remember the alamo-第7章
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was altogether elective； and what particularly pleased the
American element was the fact that the local government of
every State was left to itself。〃
Houston laughed heartily。 〃Do you know； Worth；〃 he said；
〃State Rights is our political religion。 The average American
citizen would expect the Almighty to conform to a written
constitution； and recognize the rights of mankind。〃
〃I don't think he expects more than he gets； Houston。 Where
is there a grander constitution than is guaranteed to us in
His Word； or one that more completely recognizes the rights of
all humanity？〃
〃Thank you； Worth。 I see that I have spoken better than I
knew。 I was sitting in the United States Congress； when this
constitution passed； and very much occupied with the politics
of Tennessee。〃
〃I will not detain you with Mexican politics。 It may be
briefly said that for the last ten years there has been a
constant fight between Pedraza； Guerrero； Bustamante and Santa
Anna for the Presidency of Mexico。 After so much war and
misery the country is now ready to resign all the blessings
the constitution of eighteen twenty…four promised her。 For
peace she is willing to have a dictator in Santa Anna。〃
〃If Mexicans want a dictator let them bow down to Santa Anna！
But do you think the twenty thousand free…born Americans in
Texas are going to have a dictator？ They will have the
constitution of eighteen twenty…fouror they will have
independence； and make their own constitution！ Yes； sir！〃
〃You know the men for whom you speak？〃
〃I have been up and down among them for two years。 Just after
I came to Texas I was elected to the convention which sent
Stephen Austin to Mexico with a statement of our wrongs。 Did
we get any redress？ No； sir！ And as for poor Austin； is he
not in the dungeons of the Inquisition？ We have waited two
years for an answer。 Great heavens Doctor； surely that is
long enough！〃
〃Was this convention a body of any influence？〃
〃Influence！ There were men there whose names will never be
forgotten。 They met in a log house； they wore buckskin and
homespun； but I tell you； sir； they were debating the fate of
unborn millions。〃
〃Two years since Austin went to Mexico？〃
〃A two years' chapter of tyranny。 In them Santa Anna has
quite overthrown the republic of which we were a part。 He has
made himself dictator。 and； because our authorities have
protested against the change； they have been driven from
office by a military force。 I tell you； sir； the petty
outrages everywhere perpetrated by petty officials have filled
the cup of endurance。 It is boiling over。 Now； doctor； what
are you going to do？ Are you with us； or against us？〃
〃I have told you that I have been with my countrymen always
heart and soul with them。〃
The doctor spoke with some irritation； and Houston laid his
closed hand hard upon the table to emphasize his reply：
〃Heart and soul！ Very good！ But we want your body now。 You
must tuck your bowie…knife and your revolvers in your belt；
and take your rifle in your hand； and be ready to help us
drive the Mexican force out of this very city。〃
〃When it comes to that I shall be no laggard。〃
But he was deathly pale； for he was suffering as men suffer
who feel the sweet bonds of wife and children and home；
and dread the rending of them apart。 In a moment； however；
the soul behind his white face made it visibly luminous。
〃Houston；〃 he said； 〃whenever the cause of freedom needs me；
I am ready。 I shall want no second call。 But is it not
possible； that even yet〃
〃It is impossible to avert what is already here。 Within a few
days； perhaps to…morrow； you will hear the publication of an
edict from Santa Anna； ordering every American to give up his
arms。〃
〃What！ Give up our arms！ No； no； by Heaven！ I will die
fighting for mine； rather。〃
〃Exactly。 That is how every white man in Texas feels about
it。 And if such a wonder as a coward existed among them； he
understands that he may as well die fighting Mexicans； as die
of hunger or be scalped by Indians。 A large proportion of the
colonists depend on their rifles for their daily food。 All of
them know that they must defend their own homes from the
Comanche； or see them perish。 Now； do you imagine that
Americans will obey any such order？ By all the great men
of seventeen seventy…five； if they did； I would go over to the
Mexicans and help them to wipe the degenerate cowards out of
existence！〃
He rose as he spoke； he looked like a flame； and his words cut
like a sword。 Worth caught fire at his vehemence and passion。
He clasped his hands in sympathy as he walked with him to the
door。 They stood silently together for a moment on the
threshold； gazing into the night。 Over the glorious land the
full moon hung； enamoured。 Into the sweet； warm air
mockingbirds were pouring low； broken songs of ineffable
melody。 The white city in the mystical light looked like an
enchanted city。 It was so still that the very houses looked
asleep。
〃It is a beautiful land；〃 said the doctor。
〃It is worthy of freedom；〃 answered Houston。 Then he went
with long； swinging steps down the garden； and into the
shadows beyond； and Worth turned in and closed the door。
He had been watching for this very hour for twenty years； and
yet he found himself wholly unprepared for it。 Like one led
by confused and uncertain thoughts； he went about the room
mechanically locking up his papers； and the surgical
instruments he valued so highly。 As he did so he perceived
the book he had been reading when Houston entered。 It was
lying open where he had laid it down。 A singular smile
flitted over his face。 He lifted it and carried it closer to
the light。 It was his college Cicero。
〃I was nineteen years old when I marked that passage；〃 he
said； 〃and I do not think I have ever read it since； until to…
night。 I was reading it when Houston came into the room。 Is
it a message； I wonder？
〃‘But when thou considerest everything carefully and
thoughtfully； of all societies none is of more importance；
none more dear； than that which unites us with the
commonwealth。 Our parents； children； relations and neighbors
are dear； but our fatherland embraces the whole round of these
endearments。 In its defence； who would not dare to die； if
only he could assist it？〃
CHAPTER IV。
THE SHINING BANDS OF LOVE。
〃O blest be he！ O blest be he！
Let him all blessings prove；
Who made the chains； the shining chains；
The holy chains of love！〃
Spanish Ballad。
〃If you love a lady bright；
Seek； and you shall find a way
All that love would say； to say
If you watch the occasion right。〃
Spanish Ballad。
In the morning Isabel took breakfast with her sister。 This
was always a pleasant event to Antonia。 She petted Isabel；
she waited upon her； sweetened her chocolate； spread her cakes
with honey； and listened to all her complaints of Tia Rachela。
Isabel came gliding in when Antonia was about half way through
the meal。 Her scarlet petticoat was gorgeous； her bodice
white as snow； her hair glossy as a bird's wing； but her lips
drooped and trembled； and there was the shadow of tears in her
eyes。 Antonia kissed their white fringed lids； held
the little form close in her arms； and fluttered about in that
motherly way which Isabel had learned to demand and enjoy。
〃What has grieved you this morning； little dove？〃
〃It is Tia Rachela； as usual。 The cross old woman！ She is
going to tell mi madre something。 Antonia； you must make her
keep her tongue between her teeth。 I promised her to confess
to Fray Ignatius； and she said I must also tell mi madre。 I
vowed to say twenty Hail Marias and ten Glorias； and she said
‘I ought to go back to the convent。'〃
〃But what dreadful thing have you been doing； Iza？〃
Iza blushed and looked into her chocolate cup； as she answered
slowly： 〃I gaveafloweraway。 Only a suchil flower；
Antonia； thatIworeatmybreastlastnight。〃
〃Whom did you give it to； Iza？〃
Iza hesitated； moved her chair close to Antonia； a
