Remember the Alamo

f Mexico, and s

freedom who w

ople for a ne

hreats or favo

isper, or a t

spirit or al

o strict Hono

pomp and pleasu

ces, and affa

torms and tempes

gicians in the

settled basis

oved, the mig

nocence, con

y arrayed, i

honor? 'Tis th

ch the human m

he household. There are the maimed affections, the slain hopes, the broken ties of love. And before a

choly sleepiness in it; the mockingbirds had ceased singing; the chirping insects had

room where Jack and Dare were sleeping. Dare did not move; J

, fat

o get up, Jac

ng very little and almost in whispers; and then the doctor went with them to the stable. He helped Jack to saddle his horse. He found a sa

ss you for me," and then the lad broke fairly down. The moment had come in which love could find no utterance, and must act. He flung his arm around his father's neck and kissed him. And the father wept also, and yet s

he unusual noises of that early hour, and had divined the cause of them. She looked at Rachela. The woman had fallen into the dead sleep of exhaustion, and she would not have to parry her objections and

he very lattice at which she stood: In the dim light it had a strange pallor. The misty air blurred and made all indistinct. It w

fix before her aching eyes. Yet she could not say her usual prayers. She could not remember anything but Jack's entreaty-"Kiss me, mi madre! Bless me, mi madre!" Sh

a had put some sprays of rosemary in his hat band "to bring good, and keep away evil on a journey"; and as he turned and lifted his hat he put his lips to them. H

his courage had failed, or that he had lost a tittle of his convictions, but he was depressed by the uncertaint

the doctor went to his office again, and Antonia arranged the meals and received company, and did her

did not go to church, but Fray Ignatius spent a great deal of time with her; and his

int. It would have been more than a venial sin, if you had kissed and blessed a r

love. Neither prayers nor penance availed her. She wanted to see Jack. She wanted to kiss him a hundred times, and bless him with

each open between himself and his wife-that he thought it a point of religious duty to do so. He knew that he was gradually isolating the wretched woman from her

advices from Mexico. General Cos, the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, was now in command, and it was said immense reinforcements were hourly looked for. T

and that if the Americans attacked San Antonio, they would receive active sympathy. Party feeling was no longer controllable. Men suspected each other. Duels were of

a with Senor Lopez Navarro. A Mexican soldier, with his yellow cloak streaming out behind him, galloped madly towards the Alamo and left the news t

s one, "Stephen Austin has escaped, and he arrived at Gonzales at the very moment

or Doctor, your arms. General Cos hopes, in the pres

n the present extremity my arm

great affliction to m

uld have taken him forcibly from the military. A great crowd followed him to the gates of the Alamo. For there was scarcely a family in S

tonia seen him walk except with thoughtful and deliberate steps. She wondered at his appearan

as sorry for the Senora, and that he would have been glad if the sins of her husband could have

s not in the saints," he muttered

e, for unless it was a special visit, he never called so near the Angelus. Still, it is difficult to throw off a habit of obedience formed in e

oor. Rachela knelt outside it, telling her rosary. She stolidly kept her place, and a certain instinct for a moment prevented Antonia inter

chela. What is the m

nd they were scattered over the room as she had flung them from her hands in her frantic walk about it. The large shell comb that confined her hair was trodden to pieces, and its long coils had fallen about her face and shoulders. He

im right! He must carry arms! HE, TOO! when it was forb

his is the hand of God. W

her arms around her mother with the wor

be sent to the mines. I told him so! I told him so

e, Fray Ignatius? Why h

cold face. He did not like her. He f

eason. A good citizen obeys the

her, I canno

end of mercy comes. As he persisted in wearing ar

Antonia. "What right has any one to take my father's arm

l Santa

tyrant and a thief. I car

! Shamel

her mother's hands in her own, and led h

ome here instantly. The rosary is not the thing, now. You ought to be attending to the Senora. Get her some valerian

eretic, has now found her out. It i

spensation from one

e myself! I accuse myself! Oh, wr

. Do not desert him when he is in the power of a human tiger. My God, mother! let us think of something to be done for his help! I will

