remember the alamo-第21章

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here　until　we　are　quite　sleepy。〃

With　the　words　she　went　into　the　kitchen。　　Molly　was　nodding
over　her　beads；　in　the　comfortable　radius　made　by　the
blazing　logs；　no　one　else　was　present　but　a　young　peon。　　He
brought　a　small　kettle　to　the　parlor　fire；　and　lifted　a　table
to　the　hearth；　and　then　replenished　the　pile　of　logs　for
burning　during　the　night。　　Isabel；　cuddling　in　a　large　chair；
watched　Antonia；　as　she　went　softly　about　putting　on　the　table
such　delicacies　as　she　could　find　at　that　hour。　　Tamales　and
cold　duck；　sweet　cake　and　the　guava　jelly　that　was　Isabel's
favorite　dainty。　　There　was　a　little　comfort　in　the　sight　of
these　things；　and　also；　in　the　bright　silver　teapot　standing
so　cheerfully　on　the　hearth；　and　diffusing　through　the　room　a
warm　perfume；　at　once　soothing　and　exhilarating。

〃I　really　think　I　shall　like　that　American　tea　to…night；
Antonia；　but　you　must　half　fill　my　cup　with　those　little
blocks　of　sugarquite　half　fill　it；　Antonia；　and　have　you
found　cream；　my　dear　one？　　Then　a　great　deal　of　cream。〃

Antonia　stood　still　a　moment　and　looked　at　the　drowsy　little
beauty。　　Her　eyes　were　closed；　and　her　head　nestled
comfortably　in　a　corner　of　the　padded　chair。　　Then　a　hand　upon
the　door…handle　arrested　her　attention；　and　Antonia　turned　her
eyes　from　Isabel　and　watched　it。　　Ortiz；　the　peon；　put
his　head　within　the　room；　and　then　disappeared；　but　oh；　wonder
and　joy！　　Don　Luis　entered　swiftly　after　him；　and　before　any
one　could　say　a　word；　he　was　kneeling　by　Isabel　kissing　her
hand　and　mingling　his　exclamations　of　rapture　with　hers。

Antonia　looked　with　amazement　and　delight　at　this　apparition。　
How　had　he　come？　　She　put　her　hand　upon　his　sleeve；　it　was
scarcely　wet。　　His　dress　was　splendid；　if　he　had　been　going　to
a　tertullia　of　the　highest　class；　he　could　not　have　been　more
richly　adorned。　　And　the　storm　was　yet　raging！　　It　was　a
miracle。

〃Dear　Luis；　sit　down！　　Here　is　a　chair　close　to　Iza！　　Tell　her
your　secrets　a　few　minutes；　and　I　will　go　for　mi　madre。　　O
yes！　　She　will　come！　　You　shall　see；　Iza！　　And　then；　Luis；　we
shall　have　some　supper。〃

〃You　see　that　I　am　in　heaven　already；　Antonia；　though；　indeed；
I　am　also　hungry　and　thirsty；　my　sister。〃

Antonia　was　not　a　minute　in　reaching　her　mother's　room。　　The
unhappy　lady　was　half…lying　among　the　large　pillows　of　her
gilded　bed；　wide　awake。　　Her　black　eyes　were　fixed　upon
a　crucifix　at　its　foot；　and　she　was　slowly　murmuring　prayers
upon　her　rosary。

〃Madre！　　Madre！　　Luis　is　here；　Luis　is　here！　　Come　quick；　mi
madre。　　Here　are　your　stockings　and　slippers；　and　your　gown；
and　your　mantillano；　no；　no；　do　not　call　Rachela。　　Luis　has
news　of　my　father；　and　of　Jack！　　Oh；　madre；　he　has　a　letter
from　Jack　to　you！　　Come　dear；　come；　in　a　few　minutes　you　will
be　ready。〃

She　was　urging　and　kissing　the　trembling　woman；　and　dressing
her　in　despite　of　her　faint　effort　to　delayto　call　Rachela
to　bring　Luis　to　her　room。　　In　ten　minutes　she　was　ready。　　She
went　down　softly；　like　a　frightened　child；　Antonia　cheering
and　encouraging　her　in　whispers。

When　she　entered　the　cheerful　parlor　the　shadow　of　a　smile
flitted　over　her　wan　face。　　Luis　ran　to　meet　her。　　He　drew　the
couch　close　to　the　hearth；　he　helped　Antonia　arrange　her
comfortably　upon　it。　　He　made　her　tea；　and　kissed　her　hands
when　he　put　it　into　them。　　And　then　Isabel　made　Luis　a　cup；
and　cut　his　tamales；　and　waited　upon　him　with　such　pretty
service；　that　the　happy　lover　thought　he　was　eating　a　meal　in
Paradise。

For　a　few　minutes　it　had　been　only　this　ordinary　gladness　of
reunion；　but　it　was　impossible　to　ignore　longer　the　anxiety　in
the　eyes　that　asked　him　so　many　questions。　　He　took　two
letters　from　his　pockets　and　gave　them　to　the　Senora。　　They
were　from　her　husband　and　Jack。　　Her　hands　trembled；　she
kissed　them　fervently；　and　as　she　placed　them　in　her　breast
her　tears　dropped　down　upon　them。

Antonia　opened　the　real　conversation　with　that　never…failing
wedge；　the　weather。　　〃You　came　through　the　storm；　Luis？　　Yet
you　are　not　wet；　scarcely？　　Now　then；　explain　this　miracle。〃

