remember the alamo-第22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！


though　we　were　close　to　the　ramparts；　and　we　gathered　them　up
by　thousands；　and　sent　them　back　with　our　double…Dupont
powder。　　THEN　they　did　damage　enough。　　In　fact；　we　have
taken　the　Alamo　with　Mexican　balls。〃

〃Under　what　flag　did　you　fight；　Roberto？〃

〃Under　the　Mexican　republican　flag　of　eighteen　twenty…four；
but　indeed；　Maria；　I　do　not　think　we　had　one　in　the　camp。　　We
were　destitute　of　all　the　trappings　of　warwe　had　no
uniforms；　no　music；　no　flags；　no　positive　military　discipline。　
But　we　had　one　heart　and　mind；　and　one　object　in　view；　and
this　four　days'　fight　has　shown　what　men　can　do；　who　are　moved
by　a　single；　grand　idea。〃

The　Senora　lay　upon　a　sofa；　the　doctor　sat　by　her　side。　
Gradually　their　conversation　became　more　low　and　confidential。　
They　talked　of　their　sons；　and　their　probable　whereabouts；　of
all　that　the　Senora　and　her　daughters　had　suffered　from　the
disaffection　of　the　servants；　and　the　attitude　taken　by
Fray　Ignatius。　　And　the　doctor　noticed；　without　much　surprise；
that　his　wife's　political　sympathies　were　still　in　a　state　of
transition　and　uncertainty。　　She　could　not　avoid　prophesying
the　speedy　and　frightful　vengeance　of　Mexico。　　She　treated　the
success　at　San　Antonio　as　one　of　the　accidents　of　war。　　She
looked　forward　to　an　early　renewal　of　hostilities。

〃My　countrymen　are　known　to　me；　Roberto；〃　she　said；　with　a
touch　that　was　almost　a　hope　of　vengeance。　　〃They　have　an
insurmountable　honor；　they　will　revenge　this　insult　to　it　in
some　terrible　way。　　If　the　gracious　Maria　holds　not　the　hands
of　Santa　Anna；　he　will　utterly　destroy　the　Americans！　　He　will
be　like　a　tiger　that　has　become　mad。〃

〃I　am　not　so　much　afraid　of　Santa　Anna　as　of　Fray　Ignatius。　
Promise　me；　my　dear　Maria；　that　you　will　not　suffer　yourself
or　your　children　to　be　decoyed　by　him　into　a　convent。　　I
should　never　see　you　again。〃

The　discussion　on　this　subject　was　long　and　eager。　　Antonia；
talking　with　Dare　a　little　apart；　could　not　help　hearing　it
and　feeling　great　interest　in　her　father's　entreaties；　even
though　she　was　discussing　with　Dare　the　plans　for　their
future。　　For　Dare　had　much　to　tell　his　betrothed。　　During　the
siege；　the　doctor　had　discovered　that　his　intended　son…in…law
was　a　fine　surgeon。　　Dare　had；　with　great　delicacy；　been　quite
reticent　on　this　subject；　until　circumstances　made　his
assistance　a　matter　of　life　and　death；　and　the　doctor
understood　and　appreciated　the　young　man's　silence。

〃He　thinks　I　might　have　a　touch　of　professional　jealousyhe
thinks　I　might　suspect　him　of　wanting　a　partnership　as　well　as
a　wife；　he　wishes　to　take　his　full　share　of　the　dangers　of
war；　without　getting　behind　the　shield　of　his　profession〃；
these　feelings　the　doctor　understood；　and　he　passed　from　Fray
Ignatius　to　this　pleasanter　topic；　gladly。

He　told　the　Senora　what　a　noble　son　they　were　going　to　have；
he　said；　〃when　the　war　is　over；　Maria；　my　dear；　he　shall　marry
Antonia。〃

〃And　what　do　you　say；　Roberto；　if　I　should　give　them　the　fine
house　on　the　Plaza　that　my　brother　Perfecto　left　me？〃

〃If　you　do　that　you　will　be　the　best　mother　in　the　world；
Maria。　　I　then　will　take　Dare　into　partnership。　　He　is　good
and　clever；　and　I　am　a　little　weary　of　work。　　I　shall　enjoy
coming　home　earlier　to　you。　　We　will　go　riding　and　walking；
and　our　courting　days　will　begin　again。〃

