remember the alamo-第26章

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York。〃

The　priest　knew　that　he　was　talking　for　irritation；　but　he　was
too　politic　to　favor　the　mood。　　He　stood　on　the　hearth　with
his　hands　folded　behind　him；　and　with　a　delightful　suavity
turned　the　conversation　upon　the　country　rather　than　the
people。　　It　was　a　glorious　day　in　the　dawn　of　spring。　　The
tenderest　greens；　the　softest　blues；　the　freshest　scents；　the
clearest　air；　the　most　delightful　sunshine　were　everywhere。　
The　white　old　town；　with　its　picturesque　crowds；　its　murmur　of
voices　and　laughter；　its　echoes　of　fife　and　drum；　its
loves　and　its　hatreds；　was　at　his　feet；　and；　far　off；　the　hazy
glory　of　the　mountains；　the　greenness　and　freshness　of
Paradise；　the　peace　and　freedom　of　the　vast；　unplanted　places。　
The　old　marquis　was　insensibly　led　to　contemplate　the　whole；
and；　in　so　doing；　to　put　uppermost　that　pride　of　country　which
was　the　base　of　every　feeling　susceptible　to　the　priest's
influence。

〃Such　a　pleasant　city；　Marquis！　　Spanish　monks　founded　it。　
Spanish　and　Mexican　soldiers　have　defended　it。　　Look　at　its
fine　churches　and　missions；　its　lovely　homes；　and　blooming
gardens。〃

〃It　is　also　all　our　own；　father。　　It　was　but　yesterday　I　said
to　one　of　those　insolent　Americans　who　was　condescending　to
admire　it：　　‘Very　good；　Senor；　and；　if　you　deign　to　believe
me；　it　was　not　brought　from　New　York。　　Such　as　you　see　it；　it
was　made　by　ourselves　here　at　San　Antonio。'　　Saints　in　heaven！
the　fellow　laughed　in　my　face。　　We　were　mutually　convinced　of
each　other's　stupidity。〃

〃Ah；　how　they　envy　us　the　country！　　And　you；　Marquis；　who　have
traveled　over　the　world；　you　can　imagine　the　reason？〃

〃Father；　I　will　tell　you　the　reason；　it　is　the　craving　in　the
heart　to　find　again　the　lost　Eden。　　The　Almighty　made　Texas
with　full　hands。　　When　He　sets　his　heart　on　a　man；　he　is
permitted　to　live　there。〃

〃Grace　of　God！　　You　speak　the　truth。　　Shall　we　then　give　up
the　gift　of　His　hand　to　heretics　and　infidels？〃

〃I　cannot　imagine　it。〃

〃Then　every　one　must　do　the　work　he　can　do。　　Some　are　to　slay
the　unbelievers；　others；　are　to　preserve　the　children　of　the
Church。　　Your　niece　and　her　two　daughters　will　be　lost　to　the
faith；　unless　you　interfere　for　their　salvation。　　Of　you　will
their　souls　be　required。〃

〃By　Saint　Joseph；　it　is　a　duty　not　in　agreement　with　my
desire！　　I；　who　have　carefully　abstained　from　the　charge　of　a
wife　and　daughters　of　my　own。〃

〃It　is　but　for　a　day　or　two；　Marquis；　until　the　matter　is
arranged。　　The　convent　is　the　best　of　all　refuges　for　women　so
desolate。〃

The　marquis　did　not　answer。　　He　lifted　a　book　and　began　to
read；　and　Fray　Ignatius　watched　him　furtively。

In　the　mean　time　the　Senora　had　reached　her　home。　　She
was　pleased　with　the　result　of　her　visit。　　A　little　kindness
easily　imposed　upon　this　childlike　woman；　and　she　trusted　in
any　one　who　was　pleasant　to　her。

〃You　may　believe　me；　Antonia；〃　she　said；　〃my　uncle　was　in　a
temper　most　unusual。　　He　kissed　my　hands。　　He　offered　me　his
protection。　　That　is　a　great　thing；　I　assure　you。　　And　your
father　cannot　object　to　our　removal　there。〃

Antonia　knew　not　what　answer　to　make。　　Her　heart　misgave　her。　
Why　had　Fray　Ignatius　made　the　proposal？　　She　was　sure　it　was
part　of　an　arrangement；　and　not　a　spontaneous　suggestion　of
the　moment。　　And　she　was　equally　sure　that　any　preconcerted
plan；　having　Fray　Ignatius　for　its　author；　must　be　inimical　to
them。

Her　mother's　entry　had　not　awakened　Isabel；　who　lay　asleep
upon　a　sofa。　　The　Senora　was　a　little　nettled　at　the
circumstance。　　〃She　is　a　very　child！　　A　visit　of　such
importance！　　And　she　is　off　to　the　land　of　dreams　while　I　am
fatiguing　myself！　　I　wish　indeed　that　she　had　more
consideration！〃　　Then　Antonia　brought　her　chocolate；　and；　as
she　drank　it　and　smoked　her　cigarito；　she　chatted　in　an
almost　eager　way　about　the　persons　she　had　seen。

