remember the alamo-第3章

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approaching　which　would　test　to　extremity　the　affection　which
bound　his　family　together。　　He　contrived　to　draw　Antonia　aside
for　a　few　moments。

〃Is　she　not　wonderful？〃　he　asked。　　〃When　did　she　learn
these　things？　　I　mean　the　way　in　which　she　does　them？〃

Isabel　was　dancing　La　Cachoucha；　and　Antonia　looked　at　her
little　sister　with　eyes　full　of　loving　speculation。　　Her
answer　dropped　slowly　from　her　lips；　as　if　a　conviction　was
reluctantly　expressed：

〃The　way　must　be　a　gift　from　the　pasther　soul　has　been　at
school　before　she　was　born　here。　　Father；　are　you　troubled？　
What　is　it？　　Not　Isabel；　surely？〃

〃Not　Isabel；　primarily。　　Antonia；　I　have　been　expecting
something　for　twenty　years。　　It　is　coming。〃

〃And　you　are　sorry？〃

〃I　am　anxious；　that　is　all。　　Go　back　to　the　dancers。　　In　the
morning　we　can　talk。〃

In　the　morning　the　doctor　was　called　very　early　by　some　one
needing　his　skill。　　Antonia　heard　the　swift　footsteps　and
eager　voices；　and　watched　him　mount　the　horse　always　kept
ready　saddled　for　such　emergencies；　and　ride　away　with　the
messenger。　　The　incident　in　itself　was　a　usual　one；　but　she
was　conscious　that　her　soul　was　moving　uneasily　and
questioningly　in　some　new　and　uncertain　atmosphere。

She　had　felt　it　on　her　first　entrance　into　Senora　Valdez's
gran　salaa　something　irrepressible　in　the　faces　of　all　the
men　present。　　She　remembered　that　even　the　servants　had　been
excited；　and　that　they　stood　in　small　groups；　talking　with
suppressed　passion　and　with　much　demonstrativeness。　　And　the
officers　from　the　Alamo！　　How　conscious　they　had　been　of　their
own　importance！　　What　airs　of　condescension　and　of　an　almost
insufferable　protection　they　had　assumed！　　Now；　that　she
recalled　the　faces　of　Judge　Valdez；　and　other　men　of　years　and
position；　she　understood　that　there　had　been　in　them　something
out　of　tone　with　the　occasion。　　In　the　atmosphere　of　the　festa
she　had　only　felt　it。　　In　the　solitude　of　her　room　she　could
apprehend　its　nature。

For　she　had　been　born　during　those　stormy　days　when　Magee　and
Bernardo；　with　twelve　hundred　Americans；　first　flung　the
banner　of　Texan　independence　to　the　wind；　when　the　fall　of
Nacogdoches　sent　a　thrill　of　sympathy　through　the　United
States；　and　enabled　Cos　and　Toledo；　and　the　other
revolutionary　generals　in　Mexico；　to　carry　their　arms　against
Old　Spain　to　the　very　doors　of　the　vice…royal　palace。　　She
had　heard　from　her　father　many　a　time　the　whole　brave；
brilliant　storythe　same　story　which　has　been　made　in　all
ages　from　the　beginning　of　time。　　Only　the　week　before；　they
had　talked　it　over　as　they　sat　under　the　great　fig…tree
together。

〃History　but　repeats　itself；〃　the　doctor　had　said　then；　〃for
when　the　Mexicans　drove　the　Spaniards；　with　their　court
ceremonies；　their　monopolies　and　taxes；　back　to　Spain；　they
were　just　doing　what　the　American　colonists　did；　when　they
drove　the　English　royalists　back　to　England。　　It　was　natural；
too；　that　the　Americans　should　help　the　Mexicans；　for；　at
first；　they　were　but　a　little　band　of　patriots；　and　the
American…Saxon　has　like　the　Anglo…Saxon　an　irresistible
impulse　to　help　the　weaker　side。　　And　oh；　Antonia！　　The　cry　of
Freedom！　　Who　that　has　a　soul　can　resist　it？〃

She　remembered　this　conversation　as　she　stood　in　the　pallid
dawning；　and　watched　her　father　ride　swiftly　away。　　The　story
of　the　long　struggle　in　all　its　salient　features　flashed
through　her　mind；　and　she　understood　that　it　is　not　the　sword
alone　that　gives　libertythat　there　must　be　patience　before
courage；　that　great　ideas　must　germinate　for　years　in　the
hearts　of　men　before　the　sword　can　reap　the　harvest。

