remember the alamo-第41章

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the　beginning　of　March；　though　the　sun　was　shining　warmly；　and
the　flowers　blooming；　and　the　birds　singing；　and　all　nature
rejoicing；　as　though　it　was　the　first　season　of　creation。

〃I　am　far　from　being　as　gay　and　strong　as　I　wish　to　be；
Roberto；〃　she；　said；　〃and　today；　consider　what　a　company　there
is　coming！　　And　if　General　Houston　is　to　be　added　to　it；　I
shall　be　as　weary　as　I　shall　be　happy。〃

〃He　is　the　simplest　of　men；　a　cup　of　coffee；　a　bit　of　steak〃

〃SAN　BLAS！　　That　is　how　you　talk！　　But　is；　it　possible　to
receive　him　like　a　common　mortal？　　He　is　a　hero；　and；　besides
that；　among　hidalgos　de　casa　Solar〃　（gentlemen　of　known
property）

〃Well；　then；　you　have　servants；　Maria；　my　dear　one。〃

〃Servants！　　Bah！　　Of　what　use　are　they；　Roberto；　since　they
also　have　got　hold　of　American　ideas？〃

〃Isabel　and　Antonia　will　be　here。〃

〃Let　me　only　enumerate　to　you；　Roberto。　　Thomas　and　his　wife
and　four　children　arrived　last　night。　　You　may　at　this　moment
hear　the　little　Maria　crying。　　I　dare　say　Pepita　is　washing
the　child；　and　using　soap　which　is　very　disagreeable。　　I　have
always　admired　the　wife　of　Thomas；　but　I　think　she　is　too　fond
of　her　own　way　with　the　children。　　I　give　her　advices　which
she　does　not　take。〃

〃They　are　her　own　children；　dearest。〃

〃Holy　Maria！　　They　are　also　my　own　grandchildren。〃

〃Well；　well；　we　must　remember　that　Abbie　is　a　little　Puritan。　
She　believes　in　bringing　up　children　strictly；　and　it　is　good；
for　Thomas　would　spoil　them。　　As　for　Isabel's　boys〃

〃God　be　blessed！　　Isabel's　boys　are　entirely　charming。　　They　
have　been　corrected　at　my　own　knee。　　There　are　not　more
beautifully　behaved　boys　in　the　christened　world。〃

〃And　Antonia's　little　Christina？〃

〃She　is　already　an　angel。　　Ah；　Roberto！　　If　I　had　only　died
when　I　was　as　innocent　as　that　dear　one！〃

〃I　am　thankful　you　did　not　die；　Maria。　　How　dark　my　life　would
have　been　without　you！〃

〃Beloved；　then　I　am　glad　I　am　not　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven；
though；　if　one　dies　like　Christina；　one　escapes　purgatory。　
Roberto；　when　I　rise　I　am　very　stiff：　I　think；　indeed；　I　have
some　rheumatism。〃

〃That　is　not　unlikely；　and　also　Maria；　you　have　now　some
years。〃

〃Let　that　be　confessed；　but　the　good　God　knows　that　I　lost　all
my　youth　in　that　awful　flight　of　'thirty…six。〃

〃Maria；　we　all　left　or　lost　something　on　that　dark　journey。　
To…day；　we　shall　recover　its　full　value。〃

〃To　be　surethat　is　what　is　saidwe　shall　see。　　Will　you　now
send　Dolores　to　me？　　I　must　arrange　my　toilet　with　some　haste；
and　tell　me；　Roberto；　what　dress　is　your　preference；　it
is　your　eyes；　beloved；　I　wish　to　please。〃

Robert　Worth　was　not　too　old　to　feel　charmed　and　touched　by
the　compliment。　　And　he　was　not　a　thoughtless　or　churlish
husband；　he　knew　how　to　repay　such　a　wifely　compliment；　and　it
was　a　pleasant　sight　to　see　the　aged　companions　standing　hand
in　hand　before　the　handsome　suits　which　Dolores　had　spread　out
for　her　mistress　to　examine。

He　looked　at　the　purple　and　the　black　and　the　white　robes；　and
then　he　looked　at　the　face　beside　him。　　It　was　faded；　and　had
lost　its　oval　shape；　but　its　coloring　was　yet　beautiful；　and
the　large；　dark　eyes　tender　and　bright　below　the　snow…white
hair。　　After　a　few　minutes'　consideration；　he　touched；　gently；
a　robe　of　white　satin。　　〃Put　this　on；　Maria；〃　he　said；　〃and
your　white　mantilla；　and　your　best　jewels。　　The　occasion　will
excuse　the　utmost　splendor。〃

