remember the alamo-第3部分

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cooked　meats　and　delicate　dishes　which　he　had　often　longed
for。

John；　the　youngest　boy；　was　still　in　New　York　finishing　his
course　of　study；　but　regarding　Isabel；　there　seemed　to　be　a
tacit　relinquishment　of　the　purpose；　so　inflexibly　carried　out
with　her　brothers　and　sister。　　Isabel　was　entirely　different
from　them。　　Her　father　had　watched　her　carefully；　and　come　to
the　conviction　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　make　her　nature
take　the　American　mintage。　　She　was　as　distinctly　Iberian　as
Antonia　was　Anglo…American。

In　her　brothers　the　admixture　of　races　had　been　only　as　alloy
to　metal。　　Thomas　Worth　was　but　a　darker　copy　of　his　father。　
John　had　the　romance　and　sensitive　honor　of　old　Spain；　mingled
with　the　love　of　liberty；　and　the　practical　temper；　of　those
Worths　who　had　defied　both　Charles　the　First　and　George　the
Third。　　But　Isabel　had　no　soul…kinship　with　her　father's
people。　　Robert　Worth　had　seen　in　the　Yturbide　residencia　in
Mexico　the　family　portraits　which　they　had　brought　with　them
from　Castile。　　Isabel　was　the　Yturbide　of　her　day。　　She　had
all　their　physical　traits；　and　from　her　large　golden…black
eyes　the　same　passionate　soul　looked　forth。　　He　felt　that　it
would　be　utter　cruelty　to　send　her　among　people　who　must
always　be　strangers　to　her。

So　Isabel　dreamed　away　her　childhood　at　her　mother's　side；　or
with　the　sisters　in　the　convent；　learning　from　them　such
simple　and　useless　matters　as　they　considered　necessary　for　a
damosel　of　family　and　fortune。　　On　the　night　of　the　Senora
Valdez's　reception；　she　had　astonished　every　one　by　the
adorable　grace　of　her　dancing；　and　the　captivating　way　in
which　she　used　her　fan。　　Her　fingers　touched　the　guitar　as　if
they　had　played　it　for　a　thousand　years。　　She　sang　a　Spanish
Romancero　of　El　mio　Cid　with　all　the　fire　and　tenderness　of　a
Castilian　maid。

Her　father　watched　her　with　troubled　eyes。　　He　almost　felt　as
if　he　had　no　part　in　her。　　And　the　thought　gave　him　an　unusual
anxiety；　for　he　knew　this　night　that　the　days　were　fast
approaching　which　would　test　to　extremity　the　affection　which
bound　his　family　together。　　He　contrived　to　draw　Antonia　aside
for　a　few　moments。

〃Is　she　not　wonderful？〃　he　asked。　　〃When　did　she　learn
these　things？　　I　mean　the　way　in　which　she　does　them？〃

Isabel　was　dancing　La　Cachoucha；　and　Antonia　looked　at　her
little　sister　with　eyes　full　of　loving　speculation。　　Her
answer　dropped　slowly　from　her　lips；　as　if　a　conviction　was
reluctantly　expressed：

〃The　way　must　be　a　gift　from　the　pasther　soul　has　been　at
school　before　she　was　born　here。　　Father；　are　you　troubled？　
What　is　it？　　Not　Isabel；　surely？〃

〃Not　Isabel；　primarily。　　Antonia；　I　have　been　expecting
something　for　twenty　years。　　It　is　coming。〃

〃And　you　are　sorry？〃

〃I　am　anxious；　that　is　all。　　Go　back　to　the　dancers。　　In　the
morning　we　can　talk。〃

In　the　morning　the　doctor　was　called　very　early　by　some　one
needing　his　skill。　　Antonia　heard　the　swift　footsteps　and
eager　voices；　and　watched　him　mount　the　horse　always　kept
ready　saddled　for　such　emergencies；　and　ride　away　with　the
messenger。　　The　incident　in　itself　was　a　usual　one；　but　she
was　conscious　that　her　soul　was　moving　uneasily　and
questioningly　in　some　new　and　uncertain　atmosphere。