The　fascinating　memory　of　Burr　passed　like　a　shadow　across　her
dreaming。　　The　handsome　Lafayettesthe　gallant　Nolansthe
daring　Huntersthe　thousands　of　forgotten　American　traders
and　explorersbold　and　enterprisingthey　had　sown　the　seed。　
For　great　ideas　are　as　catching　as　evil　ones。　　A　Mexican；　with
the　iron　hand　of　Old　Spain　upon　him　and　the　shadow　of　the
Inquisition　over　him；　could　not　look　into　the　face　of　an
American；　and　not　feel　the　thought　of　Freedom　stirring　in　his
heart。

It　stirred　in　her　own　heart。　　She　stood　still　a　moment　to　feel
consciously　the　glow　and　the　enlargement。　　Then　with　an
impulse　natural；　but　neither　analyzed　nor　understood；　she
lifted　her　prayer…book；　and　began　to　recite　〃the　rising
prayer。〃　　She　had　not　said　to　herself；　〃from　the　love　of
Freedom　to　the　love　of　God；　it　is　but　a　step；〃　but　she
experienced　the　emotion　and　felt　all　the　joy　of　an　adoration；
simple　and　unquestioned；　springing　as　naturally　from　the　soul
as　the　wild　flower　from　the　prairie。

As　she　knelt；　up　rose　the　sun；　and　flooded　her　white　figure
and　her　fair　unbound　hair　with　the　radiance　of　the　early
morning。　　The　matin　bells　chimed　from　the　convent　and　the
churches；　and　the　singing　birds　began　to　flutter　their　bright
wings；　and　praise　God　also；　〃in　their　Latin。〃

She　took　her　breakfast　alone。　　The　Senora　never　came
downstairs　so　early。　　Isabel　had　wavering　inclinations；　and
generally　followed　them。　　Sometimes；　even　her　father　had　his
cup　of　strong　coffee　alone　in　his　study；　so　the　first　meal　of
the　day　was　usually；　as　perhaps　it　ought　to　be；　a　selfishly…
silent　one。　　〃Too　much　enthusiasm　and　chattering　at　breakfast；
are　like　too　much　red　at　sunrise；〃　the　doctor　always　said；　〃a
dull；　bad　day　follows　it〃and　Antonia's　observation　had
turned　the　little　maxim　into　a　superstition。

In　the　Senora's　room；　the　precept　was　either　denied；　or
defied。　　Antonia　heard　the　laughter　and　conversation　through
the　closed　door；　and　easily　divined　the　subject　of　it。　　It
was；　but　natural。　　The　child　had　a　triumph；　one　that　appealed
strongly　to　her　mother's　pride　and　predilections。　　It　was　a
pleasant　sight　to　see　them　in　the　shaded　sunshine　exulting
themselves　happily　in　it。

The　Senora；　plump　and　still　pretty；　reclined　upon　a　large
gilded　bed。　　Its　splendid　silk　coverlet　and　pillows　cased　in
embroidery　and　lace　made　an　effective　background　for　her。　　She
leaned　with　a　luxurious　indolence　among　them；　sipping
chocolate　and　smoking　a　cigarrito。　　Isabel　was　on　a　couch　of
the　same　description。　　She　wore　a　satin　petticoat；　and　a　loose
linen　waist　richly　trimmed　with　lace。　　It　showed　her　beautiful
shoulders　and　arms　to　perfection。　　Her　hands　were　folded　above
her　head。　　Her　tiny　feet；　shod　in　satin；　were　quivering　like
a　bird's　wings；　as　if　they　were　keeping　time　with　the
restlessness　of　her　spirit。

She　had　large　eyes；　dark　and　bright；　strong　eyebrows；　a　pale
complexion　with　a　flood　of　brilliant　color　in　the　checks；
dazzling　even　teeth；　and　a　small；　handsome　mouth。　　Her　black
hair　was　loose　and　flowing；　and　caressed　her　cheeks　and
temples　in　numberless　little　curls　and　tendrils。　　Her　face　was
one　flush　of　joy　and　youth。　　She　had　a　look　half…earnest　and
half…childlike；　and　altogether　charming。　　Antonia　adored　her；
and　she　was　pleased　to　listen　to　the　child；　telling　over
again　the　pretty　things　that　had　been　said　to　her。

〃Only　Don　Luis　was　not　there　at　all；　Antonia。　　There　is　always
something　wanting；〃　and　her　voice　fell　with　those　sad
inflections　that　are　often　only　the　very　excess　of　delight。

The　Senora　looked　sharply　at　her。　　〃Don　Luis　was　not
desirable。　　He　was　better　awaymuch　better！〃

〃But　why？〃

〃Because；　Antonia；　he　is　suspected。　　There　is　an　American
called　Houston。　　Don　Luis　met　him　in　Nacogdoches。　　He　has
given　his　soul　to　him；　I　think。　　He　would　have　fought　Morello
about　him；　if　the　captain　could　have　drawn　his　sword　in　such
a　quarrel。　　I　should　not　have　known　about　the　affair　had　not
Senora　Valdez　told　me。　　Your　father　says　nothing　against　the
Americans。〃

