remember the alamo-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


their　father's　imprudent　views。　　She　could　only　see　one
alternative　before　her；　she　must　choose　between　her　country
and　her　religion；　or　her　husband　and　children。

True；　she　had　not　yet　heard　from　her　sons；　but　she　would
listen　to　none　of　Rachela's　hopes　regarding　them。　　Thomas　had
always　said　yes　to　all　his　father's　opinions。　　How　could　she
expect　anything　from　John　when　he　was　being　carefully　trained
in　the　very　principles　which　everywhere　made　the　Americans　so
irritating　to　the　Mexican　government。

Her　husband　and　Antonia　she　would　not　see。　　Isabel　she
received　in　her　darkened　room；　with　passionate　weeping　and
many　reproaches。　　The　unhappy　husband　had　expected　this
trouble　at　the　outset。　　It　was　one　of　those　domestic
thorns　which　fester　and　hamper；　but　to　which　the　very　best　of
men　have　to　submit。　　He　could　only　send　pleasant　and
affectionate　messages　by　Rachela；　knowing　that　Rachela　would
deliver　them　with　her　own　modifications　of　tone　and　manner。

〃The　Senor　sends　his　great　love　to　the　Senora。　　Grace　of　Mary！　
If　he　would　do　a　little　as　the　most　wise　and　tender　of　spouses
wishes　him！　　That　would　be　for　the　good　fortune　of　every　one。

〃Ah；　Rachela；　my　heart　is　broken！　　Bring　me　my　mantilla。　　I
will　go　to　early　mass；　when　one's　husband　and　children　forsake
them；　who；　then；　is　possible　but　the　Holy　Mother？

〃My　Senora；　you　will　take　cold；　the　morning　is　chill；　besides；
I　have　to　say　the　streets　will　be　full　of　those　insolent
Americans。〃

〃I　shall　be　glad　to　take　cold；　perhaps　even　to　die。　　And　the
Americans　do　not　offend　women。　　Even　the　devil　has　his　good
points。〃

〃Holy　Virgin！　　Offend　women！　　They　do　not　even　think　us　worth
looking　at。　　But　then　it　is　an　intolerable　offence　to　see　them
standing　in　our　streets；　as　if　they　had　made　the　whole
land。〃

But　this　morning；　early　as　it　was；　the　streets　were　empty　of
Americans。　　There　had　been　hundreds　of　them　there　at　the
proclamation；　there　was　not　one　to　be　seen　twelve　hours
afterwards。　　But　at　the　principal　rendezvous　of　the　city；　and
on　the　very　walls　of　the　Alamo；　they　had　left　this
characteristic　notice：

〃To　SANTA　ANNA：

If　you　want　our　arms…take　them。


TEN　THOUSAND　AMERICAN　TEXANS。

Robert　Worth　saw　it　with　an　irrepressible　emotion　of　pride　and
satisfaction。　　He　had　faithfully　fulfilled　his　promise　to　his
conscience；　and；　with　his　rifle　across　his　shoulder；　and　his
revolvers　and　knife　in　his　belt；　was　taking　the　road　to　his
office　with　a　somewhat　marked　deliberation。　　He　was　yet　a
remarkably　handsome　man；　and　what　man　is　there　that　a　rifle
does　not　give　a　kind　of　nobility　to？　　With　an　up…head　carriage
and　the　light　of　his　soul　in　his　face；　he　trod　the　narrow；
uneven　street　like　a　soldier　full　of　enthusiasm　at　his　own
commission。

No　one　interfered　with　his　solitary　parade。　　He　perceived；
indeed；　a　marked　approval　of　it。　　The　Zavalas；　Navarros。　
Garcias；　and　other　prominent　citizens；　addressed　him　with　but
a　slightly　repressed　sympathy。　　They　directed　his　attention
with　meaning　looks　to　the　counter…proclamation　of　the
Americans。　　They　made　him　understand　by　the　pressure　of　their
hands　that　they　also　were　on　the　side　of　liberty。

As　he　did　not　hurry；　he　met　several　officers；　but　they　wisely
affected　not　to　see　what　they　did　not　wish　to　see。　　For　Doctor
Worth　was　a　person　to　whom　very　wide　latitude　might　be　given。　
To　both　the　military　and　the　civilians　his　skill　was　a
necessity。　　The　attitude　he　had　taken　was　privately　discussed；
but　no　one　publicly　acted　or　even　commented　upon　it。　　Perhaps
he　was　a　little　disappointed　at　this。　　He　had　come　to　a　point
when　a　frank　avowal　of　his　opinions　would　be　a　genuine
satisfaction；　when；　in　fact；　his　long…repressed　national
feeling　was　imperious。

