remember the alamo-第19章

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Ortiz　undertook　the　commission；　with　a　nod　of　understanding。　
Then　there　remained　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　listen　and　to
watch。　　Fortunately；　however；　Rachela　found　the　centre　of
interest　among　the　servants　in　the　kitchen；　and　the　Senora　and
her　daughter　could　converse　without　espionage。

Just　after　sunset　a　letter　arrived　from　Navarro。　　Rachela
lingered　in　the　room　to　learn　its　contents。　　But　the　Senora；
having　read　them；　passed　the　letter　to　Antonia　and　Isabel；　and
Rachela　saw　with　anger　that　Antonia；　having　carefully
considered　it；　threw　it　into　the　fire。　　And　yet　the　news　it
brought　was　not　unfavorable：

〃SENORA　MARIA　FLORES　WORTH：

〃I　send　this　on　December　the　fifth；　in　the　year　of　our
Blessed　Lord　and　Lady　1835。　　It　is　my　honor　and　pleasure　to
tell　you　that　the　Americans；　having　performed　miracles　of
valor；　reached　the　Plaza　this　afternoon。　　Here　the　main　body
of　the　Mexican　troops　received　them；　and　there　has　been　severe
fighting。　　At　sunset；　the　Mexicans　retreated　within　the　Alamo。　
The　Texans　have　taken　possession　of　the　Veramendi　House；　and
the　portion　of　the　city　surrounding　it。　　There　has　been　a
great　slaughter　of　our　poor　countrymen。　　I　charge　myself
whenever　I　pass　the　Plaza；　to　say　a　paternoster　for　the　souls
who　fell　there。　　Senora　Maria　Flores　Worth；　I　kiss　your　hands。　
I　kiss　also　the　hands　of　the　Senorita　Antonia；　and　the　hands
of　the　Senorita　Isabel；　and　I　make　haste　to　sign　myself；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　servant；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LOPEZ　NAVARRO。〃


This　little　confidence　between　mother　and　daughters　restored
the　tone　of　feeling　between　them。　　They　had　something　to　talk
of；　personal　and　exclusive。　　In　the　fear　and　uncertainty；　they
forgot　priestly　interdiction　and　clung　to　each　other　with　that
affection　which　is　the　strength　of　danger　and　the　comforter　of
sorrow。

On　the　following　day　the　depression　deepened。　　The　sounds
of　battle　were　closer　at　hand。　　The　Mexican　servants　had　an
air　of　insolence　and　triumph。　　Antonia　feared　for　the
evening's　reportif　indeed　Navarro　should　be　able　to　send
one。　　She　feared　more　when　she　saw　the　messenger　early　in　the
afternoon。　　〃Too　early　is　often　worse　than　too　late。〃　　The
proverb　shivered　upon　her　trembling　lips　as　she　took　the
letter　from　him。　　The　three　women　read　it　together；　with
sinking　hearts：


〃SENORA　MARIA　FLORES　WORTH：

〃This　on　the　sixth　of　December；　in　the　year　of　our　Blessed
Lord　and　Lady　1835。　　The　brave；　the　illustrious　Colonel　Milam
is　dead。　　I　watched　him　three　hours　in　to…day's　fight。　　A　man
so　calm　was　inconceivable。　　He　was　smiling　when　the　ball
struck　himwhen　he　fell。　　The　Texans；　after　his　loss；　retired
to　their　quarters。　　This　was　at　the　hour　of　eleven。　　At　the
hour　of　one；　the　Mexicans　made　another　sortie　from　the　Alamo。　
The　Texans　rushed　to　meet　them　with　an　incredible　vengeance。　
Their　leader　was　General　Burleson。　　He　showed　himself　to
General　Cos　in　a　sheet　of　flame。　　Such　men　are　not　to　be
fought。　　General　Cos　was　compelled　to　retire　to　the　Alamo。　
The　battle　is　over　for　to…day。　　On　this　earth　the　soul　has　but
a　mortal　sword。　　The　water　in　the　river　is　red　with
blood。　　The　Plaza　is　covered　with　the　dead　and　the　dying。　　I
have　the　honor　to　tell　you　that　these　‘miserables'　are　being
attended　to　by　the　noble；　the　charitable　Senor　Doctor　Worth。　
As　I　write；　he　is　kneeling　among　them。　　My　soul　adores　his
humanity。　　I　humbly　kiss　your　hands；　Senora；　and　the　hands　of
your　exalted　daughters。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LOPEZ　NAVARRO。


Until　midnight　this　letter　furnished　the　anxious；　loving　women
with　an　unceasing　topic　of　interest。　　The　allusion　to　her
husband　made　the　Senora　weep。　　She　retired　to　her　oratory　and
poured　out　her　love　and　her　fears　in　holy　salutations；　in
thanksgivings　and　entreaties。

