remember the alamo-第9节

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I　can　almost　forgive　her　now。　　Had　she　worn　the　French　frock
I　would　not　have　forgiven　her。　　I　would　never　have　yielded
again；　no；　not　even　if　the　Senorita　Antonia　should　offer　me
her　scarlet　Indian　shawl　worked　in　gold。　　I　was　always　a
foolHoly　Mother　forgive　me！　　Well；　then；　I　used　to　have　my
own　loversplenty　of　themhandsome　young　arrieros　and
rancheros：　there　was　Tadeo；　a　valento　of　the　first　class：　and
Buffaandwell；　I　will　sleep；　they　do　not　remember　me；　I
dare　say；　and　I　have　forgotten　their　names。〃

In　the　mean　time　the　sisters　sat　down　beneath　a　great　fig…
tree。　　No　sunshine；　no　shower；　could　penetrate　its　thick
foliage。　　The　wide　space　beneath　the　spreading　branches　was　a
little　parlor；　cool　and　sweet；　and　full　of　soft；　green　lights；
and　the　earthy　smell　of　turf；　and　the　wandering　scents　of　the
garden。

Isabel's　eyes　shone　with　an　incomparable　light。　　She　was　pale；
but　exquisitely　beautiful；　and　even　her　hands　and　feet
expressed　the　idea　of　expectation。　　Antonia　had　a　piece　of
needlework　in　her　hand。　　She　affected　the　calmness　she　did
not　feel；　for　her　heart　was　trembling　for　the　tender　little
heart　beating　with　so　much　love　and　anxiety　beside　her。

But　Isabel's　divination；　however　arrived　at；　was　not　at　fault。　
In　a　few　moments　Don　Luis　lightly　leaped　the　hedge；　and
without　a　moment's　hesitation　sought　the　shadow　of　the　fig…
tree。　　As　he　approached；　Antonia　looked　at　him　with　a　new
interest。　　It　was　not　only　that　he　loved　Isabel；　but　that
Isabel　loved　him。　　She　had　given　him　sympathy　before；　now　she
gave　him　a　sister's　affection。

〃How　handsome　he　is！〃　she　thought。　　〃How　gallant　he　looks　in
his　velvet　and　silver　and　embroidered　jacket！　　And　how　eager
are　his　steps！　　And　how　joyful　his　face！　　He　is　the　kind　of
Romeo　that　Shakespeare　dreamed　about！　　Isabel　is　really　an
angel　to　him。　　He　would　really　die　for　her。　　What　has　this
Spanish　knight　of　the　sixteenth　century　to　do　in　Texas　in　the
nineteenth　century？〃

He　answered　her　mental　question　in　his　own　charming　way。　　He
was　so　happy；　so　radiantly　happy；　so　persuasive；　so
compelling；　that　Antonia　granted　him；　without　a　word；　the
favor　his　eyes　asked　for。　　And　the　lovers　hardly　heard　the
excuse　she　made；　they　understood　nothing　of　it；　only　that　she
would　be　reading　in　the　myrtle　walk　for　one　hour；　and；　by　so
doing；　would　protect　them　from　intrusion。

One　whole　hour！　　Isabel　had　thought　the　promise　a　perfect
magnificence　of　opportunity｛。？？｝　　But　how　swiftly　it　went。　
Luis　had　not　told　her　the　half　of　his　love　and　his　hopes。　　He
had　been　forced　to　speak　of　politics　and　business；　and　every
such　word　was　just　so　many　stolen　from　far　sweeter　words
words　that　fell　like　music　from　his　lips；　and　were　repeated
with　infinite　power　from　his　eyes。　　Low　words；　that　had　the
pleading　of　a　thousand　voices　in　them；　words　full　of　melody；
thrilling　with　romance；　poetical；　and　yet　real　as　the　sunshine
around　them。

