remember the alamo-第8章

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on　the　point　of　war；　and　its　fortunes　might　give　him　some
opportunities　no　one　now　foresaw。　　But　if　Isabel's　mother　had
once　declared　that　she　would　〃never　sanction　the　marriage；〃
Antonia　knew　that；　however　she　might　afterwards　regret　her
haste　and　prejudice；　she　would　stand　passionately　by　her
decision。　　Was　it　not　better；　then；　to　prevent　words　being
said　which　might　cause　sorrow　and　regret　in　the　future？

But　as　regarded　Isabel's　father；　no　such　reason　existed。　　The
happiness　of　his　children　was　to　him　a　more　sacred　thing
than　his　own　prejudices。　　He　liked　Don　Luis；　and　his
friendship　with　his　mother；　the　Senora　Alveda；　was　a　long　and
tried　one。　　The　youth's　political　partialities；　though
bringing　him　at　present　into　disgrace；　were　such　as　he　himself
had　largely　helped　to　form。　　Antonia　was　sure　that　her　father
would　sympathize　with　Isabel；　and　excuse　in　her　the　lapse　of
duty　which　had　given　his　little　girl　so　much　happiness。　　Yes；
it　would　be　right　to　tell　him　every　thing；　and　she　did　not
fear　but　Isabel　would　agree　in　her　decision。

At　this　moment　Rachela　entered。　　The　Senora　wished　her
daughters　to　call　upon　the　American　manteau…maker　for　her；　and
the　ride　in　the　open　carriage　to　the　Plaza　would　enable　them
to　bow　to　their　acquaintances；　and　exhibit　their　last　new
dresses　from　New　Orleans。　　Rachela　was　already　prepared　for
the　excursion；　and　she　was　not　long　in　attiring　Isabel。

〃To　be　sure；　the　siesta　has　made　you　look　charming　this
afternoon；〃　she　said；　looking　steadily　into　the　girl's
beaming；　blushing　face；　〃and　this　rose　silk　is　enchanting。　
Santa　Maria；　how　I　pity　the　officers　who　will　have　the
great　fortune　to　see　you　this　afternoon；　and　break　their
hearts　for　the　sight！　　But　you　must　not　look　at　them；　mark！　
I　shall　tell　the　Senora　if　you　do。　　It　is　enough　if　they　look
at　you。　　And　the　American　way　of　the　Senorita　Antonia；　which
is　to　bow　and　smile　to　every　admirer；　it　will　but　make　more
enchanting　the　becoming　modesty　of　the　high…born　Mexicaine。〃

〃Keep　your　tongue　still；　Rachela。　　Ah！　if　you　strike　me；　I
will　go　to　my　father。　　He　will　not　permit　it。　　I　am　not　a
child　to　be　struck　and　scolded；　and　told　when　to　open　and　shut
my　eyes。　　I　shall　do　as　my　sister　does；　and　the　Holy　Mother
herself　will　be　satisfied　with　me！〃

〃Chito！　　Chito！！　　You　wicked　one！　　Oh；　Maria　Santissima；　cast
on　this　child　a　look　of　compassion！　　The　American　last　night
has　bewitched　her！　　I　said　that　he　looked　like　a　Jew。〃

〃I　am　not　wicked；　Rachela；　and　gracias　a　Dios；　there　is　no
Inquisition　now　to　put　the　question！〃

Isabel　was　in　a　great　passion；　or　the　awful　word　that　had
made　lips　parch　and　blanch　to　utter　it　for　generations　would
never　have　been　launched　at　the　offending　woman's　head。　　But
its　effect　was　magical。　　Rachela　put　up　her　hands　palm
outwards；　as　if　to　shield　herself　from　a　blow；　and　then
without　another　word　stooped　down　and　tied　the　satin　sandals
on　Isabel's　restless　feet。　　She　was　muttering　prayers　during
the　whole　action；　for　Isabel　had　been　quick　to　perceive　her
advantage；　and　was　following　it　up　by　a　defiant　little
monologue　of　rebellious　speeches。

In　the　midst　of　this　scene；　Antonia　entered。　　She　was　dressed
for　the　carriage；　and　the　carriage　stood　at　the　door　waiting；
but　her　face　was　full　of　fear；　and　she　said；　hurriedly：

〃Rachela；　can　you　not　make　some　excuse　to　my　mother　which　will
permit　us　to　remain　at　home？　　Hark！　　There　is　something　wrong
in　the　city。〃