ing not to be spoken of. This is

here and comfort her." Isabel put her cheek to her mother's; she murmured caressing words; she kissed her fac

retic, that trouble would come of it. Very well, it has come." Then like a flash a new thought invaded his mind-If the Senor Doctor disappeared

s time she went close to him, and bravely looked straight into his eyes. Their scornful gleam sent a chill to her

er Isabel to recite for her mother's pardon and comfort a certain number of aves and paternosters. Antonia went with him to the door, and ere he left he blessed

the darkness, for a norther had sprung up, and the cold was severe. She only glanced into the pleasant parlor where the table was laid for dinner, and a great fire of cedar logs was throw

n, and her mother frantic with a loss which she was warned it was sinful to mourn over. Antonia had a soul made for extremities and not afraid to

s all that Senor Houston's doing. She had an assurance of that." She invoked a thousand maledictions on him. She recalled, with passionate reproaches, Jack's infidelity to her and his God and his country. Her anger passed from one subject to another constantly, finding in all, even in the lukewarmness o

God and the saints!" she cried. "What are you weeping for? Will tears do any good? Do I weep? G

to be just as unendurable. She would be alone. Not even Rachela would she have near her. She put out all the lights but th

which had continued ever since she had sent her boy away without a word of love. In the dim corridor outside she sat still, listening for any noise or movement which might demand help or

together" over their trouble, and spicing their evening gossip with the strange thing that had happened to the Senor Doctor. She k

s. Ere she had time to wonder at it, her father came in sight. There was a shocking change in his air and appearance, b

upon the table. She was sure that he would need it, and she believe

like had failed her. Her rebellious grief filled every corner of her heart. She understood that some one had entered the room, and she thought

ar

ickly and stoo

r. And also her terror; for his face was white as death,

ve tortured me! I have nearly died! Fray

and hesitating. If he had taken her in his ar

aster passions, tyrannical and insatiable-they would

held my hands and robbed me-robbed me of my manhood and honor! I begged them to shoot me ere they did it, and

i Roberto!

myself back again. Maria, Maria, until then,

rest! It is n

wed me my duty-my soul urged me to do it. I deserve

nness, the reality, and the intensity of the quiet rage before her. She was completely ma

aria. We have been very happy tog

sband! My soul! My

ke them a hundredfold from those w

re these Americans to you?

brothers-my sons. My mot

nd

knows how well I love you; but we must part now, at l

Where

to join Gene

tto in his heart! Over the white hilt I would bury it! I would wash my hands in his blood, and

Any Indian that I meet can scalp me. Do you understand now what disarming means, Maria? If I

a gun. Oh, if you must go, do not go unarmed! There a

ny other man? No, no! I must win back my arms, be

tender little Spanish words that meant, oh, so much, to the wretched woman!-w

shrieking like a child in an extremity of physical anguish. But he did not blame her. Her impetuosities, her unreasonable extravagances, were

his chair by the parlor fire. She gave him food and wine. She listened patiently, but with a living sympathy,

t, I hid in my own room the rifle, the powder and the shot, which were in yo

o her, Antonia never forgot. They sang in her heart like music, and led her on through many a difficult path. The conversation then

stable, and after one solemn five minutes with his daughter, Robert Worth rode away into the midni

and home; leaving behind him th

sweet, still

hand face e

ion and country. Antonia and Isabel stood hand in hand at the same lattice from which the Senora had watched her son away, and

heir eyes throbbed as they gazed upward at the grand arch, sprinkled with suns and worlds. Suddenly into the tranquil spac

th jewels, and soldiers in scarlet and gold, were chatting through the graceful movements of the danza, or executing the more brilliant Jota

group of officers stepped together, and a great wave of melodious song, solemn and triumphant, thrilled the night. It was the national hymn.

," whispered Isabel, as a resonan

summons! The bl

veins, and to ve

yoke? who bend

ation, the answer came in a c

ll bend, no

ears sends her s

ie, for our land

THEY are in the right-THEY

hat could she answer? And when she remembered the dear fugitive, riding alone through the midnight-riding now