〃Going　towards　the　Plaza；　I　met　judge　Valdez。　　I　stopped　the
carriage；　and　sent　my　affections　to　the　Senora。　　Would　you
believe　it？　　He　answered　me　as　if　his　mouth　were　full　of　snow。　
His　disagreeable　behavior　was　exactly　copied　by　the　Senora
Silvestre　and　her　daughter　Esperanza。　　Dona　Julia　and　Pilar　de
Calval　did　not　even　perceive　me。　　Santa　Maria！　there　are　none
so　blind　as　those　who　won't　see！　　Oh；　indeed！　　I　found　the
journey　like　the　way　of　salvationfull　of　humiliations。　　I
would　have　stopped　at　the　store　of　the　Jew　Lavenburg；　and
ordered　many　things；　but　he　turned　in　when　he　saw　me　coming。　
Once；　indeed；　he　would　have　put　his　hat　on　the　pavement　for　me
to　tread　upon。　　But　he　has　heard　that　your　father　has　made　a
rebel　of　himself；　and　what　can　be　expected？　　He　knows　when
Santa　Anna　has　done　with　the　rebels　not　one　of　them　will　have
anything　left　for　God　to　rain　upon。　　And　there　was　a　great
crowd　and　a　great　tumult。　　I　think　the　whole　city　had　a　brain
fever。〃

At　this　moment　Isabel　began　to　moan　in　her　sleep　as　if
her　soul　was　in　some　intolerable　terror　or　grief；　and　ere
Antonia　could　reach　her　she　sprang　into　the　middle　of　the　room
with　a　shriek　that　rang　through　the　house。

It　was　some　minutes　before　the　child　could　be　soothed。　　She
lay　in　her　mother's　arms；　sobbing　in　speechless　distress；　but
at　length　she　was　able　to　articulate　her　fright：

〃Listen；　mi　madre；　and　may　the　Holy　Lady　make　you　believe　me！　
I　have　had　a　dream。　　God　be　blessed　that　it　is　not　yet　true！　
I　will　tell　you。　　It　was　about　Fray　Ignatius　and　our　uncle　the
Marquis　de　Gonzaga。　　My　good　angel　gave　it　to　me；　for　myself
and　you　all　she　gave　it；　and；　as　my　blessed　Lord　lives！　　I
will　not　go　to　them！　　SI！　　I　will　cut　my　white　throat
first！〃　and　she　drew　her　small　hand　with　a　passionate　gesture
across　it。　　She　had　stood　up　as　she　began　to　speak；　and　the
action；　added　to　her　unmistakable　terror；　her　stricken　face
and　air　of　determination；　was　very　impressive。

〃You　have　had　a　dream；　my　darling？〃

〃Yes；　an　awful　dream；　Antonia！　　Mary！　　Mary！　　Tender　Mary；
pity　us！〃

〃And　you　think　we　should　not　go　to　the　house　of　the　marquis？〃

〃Oh；　Antonia！　　I　have　seen　the　way。　　It　is　black　and　cold；　and
full　of　fear　and　pain。　　No　one　shall　make　me　take　it。　　I　have
the　stiletto　of　my　grandmother　Flores。　　I　will　ask　Holy　Mary
to　pardon　me；　and　thenin　a　momentI　would　be　among　the
people　of　the　other　world。　　That　would　be　far　better　than　Fray
Ignatius　and　the　house　of　Gonzaga。〃

The　Senora　was　quite　angry　at　this　fresh　complication。　　It　was
really　incredible　what　she　had　to　endure。　　And　would　Antonia
please　to　tell　her　where　else　they　were　to　go？　　They　had　not
a　friend　left　in　San　Antoniothey　did　not　deserve　to　have
oneand　was　it　to　be　supposed　that　a　lady；　born　noble；　could
follow　the　Americans　in　an　ox…wagon？　　Antonia　might　think　it
preferable　to　the　comfortable　house　of　her　relation；　but
blessed　be　the　hand　of　God；　which　had　opened　the　door　of　a
respectable　shelter　to　her。

〃I　will　go　in　the　ox…wagon；〃　said　Isabel；　with　a　sullen
determination；　〃but　I　will　not　go　into　my　uncle's　house。　　By
the　saint　of　my　birth　I　swear　it。〃

〃Mother；　listen　to　Antonia。　　When　one　door　shuts；　God　opens
another　door。　　Our　own　home　is　yet　undisturbed。　　Do　you
believe　what　Fray　Ignatius　says　of　the　coming　of　Santa　Anna？　
I　do　not。　　Until　he　arrives　we　are　safe　in　our　own　home；　and
when　the　hour　for　going　away　comes；　even　a　little　bird　can
show　us　the　way　to　take。　　And　I　am　certain　that　my　father　is
planning　for　our　safety。　　If　Santa　Anna　was　in　this　city；　and
behaving　with　the　brutality　which　is　natural　to　him；　I　would
not　go　away　until　my　father　sent　the　order。　　Do　you　think　he
forgets　us？　　Be　not　afraid　of　such　a　thing。　　It　cannot　take
place。〃

