remember the alamo-第31节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Vengeance　without　mercy　is　to　be　dealt　out。　　You　are　the　wife
of　an　American　rebel；　I　cannot　promise　you　your　life；　or　your
honor；　if　you　remain　here。　　When　soldiers　are　drunk　with
blood；　and　women　fall　in　their　way；　God　have　mercy　upon　them！　
I　would　shield　even　your　rebellious　daughter　Antonia　from　such
a　fate。　　I　open　the　doors　of　the　convent　to　you　all。　　There
you　will　find　safety　and　peace。〃

Isabel　sat　with　white；　parted　lips　and　clasped　hands；
listening。　　Antonia　had　not　moved　or　spoken。　　But　with　the
last　words　the　priest　half…turned　to　her；　and　she　came　swiftly
to　her　mother's　side；　and　kissing　her；　whispered：

〃Remember　your　promise　to　my　father！　　Oh；　mi　madre；　do　not
leave　Isabel　and　me　alone！〃

〃You；　too；　dear　ones！　　We　will　all　go　together；　till　these
dreadful　days　are　past。〃

〃No；　no；　no！　　Isabel　and　I　will　not　go。　　We　will　die　rather。〃

〃The　Senorita　talks　like　a　foolish　one。　　Listen　again！　　When
Santa　Anna　comes　for　judgment；　it　will　be　swift　and　terrible。　
This　house　and　estate　will　be　forfeited。　　The　faithful　Church
may　hope　righteously　to　obtain　it。　　The　sisters　have　long
needed　a　good　home。　　The　convent　will　then　come　to　you。　　You
will　have　no　shelter　but　the　Church。　　Come　to　her　arms
ere　her　entreaties　are　turned　to　commands。〃

〃My　husband　told　me〃

〃Saints　of　God！　you　have　no　husband。　　He　has　forfeited　every
right　to　advise　you。　　Consider　that；　daughter；　and　if　you
trust　not　my　advice；　there　is　yet　living　your　honorable　uncle；
the　Marquis　de　Gonzaga。〃

Antonia　caught　eagerly　at　this　suggestion。　　It　at　least
offered　some　delay；　in　which　the　Senora　might　be　strengthened
to　resist　the　coercion　of　Fray　Ignatius。

〃Mother；　it　is　a　good　thought。　　My　great…uncle　will　tell　you
what　to　do；　and　my　father　will　not　blame　you　for　following　his
advice。　　Perhaps　even　he　may　offer　his　home。　　You　are　the
child　of　his　sister。〃

Fray　Ignatius　walked　towards　the　fire…place　and　stood　rubbing
slowly　his　long；　thin　hands　before　the　blaze；　while　the　Senora
and　her　daughters　discussed　this　proposal。　　The　half…frantic
mother　was　little　inclined　to　make　any　further　effort　to
resist　the　determined　will　of　her　old　confessor；　but　the　tears
of　Isabel　won　from　her　a　promise　to　see　her　uncle。

〃Then；　my　daughter；　lose　no　time。　　I　cannot　promise　you
many　days　in　which　choice　will　be　left　you。　　Go　this
afternoon；　and　to…morrow　I　will　call　for　your　decision。〃

It　was　not　a　visit　that　the　Senora　liked　to　make。　　She　had
deeply　offended　her　uncle　by　her　marriage；　and　their
intercourse　had　since　been　of　the　most　ceremonious　and
infrequent　kind。　　But　surely；　at　this　hour；　when　she　was　left
without　any　one　to　advise　her　steps；　he　would　remember　the　tie
of　blood　between　them。

He　received　her　with　more　kindness　than　she　had　anticipated。　
His　eyes　glittered　in　their　deep　sockets　when　she　related　her
extremity　and　the　priest's　proposal；　and　his　small　shrunken
body　quivered　with　excitement　as　he　answered：

