind。　　But　surely；　at　this　hour；　when　she　was　left
without　any　one　to　advise　her　steps；　he　would　remember　the　tie
of　blood　between　them。

He　received　her　with　more　kindness　than　she　had　anticipated。　
His　eyes　glittered　in　their　deep　sockets　when　she　related　her
extremity　and　the　priest's　proposal；　and　his　small　shrunken
body　quivered　with　excitement　as　he　answered：

〃Saints　and　angels！　　Fray　Ignatius　is　right　about　Santa　Anna。　
We　shall　see　that　he　will　make　caps　for　his　soldiers　out　of
the　skins　of　these　infidel　ingrates。　　But　as　for　going　into
the　convent；　I　know　not。　　A　miserable　marriage　you　made　for
yourself；　Maria。　　Pardon；　if　I　say　so　much！　　I　let　the　word
slip　always。　　I　was　never　one　to　bite　my　tongue。　　I　am　all　old
manvery　well；　come　here；　you　and　your　daughters；　till
the　days　of　blood　are　over。　　There　is　room　in　the　house；　and
a　few　comforts　in　it　also。　　I　have　some　power　with　Santa　Anna。　
He　is　a　great　mana　great　man！　　In　all　his　wars；　good　fortune
flies　before　him。〃

He　kissed　her　hands　as　he　opened　the　door；　and　then　went　back
to　the　fire；　and　bent；　muttering；　over　it：　　〃Giver　of　good！　a
true　Yturbide；　a　gentle　woman；　she　is　like　my　sister
Mercedesvery　like　her。　　These　poor　women　who　trust　me；　as　I
am　a　sinner　before　God；　I　am　unhappy　to　deceive　them。〃

Fray　Ignatius　might　have　divined　his　thoughts；　for　he　entered
at　the　moment；　and　said　as　he　approached　him：

〃You　have　done　right。　　The　soul　must　be　saved；　if　all　is　lost。　
This　is　not　a　time　for　the　friends　of　the　Church　and　of　Mexico
to　waver。　　The　Church　is　insulted　every　day　by　these　foreign
heretics〃

〃But　you　are　mistaken；　father；　the　Church　holds　up　her　head；
whatever　happens。　　Even　the　vice…regal　crown　is　not　lostthe
Church　has　cleft　it　into　mitres。〃

Fray　Ignatius　smiled；　but　there　was　a　curious　and　crafty　look
of　inquiry　on　his　face。　　〃The　city　is　turbulent；　Marquis；
and　there　is　undoubtedly　a　great　number　of　Mexicans　opposed　to
Santa　Anna。〃

〃Do　you　not　know　Mexicans　yet？　　They　would　be　opposed　to　God
Almighty；　rather　than　confess　they　were　well　governed。　　Bah！
the　genius　of　Mexico　is　mutiny。　　They　scarcely　want　a　leader
to　move　their　madness。　　They　rebel　on　any　weak　pretence。　　They
bluster　when　they　are　courted；　they　crouch　when　they　are
oppressed。　　They　are　fools　to　all　the　world　but　themselves。　
I　beg　the　Almighty　to　consider　in　my　favor；　that　some　over…
hasty　angel　misplaced　my　lot。　　I　should　have　been　born　inNew
York。〃

The　priest　knew　that　he　was　talking　for　irritation；　but　he　was
too　politic　to　favor　the　mood。　　He　sto