remember the alamo-第15部分

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those　who　have　robbed　me。　　I　swear　I　will！〃

〃You　do　not　love　me。　　What　are　these　Americans　to　you？　　I　am
your　wife。　　Your　Maria〃

〃These　Americans　are　my　brothersmy　sons。　　My　mother　is　an
American　woman。〃

〃And　I？〃

〃You　are　my　wifemy　dear　wife！　　I　love　youGod　Almighty
knows　how　well　I　love　you；　but　we　must　part　now；　at　least　for
a　short　time。　　Maria；　my　dear　one；　I　must　go。〃

〃Go？　　Where　to？〃

〃I　am　going　to　join　General　Houston。〃

〃I　thought　so。　　I　knew　it。　　The　accursed　one！　　Oh　that　I　had
him　here　again！　　I　would　bury　my　stiletto　in　his　heart！　　Over
the　white　hilt　I　would　bury　it！　　I　would　wash　my　hands　in　his
blood；　and　think　them　blessed　ever　afterwards！　　Stay　till
daylight；　Roberto。　　I　have　so　much　to　say；　dearest。〃

〃I　cannot。　　I　have　stayed　too　long。　　And　now　I　must　ride
without　a　gun　or　knife　to　protect　me。　　Any　Indian　that　I　meet
can　scalp　me。　　Do　you　understand　now　what　disarming　means；
Maria？　　If　I　had　gone　with　my　boy；　with　my　brave　Jack；　I　could
at　least　have　sold　my　life　to　its　last　drop。〃

〃In　the　morning；　Roberto；　Lopez　Navarro　will　get　you　a　gun。　
Oh；　if　you　must　go；　do　not　go　unarmed！　　There　are　ten　thousand
Comanche　between　here　and　the　Brazos。〃

〃How　could　I　look　Lopez　Navarro　in　the　face？　　Or　any　other
man？　　No；　no！　　I　must　win　back　my　arms；　before　I　can　walk　the
streets　of　San　Antonio　again。〃

He　took　her　in　his　arms；　he　kissed　her　eyes；　her　cheeks；　her
lips；　murmuring　tender　little　Spanish　words　that　meant；
oh；　so　much；　to　the　wretched　woman！words　she　had　taught　him
with　kisseswords　he　never　used　but　to　her　ears　only。

She　clung　to　his　neck；　to　his　hands；　to　his　feet；　she　made　his
farewell　an　unspeakable　agony。　　At　last　he　laid　her　upon　her
couch；　sobbing　and　shrieking　like　a　child　in　an　extremity　of
physical　anguish。　　But　he　did　not　blame　her。　　Her
impetuosities；　her　unreasonable　extravagances；　were　a　part　of
her　nature；　her　race；　and　her　character。　　He　did　not　expect　a
weak；　excitable　woman　to　become　suddenly　a　creature　of　flame
and　steel。

But　it　was　a　wonderful　rest　to　his　exhausted　body　and　soul　to
turn　from　her　to　Antonia。　　She　led　him　quietly　to　his　chair　by
the　parlor　fire。　　She　gave　him　food　and　wine。　　She　listened
patiently；　but　with　a　living　sympathy；　to　his　wrong。　　She
endorsed；　with　a　clasp　of　his　hand　and　a　smile；　his　purpose。　
And　she　said；　almost　cheerfully：

〃You　have　not　given　up　all　your　arms；　father。　　When　I　first
heard　of　the　edict；　I　hid　in　my　own　room　the　rifle；　the　powder
and　the　shot；　which　were　in　your　study。　　Paola　has　knives　in
the　stable；　plenty　of　them。　　Get　one　from　him。〃

Good　news　is　a　very　relative　thing。　　This　information　made　the
doctor　feel　as　if　all　were　now　easy　and　possible。　　The　words
he　said　to　her；　Antonia　never　forgot。　　They　sang　in　her　heart
like　music；　and　led　her　on　through　many　a　difficult　path。　　The
conversation　then　turned　upon　money　matters；　and　Antonia
received　the　key　of　his　study；　and　full　directions　as　to　the
gold　and　papers　secreted　there。

Then　Isabel　was　awakened；　and　the　rifle　brought　down；　and
Paola　saddled　the　fleetest　horse　in　the　stable；　and　after　one
solemn　five　minutes　with　his　daughter；　Robert　Worth　rode　away
into　the　midnight　darkness；　and　into　a　chaos　of　public　events
of　which　no　man　living　could　forecast　the　outcome。