Towards　dusk　Senor　Navarro　called；　and　the　Senora　brought　him
into　her　private　parlor　and　confided　to　him　the　strait　they
were　in。　　He　looked　with　sympathy　into　the　troubled；　tear…
stained　faces　of　these　three　helpless　women；　and　listened　with
many　expressive　gestures　to　the　proposal　of　the　priest　and　the
offer　of　the　old　marquis。

〃Most　excellent　ladies；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　a　plot。　　I　assure
you　that　it　is　a　plot。　　Certainly　it　was　not　without　reason　I
was　so　unhappy　about　you　this　afternoon。　　Even　while　I
was　at　the　bull…fight；　I　think　our　angels　were　in　a
consultation　about　your　affairs。　　Your　name　was　in　my　ears
above　all　other　sounds。〃

〃You　say　it　is　a　plot；　Senor。　　Explain　to　us　what　you　mean？〃

〃Yes；　I　will　tell　you。　　Do　you　know　that　Fray　Ignatius　is　the
confessor　of　the　marquis？〃

〃We　had　not　thought　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃It　is　the　truth。　　For　many　years　they　have　been　close　as　the
skin　and　the　flesh。　　Without　Fray　Ignatius　the　marquis　says
neither　yes　or　no。　　Also　the　will　of　the　marquis　has　been
lately　made。　　I　have　seen　a　copy　of　it。　　Everything　he　has　is
left　to　the　brotherhoods　of　the　Church。　　Without　doubt；　Fray
Ignatius　was　the；　lawyer　who　wrote　it。〃

〃Senor；　I　always　believed　that　would　happen。　　At　my　marriage
my　uncle　made　the　determination。　　Indeed；　we　have　never
expected　a　piastreno；　not　even　a　tlaco。　　And　to…day　he　was
kind　to　me；　and　offered　me　his　home。　　Oh；　Holy　Mother；　how
wretched　I　am！　　Can　I　not　trust　in　the　good　words　of　those　who
are　of　my　own　family？〃

〃The　tie　of　race　will　come　before　the　tie　of　the　family。　　The
tie　of　religion　is　strongest　of　all；　Senora。　　Let　me　tell　you
what　will　take　place。　　When　you　and　your　children　are　in　the
house　of　the　marquis；　he　will　go　before　the　Alcalde。　　He　will
declare　that　you　have　gone　voluntarily　to　his　care；　and　that
he　is　your　nearest　and　most　natural　guardian。　　Very　well。　　But
further；　he　will　declare；　on　account　of　his　great　age；　and　the
troubled　state　of　the　time；　he　is　unable　to　protect　you；　and
ask　for　the　authority　to　place　you　in　the　religious　care　of
the　holy　sisterhood　of　Saint　Maria。　　And　he　will　obtain　all　he
wants。〃

〃But；　simply；　what　is　to　be　gained　by　such　treachery？　　He　said
to…day　that　I　was　like　his　sister　Mercedes；　and　he　spoke　very
gently　to　me。〃

〃He　would　not　think　such　a　proceeding　really　unkind。　　He　would
assure　himself　that　it　was　good　for　your　eternal　salvation。　
As　to　the　reason；　that　is　to　be　looked　for　in　the　purse；　where
all　reasons　come　from。　　This　house；　which　the　good　doctor
built；　is　the　best　in　the　city。　　It　has　even　two　full　stories。　
It　is　very　suitable　for　a　religious　house。　　It　is　not　far
from　the　Plaza；　yet　secluded　in　its　beautiful　garden。　
Fray　Ignatius　has　long　desired　it。　　When　he　has　removed　you；
possession　will　be　taken；　and　Santa　Anna　will　confirm　the
possession。〃

〃God　succor　our　poor　souls！　　What　shall　we　do　then；　Senor？　
The　Mexican　army　has　entered　Texas；　it　will　soon　be　here。〃

〃Quien　sabe？　　Between　the　Rio　Grande　and　the　San　Antonio　are
many　difficulties。　　Urrea　has　five　thousand　men　with　him；
horses　and　artillery。　　The　horses　must　graze；　the　men　must
rest　and　eat。　　We　shall　have　heavy　rains。　　I　am　sure　that　it
will　be　twenty　days　ere　he　reaches　the　settlements；　and　even
then　his　destination　is　not　San　Antonio；　it　is　Goliad。　　Santa
Anna　will　be　at　least　ten　days　after　him。　　I　suppose；　then；
that　for　a　whole　month　you　are　quite　safe　in　your　own　home。　
That　is　what　I　believe　now。　　If　I　saw　a　reason　to　believe　what
is　different；　I　would　inform　you。　　The　good　doctor；　to