〃Maria　Santissima！　　How　delightful　that　will　be；　Roberto！　　And
as　for　our　Isabel；　shall　we　not　make　her　happy　also？　　Luis
should　have　done　as　his　own　family　have　done；　a　young　man　to
go　against　his　mother　and　his　uncles；　that　is　very　wicked！
but；　if　we　forgive　that　fault；　well；　then；　Luis　is　as　good　as
good　bread。〃

〃I　think　so。　　He　began　the　study　of　the　law。　　He　must　finish
it。　　He　must　learn　the　American　laws　also。　　I　am　not　a　poor
man；　Maria。　　I　will　give　Isabel　the　fortune　worthy　of　a
Yturbide　or　a　Floresa　fortune　that　will　make　her　very
welcome　to　the　Alvedas。〃

The　Senora　clasped　her　husband's　hand　with　a　smile。　　They　were
sweetening　their　own　happiness　with　making　the　happiness　of
their　children。　　They　looked　first　at　Antonia。　　She　sat　with
Dare；　earnestly　talking　to　him　in　a　low　voice。　　Dare　clasped
in　his　own　the　dear　little　hand　that　had　been　promised　to
him。　　Antonia　bent　toward　her　lover；　her　fair　head　rested
against　his　shoulder。　　Isabel　sat　in　a　large　chair；　and　Luis
leaned　on　the　back　of　it；　stooping　his　bright　face　to　the
lovely　one　which　was　sometimes　dropped　to　hide　her　blushes；
and　sometimes　lifted　with　flashing　eyes　to　answer　his　tender
words。

〃My　happiness　is　so　great；　Roberto；　I　am　even　tired　of　being
happy。　　Call　Rachela。　　I　must　go　to　sleep。　　To…night　I　cannot
even　say　an　ave。〃

〃God　hears　the　unspoken　prayer　in　your　heart；　Maria；　and　to…
night　let　me　help　you　upstairs。　　My　arm　is　stronger　than
Rachela's。〃

She　rose　with　a　little　affectation　of　greater　weakness　and
lassitude　than　she　really　felt。　　But　she　wished　to　be　weak；　so
that　her　Roberto　might　be　strongto　be　quite　dependent　on　his
care　and　tenderness。　　And　she　let　her　daughters　embrace
her　so　prettily；　and　then　offered　her　hand　to　Dare　and　Luis
with　so　much　grace　and　true　kindness　that　both　young　men　were
enchanted。

〃It　is　to　be　seen　that　they　are　gentlemen；〃　she　said；　as　she
went　slowly　upstairs　on　her　husband's　arm〃and　hark！
that　is　the　singing　of　Luis。　　What　is　it　he　says？〃　　They　stood
still　to　listen。　　Clear　and　sweet　were　the　chords　of　the
mandolin；　and　melodiously　to　them　Luis　was　protesting

　　　　　　　　〃Freedom　shall　have　our　shining　blades！
　　　　　　　　　Our　hearts　are　yours；　fair　Texan　maids！〃



CHAPTER　X。

THE　DOCTOR　AND　THE　PRIEST。

　　　　　　　　〃I　tell　thee；　priest；　if　the　world　were　wise
　　　　　　　　　They　would　not　wag　one　finger　in　your　quarrels：
　　　　　　　　　Your　heaven　you　promise；　but　our　earth　you　covet；
　　　　　　　　　The　Phaetons　of　mankind；　who　fire　the　world
　　　　　　　　　Which　you　were　sent　by　preaching　but　to　warm。〃

　　　　　　　　　Your　Saviour　came　not　with　a　gaudy　show；
　　　　　　　　　Nor　was　His　kingdom　of　the　world　below：
　　　　　　　　　The　crown　He　wore　was　of　the　pointed　thorn
　　　　　　　　　In　purple　He　was　crucified；　not　born。
　　　　　　　　　They　who　contend　for　place　and　high　degree
　　　　　　　　　Are　not　His　sons；　but　those　of　Zebedee。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DRYDEN。

The　exalted　state　of　mind　which　the　victorious　men　had　brought
home　with　them　did　not　vanish　with　sleep。　　The　same　heroic
atmosphere　was　in　the　house　in　the　morning。　　Antonia's　face
had　a　brightness　upon　it　that　never　yet　was　the　result　of　mere
flesh　and　blood。　　When　she　came　into　the　usual　sitting…room；
Dare　was　already　there；　indeed；　he　had　risen　purposely　for
this　hour。　　Their　smiles　and　glances　met　each　other　with
an　instantaneous　understanding。　　It　was　the　old　Greek
greeting　〃REJOICE！〃　without　the　audible　expression。