The　choice　delighted　her。　　She　had　really　wished　to　wear　it；
and　some　one's　judgment　to　endorse　her　own　inclinations　was
all　that　was　necessary　to　confirm　her　wish。　　Dolores　found　her
in　the　most　delightful　temper。　　She　sat　before　the　glass；
smiling　and　talking；　while　her　maid　piled　high　the　snowy
plaits　and　curls　and　crowned　them　with　the　jewelled　comb；　only
worn　on　very　great　festivals。　　Her　form　was　still　good；　and
the　white　satin　fell　gracefully　from　her　throat　to　her　small
feet。　　Besides；　whatever　of　loss　or　gain　had　marred　her　once
fine　proportions；　was　entirely　concealed　by　the　beautifying；
graceful；　veiling　folds　of　her　mantilla。　　There　was　the　flash
of　diamonds；　and　the　moonlight　glimmer　of　pearls　beneath　this
flimsy　covering；　and　at　her　belt　a　few　white　lilies。　　She　was
exceedingly　pleased　with　her　own　appearance；　and　her
satisfaction　gave　an　ease　and　a　sense　of　authority　to　her　air
and　movements　which　was　charming。

〃By　Maria's　grace；　I　am　a　very　pretty　old　lady；〃　she　said　to
herself；　〃and　I　think　I　shall　I　astonish　my　daughter…in…law　a
little。　　One　is　afraid　of　these　calm；　cool；　northern　women；
but　I　feel　to…day　that　even　Abbie　must　be　proud　of　me。〃

Indeed；　her　entrance　into　the　large　parlor　made　quite　a
sensation。　　She　could　see　the　quiet　pleasure　in　her　husband's
face；　and　her　son　Thomas；　after　one　glance；　put　down　the
child　on　his　knee；　and　went　to　meet　her。　　〃Mi　madre；〃　he
whispered　with　a　kiss。　　He　had　not　used　the　pretty　Spanish
word　for　years；　but　in　the　sudden　rush　of　admiring　tenderness；
his　boyish　heart　came　back　to　him；　and　quite　unconsciously　he
used　his　boyhood's　speech。　　After　this；　she　was　not　the　least
in　awe　of　her　wise　daughter…in…law。　　She　touched　her　cheek
kindly；　and　asked　her　about　the　children；　and　was　immeasurably
delighted　when　Abbie　said：　　〃How　beautiful　you　are　to…day！　　I
wish　I　had　your　likeness　to　send　to　Boston。　　Robert；　come　here
and　look　at　your　grandmother！　　I　want　you　to　remember；　as　long
as　you　live；　how　grandmother　looks　to…day。〃　　And　Roberta
fine　lad　eight　years　old；　accustomed　to　implicit　obedience
put　down　the　book　he　was　reading；　planted　himself　squarely
before　the　Senora；　and　looked　at　her　attentively；　as　if　she
was　a　lesson　to　be　learned。

〃Well　then；　Roberto？〃

〃I　am　glad　I　have　such　a　pretty　grandmother。　　Will　you　let　me
stand　on　tiptoes　and　kiss　you？〃　and　the　cool；　calm　northern
woman's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　as　she　brought　her　younger
children；　one　by　one；　for　the　Senora's　caress。　　The
doctor　and　his　son　watched　this　pretty　domestic　drama　with
hearts　full　of　pride　and　happiness；　and　before　it　had　lost　one
particle　of　its　beauty　and　feeling；　the　door　was　flung　open
with　a　vigor　which　made　every　one　turn　to　it　with　expectation。　
A　splendid　little　lad　sprang　in；　and　without　any　consideration
for　satin　and　lace；　clung　to　the　Senora。　　He　was　her　image：　a
true　Yturbide；　young　as　he　was；　beautiful　and　haughty　as　his
Castilian　ancestors。

Isabel　and　Luis　followed；　Isabel　more　lovely　than　ever；　richly
dressed　in　American　fashion；　full　of　pretty　enthusiasms；
vivacious；　charming；　and　quite　at　her　ease。　　She　had　been
married　eight　years。　　She　was　a　fashionable　woman；　and　an
authority　upon　all　social　subjects。

Luis　also　was　wonderfully　improved。　　The　light…hearted　gaiety；
which　ten　years　ago　had　bubbled　over　in　continual　song；　was
still　there；　but　it　was　under　control；　evident　only　because　it
made　perpetual　sunshine　on　his　face。　　He　had　taken　the
doctor's　advicecompleted　his　study　of　English　and　Mexican
lawand　become　a　famous　referee　in　cases　of　disputed　Mexican
claims　and　title　deeds。　　His　elegant　form　and　handsome；
olive　face　looked　less　picturesque　in　the　dull；　uncompromising
stiffness　of　broadcloth；　cut　into　those　peculiarly　unbecoming
fashions　of　ugliness　which　the　anglo…Saxon　and　anglo…American
affect。　　But　it　gained　by　the　change　a　certain　air　of
reliability　and　importance；　an　air　not　to　be　dispensed　with　in
a　young　lawyer　already　aspiring　to　the　seat　among　the
lawmakers　of　his　State。

