remember the alamo-第40章

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〃No；　mother；　if　you　go　to　the　convent；　Antonia　and　Isabel　must
go　with　me。〃

She　prayed；　and　exclaimed；　and　appealed　to　saints　and　angels；
and　to　the　holy　Virgin；　until　Isabel　was　hysterically　weeping；
Antonia　at　a　mental　tension　almost　unendurable；　and　Thomas　on
the　verge　of　one　of　those　terrifying　passions　that　mark
the　extremity　of　habitually　gentle；　patient　men。

〃My　God；　mother！〃　he　exclaimed　with　a　stamp　of　his　spurred
boot　on　the　stone　floor；　〃if　you　will　go　to　the　devilto　the
priests；　I　meanyou　must　go　alone。　　Kiss　your　mother
farewell；　girls。　　I　have　not　another　moment　to　wait。〃

Then；　in　a　passion　of　angry　sobs　and　reproaches；　she　decided
to　go　with　her　daughters；　and　no　saint　ever　suffered　with　a
more　firm　conviction　of　their　martyrdom　to　duty　than　did　this
poor　foolish；　affectionate　slave　to　her　emotions　and　her
superstitions。　　But　when　Thomas　had　gone；　and　nothing　was　to
be　gained　by　a　display　of　her　sufferings；　she　permitted
herself　to　be　interested　in　their　hiding…place；　and　after
Antonia　had　given　her　a　cup　of　chocolate；　and　Isabel　had
petted　and　soothed　her；　she　began　gradually　to　allow　them　to
explain　their　situation；　and　even　to　feel　some　interest　in　its
discussion。

They　sat　in　the　charmful；　dusky　glimmer　of　starlight；　for
candles　and　fire　were　forbidden　luxuries。　　Fortunately；　the
weather　was　warm　and　sunny；　and　for　making　chocolate　and　such
simple　cookery；　Lopez　had　provided　a　spirit　lamp。　　The
Senora　was　as　pleased　as　a　child　with　this　arrangement。　　She
had　never　seen　anything　like　it　before。　　She　even　imagined　the
food　cooked　upon　it　had　some　rare　and　unusual　flavor。　　She　was
quite　proud　when　she　had　learned　its　mysteries；　and　quite　sure
that　chocolate　she　made　upon　it　was　chocolate　of　a　most
superior　kind。

The　house　had　been　empty　for　two　years；　and　the　great　point
was　to　preserve　its　air　of　desolation。　　No　outside　arrangement
was　touched；　the　torn　remnants　of　some　balcony　hangings　were
left　fluttering　in　the　wind；　the　closed　windows　and　the　closed
doors；　the　absence　of　smoke　from　the　chimneys　and　of　lights
from　the　windows；　preserved　the　air　of　emptiness　and
loneliness　that　the　passers…by　had　been　accustomed　to　see。　
And；　as　it　was　on　the　highway　into　the　city；　there　were　great
numbers　of　passers：　mule…trains　going　to　Mexico　and　Sonora；
cavaliers　and　pedestrians；　splendidly…dressed　nobles　and
officials；　dusty　peons　bringing　in　wood；　ranchmen；　peddlers；
and　the　whole　long　list　of　a　great　city's　purveyors　and
servants。

But　though　some　of　the　blinds　were　half…closed；　much　could　be
seen；　and　Isabel　also　often　took　cushions　upon　the　flat　roof；
and　lying　down；　watched；　from　between　the　pilasters　of　the
balustrade　surrounding　it；　the　moving　panorama。

On　the　morning　of　the　third　day　of　what　the　Senora；　called
their　imprisonment；　they　went　to　the　roof　to　sit　in　the　clear
sunshine　and　the　fresh　wind。　　They　were　weary　and　depressed
with　the　loneliness　and　uncertainty　of　their　position；　and
were　almost　longing　for　something　to　happen　that　would　push
forward　the　lagging　wheels　of　destiny。

A　long　fanfare　of　trumpets；　a　roll　of　drums；　a　stirring　march
of　warlike　melody；　startled　them　out　of　the　lethargic　tedium
of　exhausted　hopes　and　fears。　　〃It　is　Santa　Anna！〃　said
Antonia；　and　though　they　durst　not　stand　up；　they　drew　closer
to　the　balustrade　and　watched　for　the　approaching　army。　　Is
there　any　woman　who　can　resist　that　nameless　emotion　which
both　fires　and　rends　the　heart　in　the　presence　of　great
military　movements？　　Antonia　was　still　and　speechless；　and
white　as　death。　　Isabel　watched　with　gleaming　eyes　and
set　lips。　　The　Senora's　excitement　was　unmistakably　that　of
exultant　national　pride。

Santa　Anna　and　his　staff…officers　were　in　front。　　They　passed
too　rapidly　for　individual　notice；　but　it　was　a　grand　moving
picture　of　handsome　men　in　scarlet　and　goldof　graceful
mangas　and　waving　plumes；　and　bright…colored　velvet　capes；　of
high…mettled　horses；　and　richly…adorned　Mexican　saddles；
aqueras　of　black　fur；　and　silver　stirrups；　of　thousands　of
common　soldiers；　in　a　fine　uniform　of　red　and　blue；　with
antique　brazen　helmets　gleaming　in　the　sun；　and　long　lances；
adorned　with　tri…colored　streamers。　　They　went　past　like　a
vivid；　wonderful　dreamlike　the　vision　of　an　army　of
mediaeval　knights。