〃I　went　first　to　Lopez　Navarro's。　　Do　you　not　know　this　festa
dress？　　It　is　the　one　Lopez　bought　for　the　feast　of　St。　James。　
He　lent　it　to　me；　for　I　assure　you　that　my　own　clothing　was
like　that　of　a　beggar　man。　　It　was　impossible　that　I　could　see
my　angel　on　earth　in　it。〃

〃But　in　such　weather？　　You　can　not　have　come　far　to…day？〃

〃Senorita；　there　are　things　which　are　impossible；　quite
impossible！　　That　is　one　of　them。　　Early　this　morning　the
north　wind　advanced　upon　us；　sword　in　hand。　　It　will　last
fifty　hours；　and　we　shall　know　something　more　about　it　before
they　are　over。　　Very　well；　but　it　was　also　absolutely
necessary　that　some　one　should　reach　San　Antonio　to…night；　and
I　was　so　happy　as　to　persuade　General　Burleson　to　send　me。　
The　Holy　Lady　has　given　me　my　reward。〃

〃Have　you　seen　the　Senor　Doctor　lately；　Luis；〃　asked　the
Senora。

〃I　left　him　at　nightfall。〃

〃At　nightfall！　　But　that　is　impossible！〃

〃It　is　true。　　The　army　of　the　Americans　is　but　a　few　miles
from　San　Antonio。〃

〃Grace　of　God！　　Luis！〃

〃As　you　say；　Senora。　　It　is　the　grace　of　God。　　Did　you　not
know？〃

〃We　know　nothing　but　what　Fray　Ignatius　tells　usthat　the
Americans　have　been　everywhere　pulling　down　churches；　and
granting　martyrdom　to　the　priests；　and　that　everywhere
miraculous　retributions　have　pursued　them。〃

〃Was　Gonzales　a　retribution？　　The　Senor　Doctor　came　to　us
while　we　were　there。　　God　be　blessed；　but　he　startled　us　like
the　rattle　of　rifle…shots　in　the　midnight！　　‘Why　were　you　not
at　Goliad？'　he　cried。　　‘There　were　three　hundred　stand　of　arms
there；　and　cannon；　and　plenty　of　provisions。　　Why　were　they
not　yours？'　　You　would　have　thought；　Senora；　he　had　been　a
soldier　all　his　life。　　The　men　caught　fire　when　he　came　near
them；　and　we　went　to　Goliad　like　eagles　flying　for　their　prey。　
We　took　the　town；　and　the　garrison；　and　all　the　arms　and
military　stores。　　I　will　tell　you　something　that　came　to　pass
there。　　At　midnight；　as　I　and　Jack　stood　with　the　Senor　Doctor
by　the　camp…fire；　a　stranger　rode　up　to　us。　　It　was　Colonel
Milam。　　He　was　flying　from　a　Mexican　prison　and　had　not　heard
of　the　revolt　of　the　Americans。　　He　made　the　camp　ring　with
his　shout　of　delight。　　He　was　impatient　for　the　morning。　　He
was　the　first　man　that　entered　the　garrison。　　Bravissimo！　
What　a　soldier　is　he！〃

〃I　remember！　　I　remember！〃　cried　the　Senora。　　〃Mi　Roberto
brought　him　here　once。　　So　splendid　a　man　I　never　saw　before。　
So　tall；　so　handsome；　so　gallant；　so　like　a　hero。　　He　is
an　American　fromwell；　then；　I　have　forgotten　the　place。〃

〃From　Kentucky。　　He　fought　with　the　Mexicans　when　they　were
fighting　for　their　liberty；　but　when　they　wanted　a　king　and　a
dictator　he　resigned　his　commision｛sic｝　and　was　thrown　into
prison。　　He　has　a　long　bill　against　Santa　Anna。〃

〃We　must　not　forget；　Luis；〃　said　the　Senora　with　a　little
flash　of　her　old　temper；　〃that　Santa　Anna　represents　to　good
Catholics　the　triumph　of　Holy　Church。〃

Luis　devoutly　crossed　himself。　　〃I　am　her　dutiful　son；　I
assure　you；　Senoraalways。〃

A　warning　glance　from　Antonia　changed　the　conversation。　　There
was　plenty　to　tell　which　touched　them　mainly　on　the　side　of
the　family；　and　the　Senora　listened；　with　pride　which　she
could　not　conceal；　to　the　exploits　of　her　husband　and　sons；
though　she　did　not　permit　herself　to　confess　the　feeling。　　And
her　heart　softened　to　her　children。　　Without　acknowledging　the
tie　between　Isabel　and　Luis；　she　permitted　or　was　oblivious　to
the　favors　it　allowed。

Certainly　many　little　formalities　could　be　dispensed　with；　in
a　meeting　so　unexpected　and　so　eventful。　　When　the　pleasant
impromptu　meal　was　over；　even　the　Senora　had　eaten　and　drunk
with　enjoyment。　　Then　Luis　set　the　table　behind　them；　and　they
drew　closer　to　the　fire；　Luis　holding　Isabel's　hand；　and
Antonia　her　mother's。　　The　Senora　took　a　cigarette　from　Luis；
and　Isabel　sometimes　put　that　of　Luis　between　her　rosy　lips。　
At　the　dark；　cold　midnight　they　found　an　hour　or　two　of
sweetest　consolation。　　It　was　indeed　hard　to　weary　these　three
heart…starved　women；　they　asked　question　aft