〃We　called　upon　Antonia；〃　said　Isabel；　〃as　we　came　here。　　Of
course　she　was　engaged　with　Lopez。　　They　were　reading　a　book
together；　and　even　on　such　a　day　as　this　were　taking；　with　the
most　blessed　indifference；　a　minute　at　a　time。　　They　will　join
us　on　the　Plaza。　　I　represented　to　them　that　they　might　miss
a　good　position。　　‘That　has　been　already　secured；'　said　Lopez；
with　that　exasperating　repose　which　only　the　saints　could
endure　with　patience。　　For　that　reason；　I　consider　Antonia　a
saint　to　permit　it。　　As　for　me；　I　should　say：　　‘The　house　is
on　fire；　Lopez！　　Will　it　please　you　for　once　to　feel　a　little
excited？'　　Luis　says　they　read；　continually；　books　which　make
people　think　of　great　solemnities　and　responsibilities。　
How　foolish；　when　they　are　so　rich；　and　might　enjoy
themselves　perpetually！〃

〃Here　are　the　carriages；〃　cried　Thomas　Worth；　〃and　the
ceremony　of　to…day　has　its　own　hour。　　It　will　never　come
again。〃

〃Your　mother　and　I　will　go　first；　Thomas；　and　we　will　take
Abbie　and　your　eldest　son。　　I　shall　see　you　in　your　place。　
Luis；　bring　your　boy　with　you；　he　has　intelligence　and　will
remember　the　man　he　will　see　to…day；　and　may　never　see　again。〃

On　the　Plaza；　close　to　the　gates　of　the　Alamo；　a　rostrum　had
been　erected；　and　around　it　were　a　few　stands；　set　apart　for
the　carriages　of　the　most　illustrious　of　the　families　of　San
Antonio。　　The　Senora；　from　the　shaded　depths　of　her　own；
watched　their　arrival。　　Nothing　could　be　more　characteristic
than　the　　approach　of　her　daughters。　　Antonia　and　Lopez；
stately　and　handsome；　came　slowly；　their　high…stepping　horses
chafing　at　the　irrestraint。　　Luis　and　Isabel　drove　to　their
appointed　place　with　a　speed　and　clatter；　accentuated　by　the
jingling　of　the　silver　rings　of　the　harness　and　the　silver
hanging　buttons　on　the　gay　dress　of　the　Mexican　driver。　　But
the　occupants　of　both　carriages　appeared　to　be　great
favorites　with　the　populace　who　thronged　the　Plaza；　the
windows；　the　flat　roofs　of　the　houses；　and　every　available
place　for　hearing　and　seeing。

The　blue　flag　of　Texas　fluttered　gayly　over　the　lovely　city；
and　there　was　a　salvo　of　cannon；　then；　into　the　sunshine　and
into　the　sight　of　all　stepped　the　man　of　his　generation。　
Nature　has　her　royal　line；　and　she　makes　no　mistakes　in　the
kings　she　crowns。　　The　physical　charm　of　Houston　was　at　this
time　very　great。　　His　tall；　ample；　dignified　form　attracted
attention　at　once。　　His　eyes　penetrated　the　souls　of　all
upon　whom　they　fell。　　His　lips　were　touched　with　fire；　and　his
words　thrilled　and　swayed　men；　as　the　wind　sways　the　heavy
heads　in　a　field　of　ripe　barley。

He　stretched　out　his　arms　to　the　people；　and　they　stretched
out　their　arms　to　him。　　The　magnetic　chain　of　sympathy　was
complete。　　The　hearts　of　his　listeners　were　an　instrument；　on
which　he　played　the　noblest；　most　inspiring；　the　sweetest　of
melodies。　　He　kindled　them　as　flame　kindles　dry　grass。　
He　showed　them　their　future　with　a　prophet's　eye；　and　touched
them　also　with　the　glad　diviner's　rapture。　　They　aspired；
they　rejoiced　at　his　bidding；　and　at　the　moment　of　their
highest　enthusiasm；　he　cried　out：

〃Whatever　State　gave　us　birth；　we　have　one　native　land　and　we
have　one　flag！〃　　Instantly　from　the　grim；　blood…stained　walls
of　the　fortress；　the　blessed　Stars　and　Stripes　flew　out；　and
in　a　moment　a　thousand　smaller　flags；　from　every　high　place；
gave　it　salutation。　　Then　the　thunder　of　cannon　was　answered
by　the　thunder　of　voices。　　Cannon　may　thunder　and　make　no
impression；　but　the　shout　of　humanity！　　It　stirs　and　troubles
the　deepest　heart…stream。　　It　is　a　cry　that　cannot　be
resisted。　　It　sets　the　gates　of　feeling　wide　open。　　And　it　was
while　men　were　in　this　mood　that　Houston　said　his　last　word