remember the alamo-第7章

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resemblance　of　my　brother　Don　Juan　Flores。　　Juan　was　always
pitying　the　poor　and　making　friends　with　those　beneath　him。　
At　last　he　went　into　the　convent　of　the　Bernardines　and　died
like　a　very　saint。〃

〃I　think　our　Jack　will　be　more　likely　to　die　like　a　very　hero。　
If　there　is　any　thing　Jack　hates；　it　is　oppression。　　He　would
right　a　beggar；　if　he　saw　him　wronged。〃

〃Poco　a　poco！　　I　am　tired　of　rights　and　wrongs。　　Let　us　talk
a　little　about　our　dresses；　for　there　will　be　a　gay　winter。　
Senora　Valdez　assured　me　of　it；　many　soldiers　are　coming　here；
and　we　shall　have　parties；　and　cock…fights；　and；　perhaps；　even
a　bull…feast。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Isabel　clapping　her　hands　enthusiastically；　〃a
bull…feast！　　That　is　what　I　long　to　see！〃

At　this　moment　the　doctor　entered　the　room；　and　Isabel　ran　to
meet　him。　　No　father　could　have　resisted　her　pretty　ways；　her
kisses；　her　endearments；　her　coaxing　diminutives　of　speech；
her　childlike　loveliness　and　simplicity。

〃What　is　making　you　so　happy；　Queridita？〃＇1＇

＇1＇　　Little　dear。


〃Mi　madre　says　there　is　perhaps　to　be　a　bullfeast　this　winter。　
Holy　Virgin；　think　of　it！　　That　is　the　one　thing　I　long　to
see！〃

With　her　clinging　arms　around　him；　and　her　eager　face　lifted
to　his　for　sympathy；　the　father　could　not　dash　the　hope　which
he　knew　in　his　heart　was　very　unlikely　to　be　realized。　
Neither　did　he　think　it　necessary　to　express　opposition　or
disapproval　for　what　had　as　yet　no　tangible　existence。　　So　he
answered　her　with　smiles　and　caresses；　and　a　little　quotation
which　committed　him　to　nothing：

　　　　　　　　〃As；　Panem　et　Circenses　was　the　cry
　　　　　　　　Among　the　Roman　populace　of　old；
　　　　　　　　So；　Pany　Toros！　is　the　cry　of　Spain。〃


The　Senora　smiled　appreciatively　and　put　out　her　hand。　
〃Pan　y　Toros！〃　she　repeated。　　〃And　have　you　reflected；
children；　that　no　other　nation　in　the　world　cries　it。　　Only
Spain　and　her　children！　　That　is　because　only　men　of　the
Spanish　race　are　brave　enough　to　fight　bulls；　and　only　Spanish
bulls　are　brave　enough　to　fight　men。〃

She　was　quite　pleased　with　herself　for　this　speech；　and
finding　no　one　inclined　to　dispute　the　statement；　she　went　on
to　describe　a　festival　of　bulls　she　had　been　present　at　in　the
city　of　Mexico。　　The　subject　delighted　her；　and　she　grew
eloquent　over　it；　and；　conscious　only　of　Isabel's　shining　eyes
and　enthusiastic　interest；　she　did　not　notice　the　air　of
thoughtfulness　which　had　settled　over　her　husband's　face；　nor
yet　Antonia's　ill…disguised　weariness　and　anxiety。

On　the　night　of　the　Valdez's　party　her　father　had　said　he
would　talk　with　her。　　Antonia　was　watching　for　the　confidence；
but　　not　with　any　great　desire。　　Her　heart　and　her
intelligence　told　her　it　would　mean　trouble；　and　she　had　that
natural　feeling　of　youth　which　gladly　postpones　the　evil　day。　
And　while　her　father　was　silent　she　believed　there　were　still
possibilities　of　escape　from　it。　　So　she　was　not　sorry
that　he　again　went　to　his　office　in　the　city　without　any
special　word　for　her。　　It　was　another　day　stolen　from　the
uncertain　future；　for　the　calm　usage　of　the　present；　and　she
was　determined　to　make　happiness　in　it。

When　all　was　still　in　the　afternoon　Isabel　came　to　her。　　She
would　not　put　the　child　to　the　necessity　of　again　asking　her
help。　　She　rose　at　once；　and　said：

〃Sit　here；　Iza；　until　I　have　opened　the　door　for　us。　　Then　she
took　a　rich　silk　kerchief；　blue　as　the　sky；　in　her　hand；　and
went　to　the　wide；　matted　hall。　　There　she　found　Rachela；
asleep　on　a　cane　lounge。　　Antonia　woke　her。

〃Rachela；　I　wish　to　go　into　the　garden　for　an　hour。〃

The　Senorita　does　the　thing　she　wants　to；　Rachela　would　not
presume　to　interfere。　　The　Senorita　became　an　Americano　in　New
York。〃

