remember the alamo-第28章
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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 with an arrow。 The Senora had always
fretted and scolded a little when he thus exposed his life。
But the storming of the Alamo！ That was a bravery she could
understand。 Her Roberto was indeed a hero！ Though she could
not bring herself to approve the cause for which he fought；
she was as sensitive as men and women always are to victorious
valor and a successful cause。
Rachela was in a state of rebellion。 Nothing but the express
orders of Fray Ignatius； to remain where she was； prevented
her leaving the Worths； for the freedom so suddenly given to
Isabel had filled her with indignation。 She was longing to be
in some house where she could give adequate expression to the
diabolical temper she felt it right to indulge。
In the afternoon it was some relief to see the confessor
coming up the garden。 He had resumed his usual deliberate
pace。 His hands were folded upon his breast。 He looked as
the mournful Jeremiah may have looked； when he had the
burden of a heavy prophecy to deliver。
The Senora sat down with a doggedly sullen air； which Antonia
understood very well。 It meant； 〃I am not to be forced to
take any way but my own； to…day〃； and the wise priest
understood her mood as soon as he entered the room。 He put
behind him the reproof he had been meditating。 He stimulated
her curiosity； he asked her sympathy。 No man knew better than
Fray Ignatius； when to assume sacerdotal authority and when to
lay it aside。
And the Senora was never proof against the compliment of his
personal friendship。 The fight； as it affected himself and
his brotherhood and the convent； was full of interest to her。
She smiled at Brother Servando's childish alarm； she was angry
at an insult offered to the venerable abbot； she condoled with
the Sisters； wept at the danger that the famous statue of the
Virgin de Los Reinedias had been exposed to； and was
altogether as sympathetic as he could desire； until her own
affairs were mentioned。
〃And you also； my daughter？ The sword has pierced your
heart too； I am sure！ To know that your husband and sons were
fighting against your God and your country！ Holy Mother！ How
great must have been your grief。 But； for your comfort； I
tell you that the saints who have suffered a fiery martyrdom
stand at the feet of those who； like you； endure the continual
crucifixion of their affections。〃
The Senora was silent； but not displeased and the priest then
ventured a little further：
〃But there is an end to all trials； daughter and I now absolve
you from the further struggle。 Decide this day for your God
and your country。 Make an offering to Almighty God and the
Holy Mother of your earthly love。 Give yourself and your
daughters and all that you have to the benign and merciful
Church。 Show these rebels and hereticsthese ungrateful
recipients of Mexican bountywhat a true Catholic is capable
of。 His Divine Majesty and the Holy Mary demand this supreme
sacrifice from you。〃
〃Father； I have my husband； and my sons； to them； also； I owe
some duties。〃
〃The Church will absolve you from them。〃
〃It would break my heart。〃
〃Listen then： If it is your right hand； or your right eye
that is； if it is your husband； or your childyou are
commanded to give them up； orit is God's wordthere is only
hell fire。〃
〃Mother of Sorrows； pity me！ What shall I do？〃
She looked with the terror of a child into the dark； cruel
face of the priest。 It was as immovably stern as if carved
out of stone。 Then her eyes sought those of Antonia； who sat
at a distant window with her embroidery in her hand。 She let
it fall when her mother's pitiful； uncertain glance asked from
her strength and counsel。 She rose and went to her。 Never
had the tall； fair girl looked so noble。 A sorrowful majesty；
that had something in it of pity and something of anger； gave
to her countenance； her movements； and even her speech； a kind
of authority。
〃Dear mother； do as the beloved and kindhearted Ruth did。
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