〃Saints　and　angels！　　Fray　Ignatius　is　right　about　Santa　Anna。　
We　shall　see　that　he　will　make　caps　for　his　soldiers　out　of
the　skins　of　these　infidel　ingrates。　　But　as　for　going　into
the　convent；　I　know　not。　　A　miserable　marriage　you　made　for
yourself；　Maria。　　Pardon；　if　I　say　so　much！　　I　let　the　word
slip　always。　　I　was　never　one　to　bite　my　tongue。　　I　am　all　old
manvery　well；　come　here；　you　and　your　daughters；　till
the　days　of　blood　are　over。　　There　is　room　in　the　house；　and
a　few　comforts　in　it　also。　　I　have　some　power　with　Santa　Anna。　
He　is　a　great　mana　great　man！　　In　all　his　wars；　good　fortune
flies　before　him。〃

He　kissed　her　hands　as　he　opened　the　door；　and　then　went　back
to　the　fire；　and　bent；　muttering；　over　it：　　〃Giver　of　good！　a
true　Yturbide；　a　gentle　woman；　she　is　like　my　sister
Mercedesvery　like　her。　　These　poor　women　who　trust　me；　as　I
am　a　sinner　before　God；　I　am　unhappy　to　deceive　them。〃

Fray　Ignatius　might　have　divined　his　thoughts；　for　he　entered
at　the　moment；　and　said　as　he　approached　him：

〃You　have　done　right。　　The　soul　must　be　saved；　if　all　is　lost。　
This　is　not　a　time　for　the　friends　of　the　Church　and　of　Mexico
to　waver。　　The　Church　is　insulted　every　day　by　these　foreign
heretics〃

〃But　you　are　mistaken；　father；　the　Church　holds　up　her　head；
whatever　happens。　　Even　the　vice…regal　crown　is　not　lostthe
Church　has　cleft　it　into　mitres。〃

Fray　Ignatius　smiled；　but　there　was　a　curious　and　crafty　look
of　inquiry　on　his　face。　　〃The　city　is　turbulent；　Marquis；
and　there　is　undoubtedly　a　great　number　of　Mexicans　opposed　to
Santa　Anna。〃

〃Do　you　not　know　Mexicans　yet？　　They　would　be　opposed　to　God
Almighty；　rather　than　confess　they　were　well　governed。　　Bah！
the　genius　of　Mexico　is　mutiny。　　They　scarcely　want　a　leader
to　move　their　madness。　　They　rebel　on　any　weak　pretence。　　They
bluster　when　they　are　courted；　they　crouch　when　they　are
oppressed。　　They　are　fools　to　all　the　world　but　themselves。　
I　beg　the　Almighty　to　consider　in　my　favor；　that　some　over…
hasty　angel　misplaced　my　lot。　　I　should　have　been　born　inNew
York。〃

The　priest　knew　that　he　was　talking　for　irritation；　but　he　was
too　politic　to　favor　the　mood。　　He　stood　on　the　hearth　with
his　hands　folded　behind　him；　and　with　a　delightful　suavity
turned　the　conversation　upon　the　country　rather　than　the
people。　　It　was　a　glorious　day　in　the　dawn　of　spring。　　The
tenderest　greens；　the　softest　blues；　the　freshest　scents；　the
clearest　air；　the　most　delightful　sunshine　were　everywhere。　
The　white　old　town；　with　its　picturesque　crowds；　its　murmur　of
voices　and　laughter；　its　echoes　of　fife　and　drum；　its
loves　and　its　hatreds；　was　at　his　feet；　and；　far　off；　the　hazy
glory　of　the　mountains；　the　greenness　and　freshness　of
Paradise；　the　peace　and　freedom　of　the　vast；　unplanted　places。　
The　old　marquis　was　insensibly　led　to　contemplate　the　whole；
and；　in　so　doing；　to　put　uppermost　that　pride　of　country　which
was　the　base　of　every　feeling　susceptible　to　the　priest's
influence。

〃Such　a　pleasant　city；　Marquis！　　Spanish　monks　founded　it。　
Spanish　and　Mexican　soldiers　have　defended　it。　　Look　at　its
fine　churches　and　missions；　its　lovely　homes；　and　blooming
gardens。〃