〃There　are　good　things　in　New　York；　Rachela；　for　instance；
this　kerchief。〃

〃That　is　indeed　magnificent！〃

〃If　you　permit　my　sister　to　walk　in　the　garden　with　me；　I
shall　give　it　to　you　this　moment。〃

〃Dona　Isabel　is　different。　　She　is　a　Mexicaine。　　She　must　be
watched　continually。〃

〃For　what　reason？　　She　is　as　innocent　as　an　angel。〃

〃Let　her　simply　grow　up；　and　you　will　see　that　she　is　not
innocent　as　the　angels。　　Oh；　indeed！　　I　could　say　something
about　last　night！　　Dona　Isabel　has　no　vocation　for　a　nun；　but；
gracias　a　Dios！　　Rachela　is　not　yet　blind　or　deaf。〃

〃Let　the　child　go　with　me　for　an　hour；　Rachela。　　The　kerchief
will　be　so　becoming　to　you。　　There　is　not　another　in　San
Antonio　like　it。〃

Rachela　was　past　forty；　but　not　yet　past　the　age　of　coquetry。　
〃It　will　look　gorgeous　with　my　gold　ear…rings；　but〃

〃I　will　give　you　also　the　blue　satin　bow　like　it；　to　wear　at
your　breast。〃

〃Si；　si！　　I　will　give　the　permission；　Senoritafor　your　sake
alone。　　The　kerchief　and　bow　are　a　little　thing　to　you。　　To
me；　they　will　be　a　great　adornment。　　You　are　not　to　leave　the
garden；　however；　and　for　one　hour's　walk　only；　Senorita；
certainly　there　is　time　for　no　more。〃

〃I　will　take　care　of　Isabel；　no　harm　shall　come　to　her。　　You
may　keep　your　eyes　shut　for　one　hour；　Rachela；　and　you　may
shut　your　ears　also；　and　put　your　feet　on　the　couch　and　let
them　rest。　　I　will　watch　Isabel　carefully；　be　sure　of　that。〃

〃The　child　is　very　clever；　and　she　has　a　lover　already；　I
fear。　　Keep　your　eyes　on　the　myrtle　hedge　that　skirts　the
road。　　I　have　to　say　thisit　is　not　for　nothing　she　wants　to
walk　with　you　this　afternoon。　　She　would　be　better　fast
asleep。〃

In　a　few　moments　the　kerchief　and　the　bow　were　safely　folded
in　the　capacious　pocket　of　Rachela's　apron；　and　Isabel　and
Antonia　were　softly　treading　the　shady　walk　between　the　myrtle
hedges。　　Rachela's　eyes　were　apparently　fast　closed　when　the
girls　pased｛sic｝　her；　but　she　did　not　fail　to　notice　how
charmingly　Isabel　had　dressed　herself。　　She　wore；　it　is　true；
her　Spanish　costume；　but　she　had　red　roses　at　her　breast；　and
her　white　lace　mantilla　over　her　head。

〃Ah！　she　is　a　clever　little　thing！〃　Rachela　muttered。　　〃She
knows　that　she　is　irresistible　in　her　Castilian　dress。　　Bah！
those　French　frocks　are　enough　to　drive　a　man　a　mile　away。　
I　can　almost　forgive　her　now。　　Had　she　worn　the　French　frock
I　would　not　have　forgiven　her。　　I　would　never　have　yielded
again；　no；　not　even　if　the　Senorita　Antonia　should　offer　me
her　scarlet　Indian　shawl　worked　in　gold。　　I　was　always　a
foolHoly　Mother　forgive　me！　　Well；　then；　I　used　to　have　my
own　loversplenty　of　themhandsome　young　arrieros　and
rancheros：　there　was　Tadeo；　a　valento　of　the　first　class：　and
Buffaandwell；　I　will　sleep；　they　do　not　remember　me；　I
dare　say；　and　I　have　forgotten　their　names。〃

In　the　mean　time　the　sisters　sat　down　beneath　a　great　fig…
tree。　　No　sunshine；　no　shower；　could　penetrate　its　thick
foliage。　　The　wide　space　beneath　the　spreading　branches　was　a
little　parlor；　cool　and　sweet；　and　full　of　soft；　green　lights；
and　the　earthy　smell　of　turf；　and　the　wandering　scents　of　the
garden。

Isabel's　eyes　shone　with　an　incomparable　light。　　She　was　pale；
but　exquisitely　beautiful；　and　even　her　hands　and　feet
expressed　the　idea　of　expectation。　　Antonia　had　a　piece　of
needlework　in　her　hand。　　She　affected　the　calmness　she　did
not　feel；　for　her　heart　was　trembling　for　the　tender　little
heart　beating　with　so　much　love　and　anxiety　beside　her。