〃Perhaps；　then；　he　knows　nothing　against　them。〃

〃You　will　excuse　me；　Antonia；　not　only　the　living　but　the　dead
must　have　heard　of　their　wickedness。　　They　are　a　nation　of
ingrates。　　Ingrates　are　cowards。　　It　was　these　words　Captain
Morello　said；　when　Don　Luis　drew　his　sword；　made　a　circle
with　its　point　and　stood　it　upright　in　the　centre。　　It　was　a
challenge　to　the　whole　garrigon；　and　about　this　fellow
Houston；　whom　be　calls　his　friend！　　Holy　Virgin　preserve　us
from　such　Mexicans！〃

〃It　is　easier　to　talk　than　to　fight。　　Morello's　tongue　is
sharper　than　his　sword。〃

〃Captain　Morello　was　placing　his　sword　beside　that　of　Don
Luis；　when　the　Commandant　interfered。　　He　would　not　permit　his
officers　to　fight　in　such　a　quarrel。　　‘Santo　Dios！'　he　said；
‘you　shall　all　have　your　opportunity　very　soon；　gentlemen。'　
Just　reflect　upon　the　folly　of　a　boy　like　Don　Luis；
challenging　a　soldier　like　Morello！〃

〃He　was　in　no　danger；　mother；〃　said　Antonia　scornfully。　
〃Morello　is　a　bully；　who　wears　the　　pavement　out　with　his
spurs　and　sabre。　　His　weapons　are　for　show。　　Americans；　at
least；　wear　their　arms　for　use；　and　not　for　ornament。〃

〃Listen；　Antonia！　　I　will　not　have　them　spoken　of。　　They　are
Jewsor　at　least　infidels；　all　of　them！the　devil　himself　is
their　fatherthe　bishop；　when　he　was　here　last　confirmation；
told　me　so。〃

〃Mother！〃

〃At　least　they　are　unbaptized　Christians；　Antonia。　　If　you　are
not　baptized；　the　devil　sends　you　to　do　his　work。　　As　for　Don
Luis；　he　is　a　very　Judas！　　Ah；　Maria　Santissima！　how　I　do　pity
his　good　mother！〃

〃Poor　Don　Luis！〃　said　Isabel　plaintively。

He　is　so　handsome；　and　he　sings　like　a　very　angel。　　And　he
loves　my　father；　he　wanted　to　be　a　doctor；　so　that　he　could
always　be　with　him。　　I　dare　say　this　man　called　Houston　is　no
better　than　a　Jew；　and　perhaps　very　ugly　beside。　　Let　us　talk
no　more　about　him　and　the　Americans。　　I　am　weary　of　them；　as
Tia　Rachella　says；　‘they　have　their　spoon　in　every　one's
mess。'〃

And　　Antonia；　whose　heart　was　burning；　only　stooped　down　and
closed　her　sister's　pretty　mouth　with　a　kiss。　　Her　tongue　was
impatient　to　speak　for　the　father；　and　grandmother；　and　the
friends；　so　dear　to　her；　but　she　possessed　great　discretion；
and　also　a　large　share　of　that　rarest　of　all　womanly　graces；
the　power　under　provocation；　of　〃putting　on　Patience　the
noble。〃


CHAPTER　III。

BUILDERS　OF　THE　COMMONWEALTH。


〃Methinks　I　see　in　my　mind　a　noble　and　puissant　nation　rousing
herself　like　a　strong　man　after　sleep　and　shaking　her
invincible　locks。　　Methinks　I　see　her　as　an　eagle　mewing　her
mighty　youth　and　kindling　her　undazzled　eye　in　the　full　mid…
day　beam。〃MILTON。

〃And　from　these　grounds；　concluding　as　we　doe；
　Warres　causes　diuerse；　so　by　consequence
Diuerse　we　must　conclude　their　natures　too：
　For　war　proceeding　from　Omnipotence；
No　doubt　is　holy；　wise；　and　without　error；
　The　sword；　of　justice　and　of　sin；　the　terror。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LORD　BROOKE。

It　is　the　fashion　now　to　live　for　the　present　but　the　men　of
fifty　years　ago；　the　men　who　builded　the　nation；　they
reverenced　the　past；　and　therefore　they　could　work　for　the
future。　　As　Robert　Worth　rode　through　the　streets　of　San
Antonio　that　afternoon；　he　was　thinking；　not　of　his　own　life；
but　of　his　children's　and　of　the　generations　which　should　come
after　them。

The　city　was　flooded　with　sunshine；　and　crowded　with
a　pack…train　going　to　Sonora；　the　animals　restlessly
protesting　against　the　heat　and　flies；　their　Mexican　drivers
in　the　pulqueria；　spending　their