She　had　felt　it　on　her　first　entrance　into　Senora　Valdez's
gran　salaa　something　irrepressible　in　the　faces　of　all　the
men　present。　　She　remembered　that　even　the　servants　had　been
excited；　and　that　they　stood　in　small　groups；　talking　with
suppressed　passion　and　with　much　demonstrativeness。　　And　the
officers　from　the　Alamo！　　How　conscious　they　had　been　of　their
own　importance！　　What　airs　of　condescension　and　of　an　almost
insufferable　protection　they　had　assumed！　　Now；　that　she
recalled　the　faces　of　Judge　Valdez；　and　other　men　of　years　and
position；　she　understood　that　there　had　been　in　them　something
out　of　tone　with　the　occasion。　　In　the　atmosphere　of　the　festa
she　had　only　felt　it。　　In　the　solitude　of　her　room　she　could
apprehend　its　nature。

For　she　had　been　born　during　those　stormy　days　when　Magee　and
Bernardo；　with　twelve　hundred　Americans；　first　flung　the
banner　of　Texan　independence　to　the　wind；　when　the　fall　of
Nacogdoches　sent　a　thrill　of　sympathy　through　the　United
States；　and　enabled　Cos　and　Toledo；　and　the　other
revolutionary　generals　in　Mexico；　to　carry　their　arms　against
Old　Spain　to　the　very　doors　of　the　vice…royal　palace。　　She
had　heard　from　her　father　many　a　time　the　whole　brave；
brilliant　storythe　same　story　which　has　been　made　in　all
ages　from　the　beginning　of　time。　　Only　the　week　before；　they
had　talked　it　over　as　they　sat　under　the　great　fig…tree
together。

〃History　but　repeats　itself；〃　the　doctor　had　said　then；　〃for
when　the　Mexicans　drove　the　Spaniards；　with　their　court
ceremonies；　their　monopolies　and　taxes；　back　to　Spain；　they
were　just　doing　what　the　American　colonists　did；　when　they
drove　the　English　royalists　back　to　England。　　It　was　natural；
too；　that　the　Americans　should　help　the　Mexicans；　for；　at
first；　they　were　but　a　little　band　of　patriots；　and　the
American…Saxon　has　like　the　Anglo…Saxon　an　irresistible
impulse　to　help　the　weaker　side。　　And　oh；　Antonia！　　The　cry　of
Freedom！　　Who　that　has　a　soul　can　resist　it？〃

She　remembered　this　conversation　as　she　stood　in　the　pallid
dawning；　and　watched　her　father　ride　swiftly　away。　　The　story
of　the　long　struggle　in　all　its　salient　features　flashed
through　her　mind；　and　she　understood　that　it　is　not　the　sword
alone　that　gives　libertythat　there　must　be　patience　before
courage；　that　great　ideas　must　germinate　for　years　in　the
hearts　of　men　before　the　sword　can　reap　the　harvest。

The　fascinating　memory　of　Burr　passed　like　a　shadow　across　her
dreaming。　　The　handsome　Lafayettesthe　gallant　Nolansthe
daring　Huntersthe　thousands　of　forgotten　American　traders
and　explorersbold　and　enterprisingthey　had　sown　the　seed。　
For　great　ideas　are　as　catching　as　evil　ones。　　A　Mexican；　with
the　iron　hand　of　Old　Spain　upon　him　and　the　shadow　of　the
Inquisition　over　him；　could　not　look　into　the　face　of　an
American；　and　not　feel　the　thought　of　Freedom　stirring　in　his
heart。

It　stirred　in　her　own　heart。　　She　stood　still　a　moment　to　feel
consciously　the　glow　and　the　enlargement。　　Then　with　an
impulse　natural；　but　neither　analyzed　nor　understood；　she
lifted　her　prayer…book；　and　began　to　recite　〃the　rising
prayer。〃　　She　had　not　said　to　herself；　〃from　the　love　of
Freedom　to　the　love　of　God；　it　is　but　a　step；〃　but　she
experienced　the　emotion　and　felt　all　the　joy　of　an　adoration；
simple　and　unquestioned；　springing　as　naturally　from　the　soul
as　the　wild　flower　from　the　prairie。

As　she　knelt；　up　rose　the　sun；　and　flooded　her　white　figure
and　her　fair　unbound　hair　with　the　radiance　of　the　early
morning。　　The　matin　bells　chimed　from　the　convent　and　the
churches；　and　the　singing　birds　began　to　flutter　their　bright
wings；　and　praise　God　also；　〃in　their　Latin。〃