But　Isabel's　divination；　however　arrived　at；　was　not　at　fault。　
In　a　few　moments　Don　Luis　lightly　leaped　the　hedge；　and
without　a　moment's　hesitation　sought　the　shadow　of　the　fig…
tree。　　As　he　approached；　Antonia　looked　at　him　with　a　new
interest。　　It　was　not　only　that　he　loved　Isabel；　but　that
Isabel　loved　him。　　She　had　given　him　sympathy　before；　now　she
gave　him　a　sister's　affection。

〃How　handsome　he　is！〃　she　thought。　　〃How　gallant　he　looks　in
his　velvet　and　silver　and　embroidered　jacket！　　And　how　eager
are　his　steps！　　And　how　joyful　his　face！　　He　is　the　kind　of
Romeo　that　Shakespeare　dreamed　about！　　Isabel　is　really　an
angel　to　him。　　He　would　really　die　for　her。　　What　has　this
Spanish　knight　of　the　sixteenth　century　to　do　in　Texas　in　the
nineteenth　century？〃

He　answered　her　mental　question　in　his　own　charming　way。　　He
was　so　happy；　so　radiantly　happy；　so　persuasive；　so
compelling；　that　Antonia　granted　him；　without　a　word；　the
favor　his　eyes　asked　for。　　And　the　lovers　hardly　heard　the
excuse　she　made；　they　understood　nothing　of　it；　only　that　she
would　be　reading　in　the　myrtle　walk　for　one　hour；　and；　by　so
doing；　would　protect　them　from　intrusion。

One　whole　hour！　　Isabel　had　thought　the　promise　a　perfect
magnificence　of　opportunity｛。？？｝　　But　how　swiftly　it　went。　
Luis　had　not　told　her　the　half　of　his　love　and　his　hopes。　　He
had　been　forced　to　speak　of　politics　and　business；　and　every
such　word　was　just　so　many　stolen　from　far　sweeter　words
words　that　fell　like　music　from　his　lips；　and　were　repeated
with　infinite　power　from　his　eyes。　　Low　words；　that　had　the
pleading　of　a　thousand　voices　in　them；　words　full　of　melody；
thrilling　with　romance；　poetical；　and　yet　real　as　the　sunshine
around　them。

In　lovers　of　a　colder　race；　bound　by　conventional　ties；　and　a
dress　rigorously　divested　of　every　picturesque　element；　such
wooing　might　have　appeared　ridiculous；　but　in　Don　Luis；　the
most　natural　thing　about　it　was　its　extravagance。　　When　he
knelt　at　the　feet　of　his　beloved　and　kissed　her　hands；　the
action　was　the　unavoidable　outcome　of　his　temperament。　　When
he　said　to　her；　〃Angel　mio！　you　are　the　light　of　my
darkness；　the　perfume　of　all　flowers　that　bloom　for　me；　the
love　of　my　loves；　my　life；　my　youth；　my　lyre；　my　star；　had　I
a　thousand　souls　with　which　to　love；　I　would　give　them　all　to
you！〃　he　believed　every　word　he　uttered；　and　he　uttered　every
word　with　the　passion　of　a　believer。

He　stirred　into　life　also　in　the　heart　of　Isabel　a　love　as
living　as　his　own。　　In　that　hour　she　stepped　outside　all　of
her　childhood's　immaturities。　　She　became　a　woman。　　She
accepted　with　joyful　tears　a　woman's　lot　of　love　and　sorrow。　
She　said　to　Antonia：

〃Luis　was　in　my　heart　before；　now；　I　have　put　him　in　my　soul。　
My　soul　will　never　die。　　So　I　shall　never　forget　himnever
cease　to　love　him。〃

Rachela　faithfully　kept　her　agreement。　　For　one　hour　she　was
asleep　to　all　her　charge　did；　and　Isabel　was　in　her　own　room
when　the　precious　sixty　minutes　were　over。　　Happy？　　So　happy
that　her　soul　seemed　to　have　pushed　her　body　aside；　as　a　thing
not　to　be　taken　into　account。　　She　sang　like　a　bird　for　very
gladsomeness。　　It　was　impossible　for　her　to　be　still；　and　as
she　went　about　her　room　with　little　dancing；　balancing
movements　of　her　hands　and　feet；　Antonia　knew　that　they　were
keeping　their　happy　rhythmic　motion　to　the　melody　love　sang　in
her　heart。

And　she　rejoiced　with　her　little　sister；　though　she　was　not
free　from　a　certain　regret　for　her　concession；　for　it　is　the
after…reckoning　with　conscience　that　is　so　disagreeably　strict
and　uncomfortable。　　And　yet；　why　make　an　element　of　anger　and
suspicion　between　Isabel　and　her　mother　when　there　appeared　to
be　no　cause　to　do　so？　　Don　Luis　was　going　away。　　He　was　in
disgrace　with　his　familyalmost　disinherited；　the　country　was
on　the　point　of　war；　and　its　fortunes　might　give　him　some
opportunities　no　one　now　foresaw。　　But　if　Isabel's　mother　had
once　declar