Rode　away　from　wife　and　children　and　home；　leaving　behind　him
the　love　and　labor　of　his　lifetime

　　　　　　　　〃The　thousand　sweet；　still　joys　of　such
　　　　　　　　　As　hand　in　hand　face　earthly　life。〃

For　what？　　For　justice；　for　freedom　of　thought　and　action；　for
the　rights　of　his　manhood；　for　the　brotherhood　of　race
and　religion　and　country。　　Antonia　and　Isabel　stood　hand　in
hand　at　the　same　lattice　from　which　the　Senora　had　watched　her
son　away；　and　in　a　dim；　uncertain　manner　these　thoughts
connected　themselves　in　each　mind　with　the　same　mournful
inquiryIs　it　worth　while？

As　the　beat　of　the　horse's　hoofs　died　away；　they　turned。　　The
night　was　cold　but　clear；　and　the　sky　appeared　so　high　that
their　eyes　throbbed　as　they　gazed　upward　at　the　grand　arch；
sprinkled　with　suns　and　worlds。　　Suddenly　into　the　tranquil
spaces　there　was　flung　a　sound　of　joy　and　revelry；　and　the
girls　stepped　to　a　lattice　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　and
looked　out。

The　residencia　of　Don　Salvo　Valasco　was　clearly　visible　from
this　site。　　They　saw　that　it　was　illuminated　throughout。　
Lovely　women；　shining　with　jewels；　and　soldiers　in　scarlet　and
gold；　were　chatting　through　the　graceful　movements　of　the
danza；　or　executing　the　more　brilliant　Jota　Aragonesa。　　The
misty　beauty　of　white　lace　mantillas；　the　glitter　and　color　of
fans　and　festival　dresses；　made　a　moving　picture　of　great
beauty。

And　as　they　watched　it　there　was　a　cessation　of　the　dance；
followed　by　the　rapid　sweep　of　a　powerful　hand　over　the
strings　of　a　guitar。　　Then　a　group　of　officers　stepped
together；　and　a　great　wave　of　melodious　song；　solemn　and
triumphant；　thrilled　the　night。　　It　was　the　national　hymn。　
Antonia　and　Isabel　knew　it。　　Every　word　beat　upon　their
hearts。　　The　power　of　association；　the　charm　of　a　stately；
fervent　melody　was　upon　them。

〃It　is　Senor　Higadillos　who　leads；〃　whispered　Isabel；　as　a
resonant　voice；　powerful　and　sweet；　cried


〃O　list　to　the　summons！　　The　blood　of　our　sires；
　Boils　high　in　our　veins；　and　to　vengeance　inspires！
　Who　bows　to　the　yoke？　who　bends　to　the　blow？〃

and；　without　a　moment's　hesitation；　the　answer　came　in　a
chorus　of　enthusiastic　cadences

〃No　hero　will　bend；　no　Mexican　bow；
　Our　country　in　tears　sends　her　sons　to　the　fight；
　To　conquer；　or　die；　for　our　land　and　our　right。〃


〃You　see；　the　Mexicans　think　THEY　are　in　the　rightTHEY
are　patriots　also；　Antonia。〃

The　sorrowful　girl　spoke　like　a　puzzled　child；　fretfully　and
uncertainly；　and　Antonia　led　her　silently　away。　　What
could　she　answer？　　And　when　she　remembered　the　dear　fugitive；
riding　alone　through　the　midnightriding　now　for　life　and
libertyshe　could　not　help　the　uprising　again　of　that　cold
benumbing　question〃Is　it　worth　while？〃



CHAPTER　VII。

A　MEETING　AT　MIDNIGHT。

〃All　faiths　are　to　their　own　believers　just；
　For　none　believe　because　they　will；　but　must；
　The　priest　continues　what　the　nurse　began；
　And　thus　the　child　imposes　on　the　man。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DRYDEN。

〃if　he　be　called　upon　to　face
　Some　awful　moment；　to　which　heaven　has　joined
　Great　issues　good　or　bad　for　humankind；
　Is　happy　as　a　lover；　and　attired
　With　sudden　brightness；　like　a　man　inspired；
　And　through　the　heat　of　conflict　keeps　the　law
　In　calmness　made；　and　sees　what　he　foresaw；
　Or；　if　an　unexpected　call　succeed；
　Come　when　it　will；　is　equal　to　the　need。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。