She　took　her　breakfast　alone。　　The　Senora　never　came
downstairs　so　early。　　Isabel　had　wavering　inclinations；　and
generally　followed　them。　　Sometimes；　even　her　father　had　his
cup　of　strong　coffee　alone　in　his　study；　so　the　first　meal　of
the　day　was　usually；　as　perhaps　it　ought　to　be；　a　selfishly…
silent　one。　　〃Too　much　enthusiasm　and　chattering　at　breakfast；
are　like　too　much　red　at　sunrise；〃　the　doctor　always　said；　〃a
dull；　bad　day　follows　it〃and　Antonia's　observation　had
turned　the　little　maxim　into　a　superstition。

In　the　Senora's　room；　the　precept　was　either　denied；　or
defied。　　Antonia　heard　the　laughter　and　conversation　through
the　closed　door；　and　easily　divined　the　subject　of　it。　　It
was；　but　natural。　　The　child　had　a　triumph；　one　that　appealed
strongly　to　her　mother's　pride　and　predilections。　　It　was　a
pleasant　sight　to　see　them　in　the　shaded　sunshine　exulting
themselves　happily　in　it。

The　Senora；　plump　and　still　pretty；　reclined　upon　a　large
gilded　bed。　　Its　splendid　silk　coverlet　and　pillows　cased　in
embroidery　and　lace　made　an　effective　background　for　her。　　She
leaned　with　a　luxurious　indolence　among　them；　sipping
chocolate　and　smoking　a　cigarrito。　　Isabel　was　on　a　couch　of
the　same　description。　　She　wore　a　satin　petticoat；　and　a　loose
linen　waist　richly　trimmed　with　lace。　　It　showed　her　beautiful
shoulders　and　arms　to　perfection。　　Her　hands　were　folded　above
her　head。　　Her　tiny　feet；　shod　in　satin；　were　quivering　like
a　bird's　wings；　as　if　they　were　keeping　time　with　the
restlessness　of　her　spirit。

She　had　large　eyes；　dark　and　bright；　strong　eyebrows；　a　pale
complexion　with　a　flood　of　brilliant　color　in　the　checks；
dazzling　even　teeth；　and　a　small；　handsome　mouth。　　Her　black
hair　was　loose　and　flowing；　and　caressed　her　cheeks　and
temples　in　numberless　little　curls　and　tendrils。　　Her　face　was
one　flush　of　joy　and　youth。　　She　had　a　look　half…earnest　and
half…childlike；　and　altogether　charming。　　Antonia　adored　her；
and　she　was　pleased　to　listen　to　the　child；　telling　over
again　the　pretty　things　that　had　been　said　to　her。

〃Only　Don　Luis　was　not　there　at　all；　Antonia。　　There　is　always
something　wanting；〃　and　her　voice　fell　with　those　sad
inflections　that　are　often　only　the　very　excess　of　delight。

The　Senora　looked　sharply　at　her。　　〃Don　Luis　was　not
desirable。　　He　was　better　awaymuch　better！〃

〃But　why？〃

〃Because；　Antonia；　he　is　suspected。　　There　is　an　American
called　Houston。　　Don　Luis　met　him　in　Nacogdoches。　　He　has
given　his　soul　to　him；　I　think。　　He　would　have　fought　Morello
about　him；　if　the　captain　could　have　drawn　his　sword　in　such
a　quarrel。　　I　should　not　have　known　about　the　affair　had　not
Senora　Valdez　told　me。　　Your　father　says　nothing　against　the
Americans。〃

〃Perhaps；　then；　he　knows　nothing　against　them。〃

〃You　will　excuse　me；　Antonia；　not　only　the　living　but　the　dead
must　have　heard　of　their　wickedness。　　They　are　a　nation　of
ingrates。　　Ingrates　are　cowards。　　It　was　these　words　Captain
Morello　said；　when　Don　Luis　drew　his　sword；　made　a　circle
with　its　point　and　stood　it　upright　in　the　centre。　　It　was　a
challenge　to　the　whole　garrigon；　and　about　this　fellow
Houston；　whom　be　calls　his　friend！　　Holy　Virgin　preserve　us
from　such　Mexicans！〃

〃It　is　easier　to