The　next　morning　there　was　an　ominous　lull　in　the　atmosphere。　
As　men　run　backward　to　take　a　longer　leap　forward；　so　both
armies　were　taking　breath　for　a　fiercer　struggle。　　In　the
Worth　residencia　the　suspense　was　becoming　hourly　harder　to
endure。　　The　Senora　and　her　daughters　were　hardly　conscious　of
the　home　life　around　them。　　In　that　wonderful　folk…speech
which　so　often　touches　foundation　truths；　they　were　not　all
there。　　Their　nobler　part　had　projected　itself　beyond　its
limitations。　　It　was　really　in　the　struggle。　　It　mattered
little　to　them　now　whether　food　was　cooked　or　not。　　They
were　neither　hungry　nor　sleepy。　　Existence　was　prayer　and
expectation。

Just　before　sunset　Antonia　saw　Don　Lopez　coming　through　the
garden。　　The　Senora；　accompanied　by　her　daughters；　went　to
meet　him。　　His　face　was　perplexed　and　troubled：

〃General　Cos　has　been　joined　by　Ugartechea　with　three　hundred
men；〃　he　said。　　〃You　will　see　now　that　the　fight　will　be　still
more　determined。〃

And　before　daylight　broke　on　the　morning　of　the　5th；　the
Americans　attacked　the　Alamo。　　The　black　flag　waved　above
them；　the　city　itself　had　the　stillness　of　death；　but　for
hours　the　dull　roar　and　the　clamorous　tumult　went　on　without
cessation。　　The　Senora　lay　upon　her　bed　motionless；　with　hands
tightly　locked。　　She　had　exhausted　feeling；　and　was　passive。　
Antonia　and　Isabel　wandered　from　window　to　window；　hoping　to
see　some　token　which　would　indicate　the　course　of　events。

Nothing　was　visible　but　the　ferocious　flag　flying　out　above
the　desperate　men　fighting　below　it。　　So　black！　　So　cruel　and
defiant　it　looked！　　It　seemed　to　darken　and　fill　the
whole　atmosphere　around　it。　　And　though　the　poor　women
had　not　dared　to　whisper　to　each　other　what　it　said　to　them；
they　knew　in　their　own　hearts　that　it　meant；　if　the　Americans
failed；　the　instant　and　brutal　massacre　of　every　prisoner。

The　husband　and　father　were　under　its　inhuman　shadow。　　So　most
probably　were　Darius　Grant　and　Luis　Alveda。　　It　was　even
likely　that　Jack　might　have　returned　ere　the　fight；　and　was
with　the　besiegers。　　Every　time　they　went　to　the　window；　it
filled　their　hearts　with　horror。

In　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　it　suddenly　disappeared。　
Antonia　watched　it　breathlessly。　　Several　times　before；　it　had
been　dropped　by　some　American　rifle；　but　this　time　it　was　not
as　speedily　replaced。　　In　a　few　minutes　she　uttered　a　shrill
cry。　　It　was　in　a　voice　so　strained；　so　piercing；　so　unlike
her　own；　that　the　Senora　leaped　from　her　bed。　　Antonia　turned
to　meet　her　mother　with　white；　parted　lips。　　She　was
speechless　with　excess　of　feeling；　but　she　pointed　to　the
Alamo。　　The　black　flag　was　no　longer　there！　　A　white　one　was
flying　in　its　place。

〃IT　IS　A　SURRENDER！〃　gasped　Antonia。　　〃IT　IS　A　SURRENDER！〃　and；
as　if　in　response　to　her　words；　a　mighty　shout　and　a　simultaneous
salute　of　rifles　hailed　the　emblem　of　victory。

An　hour　afterwards　a　little　Mexican　boy　came　running　with　all
his　speed。　　He　brought　a　few　lines　from　Don　Lopez。　　They　had
evidently　been　written　in　a　great　hurry；　and　on　a　piece　of
paper　torn　from　his　pocket…book；　but　oh！　how　welcome　they
were。　　The　very　lack　of　formality　gave　to　them　a　certain　hurry
of　good　fortune：


〃May　you　and　yours　be　God's　care　for　many　years　to　come；
Senora！　　The　Mexicans　have　surrendered　the　Alamo；　and　asked
for　quarter。　　These　noble…minded　Americans　have　given　it。　　The
Senor　Doctor　will　bring　you　good　news。　　I　rejoice　with　you。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃LOPEZ　NAVARRO。〃


Death　and　captivity　had　been　turned　away　from　their　home；　and
the　first　impulse　of　these　pious；　simple…hearted　women　was　a
prayer　of　thanksgiving。　　Then　Antonia　remembered　the
uncomfortable　state　of　the　household；　and　the　probable
necessities　of　the　men　coming　back　from　mortal　strife　and
the　shadow　of　death。