In　lovers　of　a　colder　race；　bound　by　conventional　ties；　and　a
dress　rigorously　divested　of　every　picturesque　element；　such
wooing　might　have　appeared　ridiculous；　but　in　Don　Luis；　the
most　natural　thing　about　it　was　its　extravagance。　　When　he
knelt　at　the　feet　of　his　beloved　and　kissed　her　hands；　the
action　was　the　unavoidable　outcome　of　his　temperament。　　When
he　said　to　her；　〃Angel　mio！　you　are　the　light　of　my
darkness；　the　perfume　of　all　flowers　that　bloom　for　me；　the
love　of　my　loves；　my　life；　my　youth；　my　lyre；　my　star；　had　I
a　thousand　souls　with　which　to　love；　I　would　give　them　all　to
you！〃　he　believed　every　word　he　uttered；　and　he　uttered　every
word　with　the　passion　of　a　believer。

He　stirred　into　life　also　in　the　heart　of　Isabel　a　love　as
living　as　his　own。　　In　that　hour　she　stepped　outside　all　of
her　childhood's　immaturities。　　She　became　a　woman。　　She
accepted　with　joyful　tears　a　woman's　lot　of　love　and　sorrow。　
She　said　to　Antonia：

〃Luis　was　in　my　heart　before；　now；　I　have　put　him　in　my　soul。　
My　soul　will　never　die。　　So　I　shall　never　forget　himnever
cease　to　love　him。〃

Rachela　faithfully　kept　her　agreement。　　For　one　hour　she　was
asleep　to　all　her　charge　did；　and　Isabel　was　in　her　own　room
when　the　precious　sixty　minutes　were　over。　　Happy？　　So　happy
that　her　soul　seemed　to　have　pushed　her　body　aside；　as　a　thing
not　to　be　taken　into　account。　　She　sang　like　a　bird　for　very
gladsomeness。　　It　was　impossible　for　her　to　be　still；　and　as
she　went　about　her　room　with　little　dancing；　balancing
movements　of　her　hands　and　feet；　Antonia　knew　that　they　were
keeping　their　happy　rhythmic　motion　to　the　melody　love　sang　in
her　heart。

And　she　rejoiced　with　her　little　sister；　though　she　was　not
free　from　a　certain　regret　for　her　concession；　for　it　is　the
after…reckoning　with　conscience　that　is　so　disagreeably　strict
and　uncomfortable。　　And　yet；　why　make　an　element　of　anger　and
suspicion　between　Isabel　and　her　mother　when　there　appeared　to
be　no　cause　to　do　so？　　Don　Luis　was　going　away。　　He　was　in
disgrace　with　his　familyalmost　disinherited；　the　country　was
on　the　point　of　war；　and　its　fortunes　might　give　him　some
opportunities　no　one　now　foresaw。　　But　if　Isabel's　mother　had
once　declared　that　she　would　〃never　sanction　the　marriage；〃
Antonia　knew　that；　however　she　might　afterwards　regret　her
haste　and　prejudice；　she　would　stand　passionately　by　her
decision。　　Was　it　not　better；　then；　to　prevent　words　being
said　which　might　cause　sorrow　and　regret　in　the　future？

But　as　regarded　Isabel's　father；　no　such　reason　existed。　　The
happiness　of　his　children　was　to　him　a　more　sacred　thing
than　his　own　prejudices。　　He　liked　Don　Luis；　and　his
friendship　with　his　mother；　the　Senora　Alveda；　was　a　long　and
tried　one。　　The　youth's　political　partialities；　though
bringing　him　at　present　into　disgrace；　were　such　as　he　himself
had　largely　helped　to　form。　　Antonia　was　sure　that　her　father
would　sympathize　with　Isabel；　and　excuse　in　her　the　lapse　of
duty　which　had　given　his　little　girl　so　much　happiness。　　Yes；
it　would　be　right　to　tell　him　every　thing；　and　she　did　not
fear　but　Isabel　would　agree　in　her　decision。

