Remember the Alamo

e to their own

e because they

tinues what th

child imposes

RY

called up

nt, to which he

good or bad f

s a lover;

ightness, like

heat of confli

de; and sees w

nexpected c

will, is equa

DSWO

e, let u

through the wo

us like a la

tted Americans to make homes in their country; now they wanted not only to build heretic churches and sell heretic bibles, but also to govern Texas after their own fashion." From a Mexican point of view the American settlers were a

heir Irish cook quarrelling with their Mexican servants, only represented a state of things nearly universal.

was a free pass through the dolorous pains of purgatory. For the priesthood foresaw that the triumph of the American element meant the triumph of freedom of conscience, and the abolition of their own despotism. To them the struggle was one involving all the privil

the houses; men were solemly{sic} swearing allegiance to Santa Anna, or flying by night to the camp of the Americans; life and death were

at their own doors. They wanted the quarrel fought out on their own streets. Business took a secondary place. Men fingered weapons and dreamed of blood

t became necessary for her to assume control over the household. She had promised him to do so, and she was

a few words from the priest set affairs in a far pleasanter light to her. She was a true Catholic; the saints sent the heretic doctor to help. It was therefore the saints to whom gratitude was due. Had she not earned her good wage? And would not Don Angel Sandoval give her a still la

faithful beyond the line of their own interest-that it is, indeed, against certain primary laws of nature to expect it.

them by the splendor of her dress, and her complacent air of happiness. Antonia's America

teward; "and as for the Senorita Isabel, a little trouble will be good for her! Holy Mary! the way she has been pampered and petted! It is an absurdity

le cannot escape from the mood of mind they habitually indulge, and from the animus of the words they habitually use; and Antonia felt an

to her steward, and to Rachela; while the duties that more especially belonged to her, had been fulfilled by her husband and by Antonia. In many respects she was but

afar off the marching and movements of soldiers; the blare of military music; the faint echoes of hurrahing multitudes; but there was no one to give her any certain information. Still, she guessed something from the anger of the prie

ement. And steam and electricity had not then annihilated distance and abolished suspense. She could but

f herself and her daughters to the convent. His offer to take charge of the Worth residencia and estate was in her conviction a proposal to rob them of all rights in it. She felt certain that whatever the Church once grasped in its iron hand, it would ever retain. And both to Isabel and herself the thought o

pered to her childhood, of dreadful fates reserved for contumacious and disobedient women. Whe

be alone with the Senora. Fray Ignatius had particularly warned Rachela to prevent this. He was gradually bringing the unhappy woman into what he called "a heavenly mind"-the influence of her daughters, he was sure, would be that of wor

s. Then Antonia warned and strengthened Isabel. She told her all her fears. She persuaded her to control her wilfulness, to be obedient, and to assume the childlike thoughtlessness which best satis

be irreligious,' and then he made the cross on his breast, as if I had put a bad thought into his heart. We are afraid all day,

do not repine to Rachela or Fray Ignatius. That is

e could I offer to His Divine Majesty, if I sp

are our friends;

gives me a shiver when he looks at me;

r. You need not

ernally hate her; for I am sure

ly gather a more decided and a bitterer tone. December, that had always been such a month of happiness, bright with Christmas expectations and Christmas joys, came in with a terribly severe, wet norther. The great log f

. But it brought a compensation. Fray Ignatius did not leave the Mission comforts; and Rachela could not bear to go prowling about the corridors and passages.

rs away. In that hour, if Fray Ignatius had known it, they undid, in a great measure, the work to which he had given more than a month of patient and deeply-reflective labor. For with the gi

heir own future. For this confidence had shown them how firmly the refuge of the convent had been planted in the anxious ideas of the Senora. Fortuna

y, queridita?"

n the convent; and I do not want to go there even in a dream. Do you know Mother Teresa? W

to make us a cup of te

it were c

n your cup, and something good to eat also. There, my darling, put your

hen 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 guav

ust half fill my cup with those little blocks of sugar-quite half fill it,

e 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, wonde

is sleeve; it was scarcely wet. His dress was splendid; if he had been going to a tertullia of the hig

ecrets a few minutes, and I will go for mi madre. O yes! She will c

dy, Antonia; though, indeed, I am

ying among the large pillows of her gilded bed, wide awake. Her black eyes were fix

and your gown, and your mantilla-no, no, no, do not call Rachela. Luis has news of my father, and of

fort to delay-to call Rachela-to bring Luis to her room. In ten minutes she was ready. She

arth; 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

yes that asked him so many questions. He took two letters from his pockets and gave them to the Senora. They were from her husban

g wedge, the weather. "You came through the storm, Luis? Ye

ught for the feast of St. James. He lent it to me, for I assure you that my own clothing w

er? You can not ha

n 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 th

nor Doctor lately; Lu

him at n

! But that is

the Americans is but a fe

of God!

It is the grace of Go

e been everywhere pulling down churches, and granting martyrdom to the

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 Seno

e. So splendid a man I never saw before. So tall, so handsome, so gallant, s

r liberty; but when they wanted a king and a dictator he resigned his commis

ittle flash of her old temper, "that Santa Anna repr

lf. "I am her dutiful son,

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.

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 sweetes

ith a dark, malicious face upon the happy group. "Senorita Isabel!" she screamed; "but this is abominabl

it with as little courtesy. "You were not called," he said, wit

also-you will die. You that are

ow and spiritual sentimentality which had held her in bondage. She took the

not called

norita

r mother's care! d

a, Fray I

n! But this is i

impossible after this interruption to recall the happy spirit dismissed by it; and Rachela had the consolation, as she muttered beside the fire in

nor Doctor?" questioned the Senora, anxious

n the city, no American can safely enter it. For this reason, when it was necessary to give Lopez Navarro certain instructions, I

even you are

e the hand of God! Luis Alveda knows wh

ushed voice, "that there are to be no

ys ago, and am still

ow the man yet! I heard

e of"; and Luis plucked his mustache fiercely

of pride that conquered her desire to weep. "How brave he

t nothing from her, not even sympathy or flattery; and, in a curt dismission, managed to make her feel the immeasurable distance between a high-born lady of the house of Flores, and a poor manola that she had

e that her husband was near at hand inspired her with courage. She went to sleep assuring herself "that not even Fray Ignatius should again speak evil of her beloved, who never thought of her except with a l

mortal sin to think differently from Santa Anna"-and then mor

understood that this woman of small intelligence had also the unreasoning partisanship and the implacable sense of anger which generally accompa