〃It　is　also　all　our　own；　father。　　It　was　but　yesterday　I　said
to　one　of　those　insolent　Americans　who　was　condescending　to
admire　it：　　‘Very　good；　Senor；　and；　if　you　deign　to　believe
me；　it　was　not　brought　from　New　York。　　Such　as　you　see　it；　it
was　made　by　ourselves　here　at　San　Antonio。'　　Saints　in　heaven！
the　fellow　laughed　in　my　face。　　We　were　mutually　convinced　of
each　other's　stupidity。〃

〃Ah；　how　they　envy　us　the　country！　　And　you；　Marquis；　who　have
traveled　over　the　world；　you　can　imagine　the　reason？〃

〃Father；　I　will　tell　you　the　reason；　it　is　the　craving　in　the
heart　to　find　again　the　lost　Eden。　　The　Almighty　made　Texas
with　full　hands。　　When　He　sets　his　heart　on　a　man；　he　is
permitted　to　live　there。〃

〃Grace　of　God！　　You　speak　the　truth。　　Shall　we　then　give　up
the　gift　of　His　hand　to　heretics　and　infidels？〃

〃I　cannot　imagine　it。〃

〃Then　every　one　must　do　the　work　he　can　do。　　Some　are　to　slay
the　unbelievers；　others；　are　to　preserve　the　children　of　the
Church。　　Your　niece　and　her　two　daughters　will　be　lost　to　the
faith；　unless　you　interfere　for　their　salvation。　　Of　you　will
their　souls　be　required。〃

〃By　Saint　Joseph；　it　is　a　duty　not　in　agreement　with　my
desire！　　I；　who　have　carefully　abstained　from　the　charge　of　a
wife　and　daughters　of　my　own。〃

〃It　is　but　for　a　day　or　two；　Marquis；　until　the　matter　is
arranged。　　The　convent　is　the　best　of　all　refuges　for　women　so
desolate。〃

The　marquis　did　not　answer。　　He　lifted　a　book　and　began　to
read；　and　Fray　Ignatius　watched　him　furtively。

In　the　mean　time　the　Senora　had　reached　her　home。　　She
was　pleased　with　the　result　of　her　visit。　　A　little　kindness
easily　imposed　upon　this　childlike　woman；　and　she　trusted　in
any　one　who　was　pleasant　to　her。

〃You　may　believe　me；　Antonia；〃　she　said；　〃my　uncle　was　in　a
temper　most　unusual。　　He　kissed　my　hands。　　He　offered　me　his
protection。　　That　is　a　great　thing；　I　assure　you。　　And　your
father　cannot　object　to　our　removal　there。〃

Antonia　knew　not　what　answer　to　make。　　Her　heart　misgave　her。　
Why　had　Fray　Ignatius　made　the　proposal？　　She　was　sure　it　was
part　of　an　arrangement；　and　not　a　spontaneous　suggestion　of
the　moment。　　And　she　was　equally　sure　that　any　preconcerted
plan；　having　Fray　Ignatius　for　its　author；　must　be　inimical　to
them。

Her　mother's　entry　had　not　awakened　Isabel；　who　lay　asleep
upon　a　sofa。　　The　Senora　was　a　little　nettled　at　the
circumstance。　　〃She　is　a　very　child！　　A　visit　of　such
importance！　　And　she　is　off　to　the　land　of　dreams　while　I　am
fatiguing　myself！　　I　wish　indeed　that　she　had　more
consideration！〃　　Then　Antonia　brought　her　chocolate；　and；　as
she　drank　it　and　smoked　her　cigarito；　she　chatted　in　an
almost　eager　way　about　the　persons　she　had　seen。

〃Going　towards　the　Plaza；　I　met　judge　Valdez。　　I　stopped　the
carriage；　and　sent　my　affections　to　the　Senora。　　Would　you
believe　it？　　He　answered　me　as　if　his　mouth　were　full　of　snow。　
His　disagreeable　behavior　was　exactly　copied　by　the　Senora
Silvestre　and　her　daughter　Esperanza。　　Dona