In　a　moment　the　three　women　were　on　the　balcony；　intently；
anxiously　listening。　　Then　they　were　aware　of　a　strange
confusion　in　the　subtle；　amber　atmosphere。　　It　was　as　if　they
heard　the　noise　of　battle　afar　off；　and　Rachela；　without　a
word；　glided　away　to　the　Senora。　　Isabel　and　Antonia　stood
hand　in　hand；　listening　to　the　vague　trouble　and　the　echo　of
harsh；　grating　voices；　mingled　with　the　blare　of　clarions；　the
roll　of　drums；　and　the　rattle　of　scattering　rifle…shots。　　Yet
the　noises　were　so　blended　together；　so　indistinct；　so
strangely　expressive　of　both　laughter　and　defiance；　that　it
was　impossible　to　identify　or　describe　them。

Suddenly　a　horseman　came　at　a　rapid　pace　towards　the　house；
and　Antonia；　leaning　over　the　balcony；　saw　him　deliver　a　note
to　Rachela；　and　then　hurry　away　at　the　same　reckless　speed。　
The　note　was　from　the　doctor　to　his　wife；　and　it　did　not　tend
to　allay　their　anxiety。　　〃Keep　within　the　house；〃　it　said；
〃there　are　difficulties　in　the　city。　　In　an　hour　or　two　I　will
be　at　home。〃

But　it　was　near　midnight　when　he　arrived；　and　Antonia　saw　that
he　was　a　different　man。　　He　looked　younger。　　His　blue　eyes
shone　with　the　light　behind　them。　　On　his　face　there　was　the
impress　of　an　invincible　determination。　　His　very　walk　had
lost　its　listless；　gliding　tread；　and　his　steps　were　firm；
alert　and　rapid。

No　one　had　been　able　to　go　to　bed　until　he　arrived；　though
Isabel　slept　restlessly　in　her　father's　chair；　and　the　Senora
lay　upon　the　couch；　drowsing　a　little　between　her　frequent
attacks　of　weeping　and　angry　anticipation。　　For　she　was　sure
it　was　the　Americans。　　〃Anything　was　possible　with　such　a　man
as　Sam　Houston　near　the　city。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　Santa　Anna；〃　at　length　suggested　Antonia。　　〃He
has　been　making　trouble　ever　since　I　can　remember。　　He　was
born　with　a　sword　in　his　hand；　I　think。〃

〃Ca！　　And　every　American　with　a　rifle　in　his　hand！　　Santa　Anna
is　a　monster；　but　at　least　he　fights　for　his　own　country。　
Texas　is　not　the　country　of　the　Americans。〃

〃But；　indeed；　they　believe　that　Texas　is　their　country〃；　and
to　these　words　Doctor　Worth　entered。

〃What　is　the　matter？　　What　is　the　matter；　Roberto？　　I　have
been　made　sick　with　these　uncertainties。　　Why　did　you　not　come
home　at　the　Angelus？〃

〃I　have　had　a　good　reason　for　my　delay；　Maria。　　About　three
o'clock　I　received　a　message　from　the　Senora　Alveda；　and　I
visited　her。　　She　is　in　great　trouble；　and　she　had　not　been
able　to　bear　it　with　her　usual　fortitude。　　She　bad
fainted。〃

〃Ah；　the　poor　mother！　　She　has　a　son　who　will　break　her
heart。〃

〃She　made　no　complaint　of　Luis。　　She　is　distracted　about　her
country；　and　as　I　came　home　I　understood　why。　　For　she　is　a
very　shrewd　woman；　and　she　perceives　that　Santa　Anna　is
preparing　trouble　enough　for　it。〃

〃Well；　then；　what　is　it？〃

〃When　I　left　her　house；　I　noticed　many　Americans；　as　well　as
many　Mexicans；　on　the　streets。　　They　were　standing　together；
too；　and　there　was　something　in　their　faces；　and　in　the　way
their　arms　were　carried；　which　was　very　striking　and
portentous。　　I　fancied　they　looked　coldly　on　me；　and　I　was
troubled　by　the　circumstance。　　In　the　Plaza　I　saw　the　military
band　approaching；　accompanied　by　half　a　dozen　officers　and　a
few　soldiers。　　The　noise　stopped　suddenly；　and　Captain　Morello
proclaimed　as　a　bando　（edict）　of　the　highest　authority；　an
order　for　all　Americans　to　surrender　their　arms　of　every
description　to　the　officials　and　at　the　places　notified。〃

〃Very　good！〃

〃Maria；　nothing　could　be　worse！　　Nothing　could　be　more
shameful　and　disastrous。　　The　Americans　had　evidently　been
expecting　this　useless　bombast；　and　ere　the　words　were　well
uttered；　they　answered　them　with　a　yell　of　defiance。　　I　do　not
think　more　than　one　proclamation　was　necessary；　but　Morello
went　from　point　to　point　in　the　city　and　the　Americans
followed　him。　　I　can　tell　you　this；　Maria：　all　the　millions　in
Mexico　can　not　take　their　rifles　from　the　ten　thousand
Americans　in　Texas；　able　to　carry　them。〃

