remember the alamo-第25节

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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。　
Like　you；　she　married　one　not　of　her　race　and　not　of　her
religion。　　Even　when　God　had　taken　him　from　her；　she　chose
to　remain　with　his　peopleto　leave　her　own　people　and
abide　with　his　mother。　For　this　act　God　blessed　her；
and　all　nations　in　all　ages　have　honored　her。〃

〃Ruth！　　Ruth！　　Ruth！　　What　has　Ruth　to　do　with　the　question？　
Presumptuous　one！　　Ruth　was　a　heathen　womana　Moabitea　race
ten　times　accursed。〃

〃Pardon；　father。　　Ruth　was　the　ancestress　of　our　blessed
Saviour；　and　of　the　Virgin　Mary。〃

〃Believe　not　the　wicked　one；　Senora？　　She　is　blinded　with
false　knowledge。　　She　is　a　heretic。　　I　have　long　suspected　it。　
She　has　not　been　to　confession　for　nine　months。〃

〃You　wrong　me；　father。　　Every　day；　twice　a　day；　I　confess　my
sins　humbly。〃

〃Chito！　　You　are　in　outrageous　sin。　　But；　then；　what　else？　　I
hear；　indeed；　that　you　read　wicked　bookseven　upon　your　knees
you　read　them。〃

〃I　read　my　Bible；　father。〃

〃Bring　it　to　me。　　How　could　a　child　like　you　read　the　Bible？　
It　is　a　book　for　bi