On　the　third　morning；　as　he　crossed　the　Plaza；　some　one　called
him。　　The　voice　made　his　heart　leap；　his　whole　nature
responded　to　it　like　the　strings　of　a　harp　to　the　sweep　of　a
skilful　hand。　　He　turned　quickly；　and　saw　two　young　men　galloping
towards　him。　　The　foremost　figure　was　his　sonhis　beloved
youngest　sonwhom　he　had　just　been　thinking　of　as　well　out　of
danger；　safe　and　happy　in　the　peaceful　halls　of　Columbia。　　And
lo！　here　he　was　in　the　very　home　of　the　enemy；　and　he　was　glad
of　it。

〃Why；　Jack！〃　he　cried；　〃Why；　Jack；　my　boy！　　I　never　thought　of
you　here。〃　　He　had　his　hand　on　the　lad's　shoulder；　and　was
gazing　into　his　bright　face　with　tears　and　smiles　and　happy
wonder。

Father；　I　had　to　come。　　And　there　are　plenty　more　coming。　　And
here　is　my　other　selfthe　best　fellow　that　ever　lived：　
Darius　Grant。　　‘Dare'　we　call　him；　father；　for　there　is　not
anything　he　won't　venture　if　he　thinks　it　worth　the　winning。　
And　how　is　mi　madre　and　Antonia；　and　Iza？　　And　isn't　it
jolly　to　see　you　with　a　rifle？〃

〃Well；　Dare；　well；　Jack；　you　are　both　welcome；　never　so
welcome　to　Texas　as　at　this　hour。　　Come　home　at　once　and；
refresh　yourselves。〃

There　was　so　much　to　tell　that　at　first　the　conversation
was　in　fragments　and　exclamations；　and　the　voices　of　the　two
young　men；　pitched　high　and　clear　in　their　excitement；　went
far　before　them　as　if　impatient　of　their　welcome。　　Antonia
heard　them　first。　　She　was　on　the　balcony；　standing　thoughtful
and　attent。　　It　seemed　to　her　as　if　in　those　days　she　was
always　listening。　　Jack's　voice　was　the　loudest；　but　she　heard
Dare's　first。　　It　vibrated　in　midair　and　fell　upon　her
consciousness；　clear　and　sweet　as　a　far…away　bell。

〃That　is　Dare's　voice　HERE。〃

She　leaned　forward；　her　soul　hearkened　after　the　vibrations；
and　again　they　called　her。　　With　swift　steps　she　reached　the
open　door。　　Rachela　sat　in　her　chair　within　it。

〃The　Senorita　had　better　remain　within；〃　she　said；　sullenly；
〃the　sun　grows　hot。〃

〃Let　me　pass；　Rachela；　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

〃To　be　sure；　the　Senorita　will　have　her　waygood　or　bad。〃

Antonia　heeded　her　not；　she　was　hastening　down　the　main　avenue
toward　the　gateway。　　This　avenue　was　hedged　on　each　side　with
oleanders；　and　they　met　in　a　light；　waving　arch　above　her
head。　　At　this　season　they　were　one　mass　of　pale　pink
blossoms　and　dark　glossy　leaves。　　The　vivid　sunshine　through
them　made　a　rosy　light　which　tinged　her　face　and　her　white
gown　with　an　indescribable　glow。　　If　a　mortal　woman　can　ever
look　like　an　angel；　the　fair；　swiftly　moving　Antonia　had　at
that　moment　the　angelic　expression　of　joy　and　love；　the
angelic　unconsciousness　of　rapid　and　graceful　movement；　the
angelic　atmosphere　that　was　in　itself　a　dream　of　paradise；
rose…tinted；　divinely　sweet　and　warm。

Dare　saw　her　coming；　and　suddenly　ceased　speaking｛。？？｝　　He　was
in　the　midst　of　a　sentence；　but　he　forgot　what　he　was　saying。　
He　forgot　where　he　was。　　He　knew　nothing；　felt　nothing；　saw
nothing；　heard　nothing　but　Antonia。　　And　yet　he　did　not　fall
at　her　feet；　and　kiss　her　hands　and　whisper　delightful
extravagances；　all　of　which　things　an　Iberian　lover　would　have
done；　and　felt　and　looked　in　the　doing　perfectly　graceful　and
natural。