She　found　that　the　news　had　already　changed　the　domestic
atmosphere。　　Every　servant　was　attending　to　his　duty。　　Every
one　professed　a　great　joy　in　the　expected　arrival　of　the
Senor。　　And　what　a　happy　impetus　the　hope　gave　to　her　own
hands！　　How　delightful　it　was　to　be　once　more　arranging　the
evening　meal；　and　brightening　the　rooms　with　fire　and　light！

Soon　after　dark　they　heard　the　swing　of　the　garden　gate；　the
tramp　of　rapid　footsteps；　and　the　high…pitched　voices　of
excited　men。　　The　door　was　flung　wide。　　The　Senora　forgot　that
it　was　cold。　　She　went　with　outstretched　arms　to　meet　her
husband。　　Dare　and　Luis　were　with　him。　　They　were　black　with
the　smoke　of　battle。　　Their　clothing　was　torn　and
bloodstained；　the　awful　light　of　the　fierce　struggle　was　still
upon　their　faces。　　But　they　walked　like　heroes；　and　the　glory
of　the　deeds　they　had　done　crowned　with　its　humanity；　made
them　appear　to　the　women　that　loved　them　but　a　little　lower
than　the　angels。

Doctor　Worth　held　his　wife　close　to　his　heart　and　kissed
her　tears　of　joy　away；　and　murmured　upon　her　lips　the
tenderest　words　a　woman　ever　hearsthe　words　a　man　never
perfectly　learns　till　he　has　loved　his　wife　through　a　quarter
of　a　century　of　change；　and　sorrow；　and　anxiety。　　And　what
could　Antonia　give　Dare　but　the　embrace；　the　kiss；　the　sweet
whispers　of　love　and　pride；　which　were　the　spontaneous　outcome
of　both　hearts？

There　was　a　moment's　hesitation　on　the　part　of　Luis　and
Isabel。　　The　traditions　of　caste　and　country；　the　social　bonds
of　centuries；　held　them。　　But　Isabel　snapped　them　asunder。　
She　looked　at　Luis。　　His　eyes　were　alight　with　love　for　her；
his　handsome　face　was　transfigured　with　the　nobility　of　the
emotions　that　possessed　him。　　In　spite　of　his　disordered
dress；　he　was　incomparably　handsome。　　When　he　said；　〃Angel
mio！〃　and　bent　to　kiss　her　hand；　she　lifted　her　lovely　face　to
his；　she　put　her　arms　around　his　neck；　she　cried　softly　on　his
breast；　whispering　sweet　little　diminutives　of　affection　and
pride。　　Such　hours　as　followed　are　very　rare　in　this　life；　and
they　are　nearly　always　bought　with　a　great　pricepaid　for　in
advance　with　sorrow　and　anxiety；　or　earned　by　such
faithful　watching　and　patient　waiting　as　touches　the　very
citadel　of　life。

The　men　were　hungry；　they　had　eaten　nothing　all　day。　　How
delicious　was　their　meal！　　How　happy　and　merry　it　made　the
Senora；　and　Antonia；　and　Isabel；　to　see　them　empty　dish　after
dish；　to　see　their　unaffected　enjoyment　of　the　warm　room；　and
bright　fire；　of　their　after…dinner　coffee　and　tobacco。　　There
was　only　one　drawback　to　the　joy　of　the　reunionthe　absence
of　Jack。

〃His　disappointment　will　be　greater　than　ours；〃　said　Jack's
father。　　〃To　be　present　at　the　freeing　of　his　native　city；　and

to　bring　his　first　laurels　to　his　mother；　was　the　brightest
dream　Jack　had。　　But　Jack　is　a　fine　rider；　and　is　not　a　very
fine　marksman；　so　it　was　decided　to　send　him　with　Houston　to
the　Convention。　　We　expected　him　back　before　the　attack　on　the
city　began。　　Indeed；　we　were　waiting　for　orders　from　the
Convention　to　undertake　it。〃

〃Then　you　fought　without　orders；　father？〃

〃Well；　yes；　Antoniain　a　way。　　Delays　in　war　are　as　dangerous
as　in　love。　　We　were　surrounded　by　dragoons；　who　scoured　the
country　in　every　direction　to　prevent　our　foraging。　　San
Antonio　HAD　to　be　taken。　　Soon　done　was　well　done。　　On　the
third　of　December　Colonel　Milam　stepped　in　front　of　the　ranks；
and　asked　if　two　hundred　of　the　men　would　go　with　him　and
storm　the　city。　　The　whole　eleven　hundred　stepped　forward；　and
gave　him　their　hands　and　their　wor