〃Ah！　love；　let　us　be　true
　To　one　another；　through　the　world　which　seems
　To　lie　before　us　like　a　land　of　dreams！〃

The　gathering　at　Don　Valasco's　was　constantly　repeated　in
various　degrees　of　splendor　among　the　loyal　Mexicans　of　the
city。　　They　were　as　fully　convinced　of　the　justice　of　their
cause　as　the　Americans　were。　　〃They　had　graciously
permitted　Americans　to　make　homes　in　their　country；　now　they
wanted　not　only　to　build　heretic　churches　and　sell　heretic
bibles；　but　also　to　govern　Texas　after　their　own　fashion。〃　
From　a　Mexican　point　of　view　the　American　settlers　were　a
godless；　atheistical；　quarrelsome　set　of　ingrates。　　For　eaten
bread　is　soon　forgotten；　and　Mexicans　disliked　to　remember
that　their　own　independence　had　been　won　by　the　aid　of　the
very　men　they　were　now　trying　to　force　into　subjection。

The　two　parties　were　already　in　array　in　every　house　in　the
city。　　The　Senora　at　variance　with　her　daughters；　their　Irish
cook　quarrelling　with　their　Mexican　servants；　only　represented
a　state　of　things　nearly　universal。　　And　after　the　failure　of
the　Mexicans　at　Gonzales　to　disarm　the　Americans；　the
animosity　constantly　increased。

In　every　church；　the　priestsmore　bitter；　fierce　and
revengeful　than　either　the　civil　or　military　powerurged　on
the　people　an　exterminating　war。　　A　black　flag　waved　from　the
Missions；　and　fired　every　heart　with　an　unrelenting　vengeance
and　hatred。　　To　slay　a　heretic　was　a　free　pass　through　the
dolorous　pains　of　purgatory。　　For　the　priesthood　foresaw
that　the　triumph　of　the　American　element　meant　the　triumph　of
freedom　of　conscience；　and　the　abolition　of　their　own
despotism。　　To　them　the　struggle　was　one　involving　all　the
privileges　of　their　order；　and　they　urged　on　the　fight　with
passionate　denunciations　of　the　foe；　and　with　magnificent
promises　of　spiritual　favors　and　blessings。　　In　the　fortress；
the　plaza；　the　houses；　the　churches；　the　streets；　their　fiery
words　kept　society　in　a　ferment。

But　through　all　this　turmoil　the　small　duties　of　life　went　on。　
Soldiers　were　parading　the　streets；　and　keeping　watch　on　the
flat　roofs　of　the　houses；　men　were　solemly｛sic｝　swearing
allegiance　to　Santa　Anna；　or　flying　by　night　to　the　camp　of
the　Americans；　life　and　death　were　held　at　a　pin's　fee；　but
eating　and　dressing；　dancing　and　flirting　were　pursued　with　an
eagerness　typical　of　pleasure　caught　in　the　passing。

And　every　hour　these　elements　gathered　intensity。　　The　always
restless　populace　of　San　Antonio　was　at　a　feverish　point　of
impatience。　　They　wanted　the　war　at　their　own　doors。　　They
wanted　the　quarrel　fought　out　on　their　own　streets。　
Business　took　a　secondary　place。　　Men　fingered　weapons　and
dreamed　of　blood；　until　the　temper　of　the　town　was　as
boisterous　and　vehement　as　the　temper　of　the　amphitheatre　when
impatiently　waiting　for　the　bulls　and　the　matadores。

Nor　was　it　possible　for　Antonia　to　lock　the　door　upon　this
pervading　spirit。　　After　Doctor　Worth's　flight；　it　became
necessary　for　her　to　assume　control　over　the　household。　　She
had　promised　him　to　do　so；　and　she　was　resolved；　in　spite　of
all　opposition；　to　follow　out　his　instructions。　　But　it　was　by
no　means　an　easy　task。

Fray　Ignatius　had　both　the　Senora　and　Rachela　completely　under
his　subjection。　　Molly；　the　Irish　cook；　was　already
dissatisfied。　　The　doctor　had　saved　her　life　and　given　her　a
good　home　and　generous　wages；　and　while　the　doctor　was　happy
and　prosperous　Molly　was　accordingly　grateful。　　But　a　few
wo