〃We　shall　see！　　We　shall　see！　　But；　Roberto；　you　at　least　will
not　interfere　in　their　quarrels。　　You　have　never　done　so
hitherto。〃

〃No　one　has　ever　proposed　to　disarm　me　before；　Maria。　　I　tell
you　frankly；　I　will　not　give　up　a　single　rifle；　or　revolver；
or　weapon　of　any　kind；　that　I　possess。　　I　would　rather　be
slain　with　them。　　I　have　never　carried　arms　before；　but　I
shall　carry　them　now。　　I　apologize　to　my　countrymen　for　not
having　them　with　me　this　afternoon。　　My　dearest　wife！　　My　good
Maria！　do　not　cry　in　that　despairing　way。

You　will　be　killed；　Roberto！　　You　will　be　a　rebel！　　You
will　be　shot　like　a　dog；　and　then　what　will　become　of　me　and
my　daughters？〃

〃You　have　two　sons；　Maria。　　They　will　avenge　their　father；　and
protect　their　mother　and　sisters。〃

〃I　shall　die　of　shame！　　I　shall　die　of　shame　and　sorrow！〃

〃Not　of　shame；　Maria。　　If　I　permitted　these　men　to　deprive　me
of　my　arms；　you　might　well　die　of　shame。〃

〃What　is　it？　　Only　a　gun；　or　a　pistol；　that　you　never　use？〃

〃Great　God；　Maria！　　It　is　everything！　　It　is　honor！　　It　is
liberty！　　It　is　respect　to　myself！　　It　is　loyalty　to　my
country！　　It　is　fidelity　to　my　countrymen！　　It　is　true　that
for　many　years　the　garrison　has　fully　protected　us；　and　I　have
not　needed　to　use　the　arms　in　my　house。　　But　thousands　of
husbands　and　fathers　need　them　hourly；　to　procure　food　for
their　children　and　wives；　and　to　protect　them　from　the
savages。　　One　tie　binds　us。　　Their　cause　is　my　cause。　　Their
country　is　my　country；　and　their　God　is　my　God。　　Children；　am
I　right　or　wrong？〃

They　both　stepped　swiftly　to　his　side。　　Isabel　laid　her
cheek　against　his；　and　answered　him　with　a　kiss。　　Antonia
clasped　his　hand；　stood　close　to　him；　and　said：　　〃We　are　all
sure　that　you　are　right；　dear　father。　　My　mother　is　weary　and
sick　with　anxiety；　but　she　thinks　so　too。　　Mother　always
thinks　as　you　do；　father。　　Dear　mother；　here　is　Rachela　with
a　cup　of　chocolate；　and　you　will　sleep　and　grow　strong　before
morning。〃

But　the　Senora；　though　she　suffered　her　daughter's　caresses；
did　not　answer　them；　neither　did　she　speak　to　her　husband；
though　he　opened　the　door　for　her　and　stood　waiting　with　a
face　full　of　anxious　love　for　a　word　or　a　smile　from　her。　　And
the　miserable　wife；　still　more　miserable　than　her　husband；
noticed　that　Isabel　did　not　follow　her。　　Never　before　had
Isabel　seemed　to　prefer　any　society　to　her　mother's；　and　the
unhappy　Senora　felt　the　defection；　even　amid　her　graver
trouble。

But　Isabel　had　seen　something　new　in　her　father　that　night；
something　that　touched　her　awakening　soul　with　admiration。　
She　lingered　with　him　and　Antonia；　listening　with　vague
comprehension　to　their　conversation；　until　Rachela　called
her　angrily；　and　as　she　was　not　brave　enough　for　a　second
rebellion　that　night；　she　obediently　answered　her　summons。

An　hour　afterwards；　Antonia　stepped　cautiously　within　her
room。　　She　was　sleeping；　and　smiling　in　her　sleep。　　Where　was
her　loving；　innocent　soul　wandering？　　Between　the　myrtle
hedges　and　under　the　fig…tree　with　her　lover？　　Oh；　who　can
tell　where　the　soul　goes　when　sleep　gives　it　some　release？　
Perhaps　it　is　at　night　our　angels　need　to　watch　us　most
carefully。　　For　the　soul；　in　dreams；　can　visit　evil　and
sorrowful　places；　as　well　as　happy　and　holy　ones。　　But　Isabel
slept　and　smiled；　and　Antonia　whispered　a　prayer　at　her　side
ere　she　went　to　her　own　rest。

And　the　waning　moon　cast　a　pathetic　beauty　over　the　Eden…like
land；　till　dawn　brought　that　mystical　silence　in　which　every
new　day　is　born。　　Then　Robert　Worth　rose　from　the　chair　in
which　he　had　been　sitting　so　long；　remembering　the　past　and
forecasting　the　future。　　He　walked　to　the　window；　opened　it；
and　looked　towards　the　mountains。