In　a　few　minutes　the　tumult　of　the　advancing　army　was
increased　tenfold　by　the　clamor　of　the　city　pouring　out　to
meet　it。　　The　clashing　bells　from　the　steeples；　the　shouting
of　the　populace；　the　blare　of　trumpets　and　roll　of　drums；　the
lines　of　churchmen　and　officials　in　their　grandest　dresses；　of
citizens　of　every　age；the　indescribable　human　murmur
altogether　it　was　a　scene　whose　sensuous　splendor
obliterated　for　a　time　the　capacity　of　impressionable
natures　to　judge　rightly。

But　Antonia　saw　beyond　all　this　brave　show　the　ridges　of　red
war；　and　a　noble　perversity　of　soul　made　her　turn　her　senses
inward。　　Then　her　eyes　grew　dim；　and　her　heart　rose　in　pitying
prayer　for　that　small　band　of　heroes　standing　together　for
life　and　liberty　in　the　grim　Alamo。　　No　pomp　of　war　was
theirs。　　They　were　isolated　from　all　their　fellows。　　They　were
surrounded　by　their　enemies。　　No　word　of　sympathy　could　reach
them。　　Yet　　she　knew　they　would　stand　like　lions　at　bay；　that
they　would　give　life　to　its　last　drop　for　liberty；　and　rather
than　be　less　than　freemen；　they　would　prefer　not　to　be　at　all。



CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　FALL　OF　THE　ALAMO。

　　　　　　　　〃The　combat　deepens。　　On；　ye　brave！
　　　　　　　　　Who　rush　to　glory　or　the　grave。〃

　　　　　　　　〃To　all　the　sensual　world　proclaim：
　　　　　　　　　One　crowded　hour　of　glorious　life
　　　　　　　　　Is　worth　an　age　without　a　name。〃

　　　　　　　　〃Gashed　with　honorable　scars；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Low　in　Glory's　lap　they　lie；
　　　　　　　　　Though　they　fell；　they　fell　like　stars；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Streaming　splendor　through　the　sky。〃

The　passing…by　of　Santa　Anna　and　the　Mexican　army；　though　it
had　been　hourly　expected　for　nearly　three　days；　was　an　event
which　threw　the　Senora　and　her　daughters　into　various
conditions　of　mental　excitement。　　They　descended　from　the　roof
to　the　Senora's　room；　where　they　could　move　about　and　converse
with　more　freedom。　　For　the　poor　lady　was　quite　unable　to
control　her　speech　and　actions；　and　was　also　much　irritated　by
Antonia's　more　composed　manner。　　She　thought　it　was　want　of
sympathy。

〃How　can　you　take　things　with　such　a　blessed　calmness；〃　she
asked；　angrily。　　〃But　it　is　the　way　of　the　Americans；　no
doubt；　who　must　have　everything　for　prudence。　　Sensible！　
Sensible！　　Sensible！　that　is　the　tune　they　are　forever
playing；　and　you　dance　to　it　like　a　miracle。〃

〃My　dear　mother；　can　we　do　any　good　by　exclaiming　and
weeping？〃

〃Holy　Virgin！　　Perhaps　not；　but　to　have　a　little　human　nature
is　more　agreeable　to　those　who　are　yet　on　the　earth　side　of
purgatory。〃

〃Mi　madre；〃　said　Isabel；　〃Antonia　is　our　good　angel。　　She
thinks　for　us；　and　plans　for　us；　and　even　now　has　everything
ready　for　us　to　move　at　a　moment's　notice。　　Our　good　angels
have　to　be　sensible　and　prudent；　madre。〃

〃To　move　at　a　moment's　notice！　　Virgin　of　Guadalupe！　where
shall　we　go　to？　　Could　my　blessed　father　and　mother　see　me　in
this　prison；　this　very　vault；　I　assure　you　they　would　be
unhappy　even　among　the　angels。〃

〃Mother；　there　are　hundreds　of　women　today　in　Texas　who　would
think　this　house　a　palace　of　comfort　and　safety。〃

〃Saints　and　angels！　　Is　that　my　fault？　　Does　it　make　my
condition　more　endurable？　　Ah；　my　children；　I　have　seen　great
armies　come　into　San　Antonio；　and　always　before　I　have　been
able　to　make　a　little　pleasure　to　myself　out　of　the　event。　
For　the　Mexicans　are　not　blood…thirsty；　though　they　are　very
warlike。　　When　Bravo　was　here；　what　balls；　what　bull…fights；
what　visiting　among　the　ladies！　　Indeed　there　was　so　much　to
tell；　the　tertulia　was　as　necessary　as　the　dinner。　　To　be
sure；　the　Mexicans　are　not　barbarians；　they　made　a　war　that
had　some　refinement。　　But　the　Americans！　　They　are　savages。　
With　them　it　is　fight；　fight；　fight；　and　if　we　try　to　be
agreeable；　as　we　were　to　that　outrageous　Sam　Houston；　they　say
thank　you；　madam；　and　go　on　thinking　their　own　cruel　thoughts。