Never　again；　perhaps；　in　all　their　lives　would　moments　so　full
of　sweetness　and　splendor　come　to　them。　　They　were　all　the
sweeter　because　blended　with　the　homely　duties　that　fell　to
Antonia's　hands。　　As　she　went　about　ordering　the　breakfast；
and　giving　to　the　table　a　festal　air；　Dare　thought　of　the　old
Homeric　heroes；　and　the　daughters　of　the　kings　who　ministered
to　their　wants。　　The　bravest　of　them　had　done　no　greater　deeds
of　personal　valor　than　had　been　done　by　the　little　band　of
American　pioneers　and　hunters　with　whom　he　had　fought　the　last
four　days。　　The　princes　among　them　had　been　welcomed　by　no
sweeter　and　fairer　women　than　had　welcomed　his　companions　and
himself。

And；　though　his　clothing　was　black　with　the　smoke　of　the
battle　and　torn　with　the　fray；　never　had　Dare　himself　looked
so　handsome。　　There　was　an　unspeakable　radiance　in　his　fair
face。　　The　close；　brown　curls　of　his　hair；　his　tall　figure；
supple　and　strong；　his　air　of　youth；　and　valor；　and　victory；
the　love…light　in　his　eyes；　the　hopes　in　his　heart；　made
him　for　the　time　really　more　than　a　mere　mortal　man。　　He
walked　like　the　demi…gods　he　was　thinking　of。　　The　most
glorious　ideal　of　life；　the　brightest　dream　of　love　that　he
had　ever　had；　found　in　this　hour　their　complete　realization。

The　Senora　did　not　come　down；　but　Isabel　and　Luis　and　the
doctor　joined　the　breakfast　party。　　Luis　had　evidently　been　to
see　Lopez　Navarro　before　he　did　so；　for　he　wore　a　new　suit　of
dark　blue　velvet　and　silver；　a　sash　of　crimson　silk；　the
neatest　of　patent　leather　shoes；　and　the　most　beautifully
embroidered　linen。　　Dare　gave　him　a　little　smile　and　nod　of
approbation。　　He　had　not　thought　of　fine　clothing　for　himself；
but　then　for　the　handsome；　elegant；　Mexican　youth　it　seemed
precisely　the　right　thing。　　And　Isabel；　in　her　scarlet　satin
petticoat；　and　white　embroideries　and　satin　slippers；　looked
his　proper　mate。　　Dare　and　Antonia；　and　even　the　doctor；
watched　their　almost　childlike　devotion　to　each　other　with
sympathetic　delight。

Oh；　if　such　moments　could　only　last！　　No；　no；　as　a　rule　they
last　long　enough。　　Joy　wearies　as　well　as　sorrow。　　An
abiding　rapture　would　make　itself　a　sorrow　out　of　our　very
weakness　to　bear　it。　　We　should　become　exhausted　and　exacting；
and　be　irritated　by　the　limitations　of　our　nature；　and　our
inability　to　create　and　to　endure　an　increasing　rapture。　　It
is　because　joy　is　fugitive　that　it　leaves　us　a　delightsome
memory。　　It　is　far　better；　then；　not　to　hold　the　rose　until　it
withers　in　our　fevered　hand。

The　three　women　watched　their　heroes　go　back　to　the　city。　　The
doctor　looked　very　little　older　than　his　companions。　　He　sat
his　horse　superbly；　and　he　lifted　his　hat　to　the　proud　Senora
with　a　loving　grace　which　neither　of　the　young　men　could
excel。　　In　that　far　back　year；　when　he　had　wooed　her　with　the
sweet　words　she　taught　him；　he　had　not　looked　more　manly　and
attractive。　　There　is　a　perverse　disposition　in　women　to　love
personal　prowess；　and　to　adore　the　heroes　of　the　battle…field；
and　never　had　the　Senora　loved　her　husband　as　she　did　at　that
hour。

In　his　capacity　of　physician　he　had　done　unnoticed　deeds　of
far　greater　braverygone　into　a　Comanche　camp　that　was　being
devastated　by　smallpoxor　galloped　fifty　miles；　alone　in
the　night；　through　woods　haunted　by　savage　men　and　beasts；　to
succor　some　little　child　struggling　with　croup；　or　some
frontiersman　pierced　wit