At　this　moment　Rachela　entered。　　The　Senora　wished　her
daughters　to　call　upon　the　American　manteau…maker　for　her；　and
the　ride　in　the　open　carriage　to　the　Plaza　would　enable　them
to　bow　to　their　acquaintances；　and　exhibit　their　last　new
dresses　from　New　Orleans。　　Rachela　was　already　prepared　for
the　excursion；　and　she　was　not　long　in　attiring　Isabel。

〃To　be　sure；　the　siesta　has　made　you　look　charming　this
afternoon；〃　she　said；　looking　steadily　into　the　girl's
beaming；　blushing　face；　〃and　this　rose　silk　is　enchanting。　
Santa　Maria；　how　I　pity　the　officers　who　will　have　the
great　fortune　to　see　you　this　afternoon；　and　break　their
hearts　for　the　sight！　　But　you　must　not　look　at　them；　mark！　
I　shall　tell　the　Senora　if　you　do。　　It　is　enough　if　they　look
at　you。　　And　the　American　way　of　the　Senorita　Antonia；　which
is　to　bow　and　smile　to　every　admirer；　it　will　but　make　more
enchanting　the　becoming　modesty　of　the　high…born　Mexicaine。〃

〃Keep　your　tongue　still；　Rachela。　　Ah！　if　you　strike　me；　I
will　go　to　my　father。　　He　will　not　permit　it。　　I　am　not　a
child　to　be　struck　and　scolded；　and　told　when　to　open　and　shut
my　eyes。　　I　shall　do　as　my　sister　does；　and　the　Holy　Mother
herself　will　be　satisfied　with　me！〃

〃Chito！　　Chito！！　　You　wicked　one！　　Oh；　Maria　Santissima；　cast
on　this　child　a　look　of　compassion！　　The　American　last　night
has　bewitched　her！　　I　said　that　he　looked　like　a　Jew。〃

〃I　am　not　wicked；　Rachela；　and　gracias　a　Dios；　there　is　no
Inquisition　now　to　put　the　question！〃

Isabel　was　in　a　great　passion；　or　the　awful　word　that　had
made　lips　parch　and　blanch　to　utter　it　for　generations　would
never　have　been　launched　at　the　offending　woman's　head。　　But
its　effect　was　magical。　　Rachela　put　up　her　hands　palm
outwards；　as　if　to　shield　herself　from　a　blow；　and　then
without　another　word　stooped　down　and　tied　the　satin　sandals
on　Isabel's　restless　feet。　　She　was　muttering　prayers　during
the　whole　action；　for　Isabel　had　been　quick　to　perceive　her
advantage；　and　was　following　it　up　by　a　defiant　little
monologue　of　rebellious　speeches。

In　the　midst　of　this　scene；　Antonia　entered。　　She　was　dressed
for　the　carriage；　and　the　carriage　stood　at　the　door　waiting；
but　her　face　was　full　of　fear；　and　she　said；　hurriedly：

〃Rachela；　can　you　not　make　some　excuse　to　my　mother　which　will
permit　us　to　remain　at　home？　　Hark！　　There　is　something　wrong
in　the　city。〃

In　a　moment　the　three　women　were　on　the　balcony；　intently；
anxiously　listening。　　Then　they　were　aware　of　a　strange
confusion　in　the　subtle；　amber　atmosphere。　　It　was　as　if　they
heard　the　noise　of　battle　afar　off；　and　Rachela；　without　a
word；　glided　away　to　the　Senora。　　Isabel　and　Antonia　stood
hand　in　hand；　listening　to　the　vague　trouble　and　the　echo　of
harsh；　grating　voices；　mingled　with　the　blare　of　clarions；　the
roll　of　drums；　and　the　rattle　of　scattering　rifle…shots。　　Yet
the　noises　were　so　blended　together；　so　indistinct；　so
strangely　expressive　of　both　laughter　and　defiance；　that　it
was　impossible　to　identify　or　describe　them。

Suddenly　a　horseman　came　at　a　rapid　pace　towards　the　house；
and　Anto