Dare　Grant　only　clasped　both　the　pretty　hands　held　out　to　him；
only　said　〃Antonia！　Antonia！〃　only　looked　at　her　with　eyes
full　of　a　loving　question；　which　found　its　instant　answer　in
her　own。　　In　that　moment　they　revealed　to　each　other　the
length　and　breadth；　the　height　and　the　depth　of　their
affection。　　They　had　not　thought　of　disguising　it；　they　made
no　attempt　to　do　so；　and　Robert　Worth　needed　not　the
confession　which；　a　few　hours　later；　Grant　thought　it　right　to
make　to　him。

When　they　entered　the　house　together；　a　happy；　noisy　group；
Rachela　had　left　her　chair　and　was　going　hurriedly　upstairs　to
tell　the　Senora　her　surmise；　but　Jack　passed　her　with　a　bound；
and　was　at　his　mother's　side　before　the　heavy　old　woman　had
comprehended　his　passing　salutation。

〃Madre！　　Mother；　I　am　here！

The　Senora　was　on　her　couch　in　her　darkened　room。　　She　had
been　at　the　very　earliest　mass；　had　a　headache；　and　had　come
home　in　a　state　of　rebellion　against　heaven　and　earth。　　But
Jack　was　her　idol；　the　one　child　for　whose　presence　she
continually　pined；　the　one　human　creature　to　whose　will　and
happiness　she　delighted　to　sacrifice　her　own。　　When　she　heard
his　voice　she　rose　quickly；　crying　out：

〃A　miracle！　　A　miracle！　　Grace　of　God　and　Mary；　a　miracle！　
Only　this　morning；　my　precious；　my　boy！　　I　asked　the　Holy
Mother　to　pity　my　sorrows；　and　send　you　to　me。　　I　vow　to
Mary　a　new　shrine。　　I　vow　to　keep　it；　and　dress　it　for　one
whole　year。　　I　will　give　my　opal　ring　to　the　poor。　　Oh；　Juan！
Juan！　Juan　I　am　too　blessed。〃

Her　words　were　broken　into　pieces　by　his　kisses。　　He　knelt　at
her　knees；　and　stroked　her　face；　and　patted　her　hands；　and　did
all　with　such　natural　fervor　and　grace；　that　anything　else；　or
anything　less；　must　have　seemed　cold　and　unfilial。

〃Come；　my　beautiful　mother；　and　see　my　friend。　　I　have　told
him　so　much　about　you；　and　poor　Dare　has　no　mother。　　I　have
promised　him　that　you　will　be　his　mother　also。　　Dare　is　so
goodthe　finest　fellow　in　all　the　world；　come　down　and　see
Dare；　and　let　us　have　a　real　Mexican　dinner；　madre。　　I　have
not　tasted　an　olla　since　I　left　you。〃

She　could　not　resist　him。　　She　made　Rachela　lay　out　her
prettiest　dress；　and　when　Jack　said　〃how　beautiful　your　hair
is；　mother；　no　one　has　hair　like　you！〃　she　drew　out　the　great
shell　pins；　and　let　it　fall　like　a　cloud　around　her；　and　with
a　glad　pride　gave　Rachela　the　order　to　get　out　her　jewelled
comb　and　gilded　fan　and　finest　mantilla。　　And　oh！　how
happy　is　that　mother　who　has　such　pure　and　fervent　admiration
from　her　son；　and　how　happy　is　that　son　to　whom　his　mother　is
ever　beautiful！

Jack's　presence　drove　all　the　evil　spirits　out　of　the　house。
The　windows　were　thrown　open；　the　sunshine　came　in。　　He　was
running　after　Isabel；　he　was　playing　the　mandolin；　his　voice；
his　laugh；　his　quick　footstep；　were　everywhere。

In　spite　of　the　trouble　in　the　city；　there　was　a　real　festival
in　the　house。　　The　Senora　came　down　in　her　sweetest　temper　and
her　finest　garments。　　She　arranged　Jack's　dinner　herself；
selected　the　dishes　and　gave　strict　orders　about　their
serving。　　She　took　Jack's　friend　at　once　into　her　favor；　and
Dare　thought　her　wonderfully　lovely　and　gracious。　　He　sat　with
her　on　the　balcony；　and　talk