remember the alamo-第36节

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forward　the　lagging　wheels　of　destiny。

A　long　fanfare　of　trumpets；　a　roll　of　drums；　a　stirring　march
of　warlike　melody；　startled　them　out　of　the　lethargic　tedium
of　exhausted　hopes　and　fears。　　〃It　is　Santa　Anna！〃　said
Antonia；　and　though　they　durst　not　stand　up；　they　drew　closer
to　the　balustrade　and　watched　for　the　approaching　army。　　Is
there　any　woman　who　can　resist　that　nameless　emotion　which
both　fires　and　rends　the　heart　in　the　presence　of　great
military　movements？　　Antonia　was　still　and　speechless；　and
white　as　death。　　Isabel　watched　with　gleaming　eyes　and
set　lips。　　The　Senora's　excitement　was　unmistakably　that　of
exultant　national　pride。

Santa　Anna　and　his　staff…officers　were　in　front。　　They　passed
too　rapidly　for　individual　notice；　but　it　was　a　grand　moving
picture　of　handsome　men　in　scarlet　and　goldof　graceful
mangas　and　waving　plumes；　and　bright…colored　velvet　capes；　of
high…mettled　horses；　and　richly…adorned　Mexican　saddles；
aqueras　of　black　fur；　and　silver　stirrups；　of　thousands　of
common　soldiers；　in　a　fine　uniform　of　red　and　blue；　with
antique　brazen　helmets　gleaming　in　the　sun；　and　long　lances；
adorned　with　tri…colored　streamers。　　They　went　past　like　a
vivid；　wonderful　dreamlike　the　vision　of　an　army　of
mediaeval　knights。

In　a　few　minutes　the　tumult　of　the　advancing　army　was
increased　tenfold　by　the　clamor　of　the　city　pouring　out　to
meet　it。　　The　clashing　bells　from　the　steeples；　the　shouting
of　the　populace；　the　blare　of　trumpets　and　roll　of　drums；　the
lines　of　churchmen　and　officials　in　their　grandest　dresses；　of
citizens　of　every　age；the　indescribable　human　murmur
altogether　it　was　a　scene　whose　sensuous　splendor
obliterated　for　a　time　the　capacity　of　impressionable
natures　to　judge　rightly。

But　Antonia　saw　beyond　all　this　brave　show　the　ridges　of　red
war；　and　a　noble　perversity　of　soul　made　her　turn　her　senses
inward。　　Then　her　eyes　grew　dim；　and　her　heart　rose　in　pitying
prayer　for　that　small　band　of　heroes　standing　together　for
life　and　liberty　in　the　grim　Alamo。　　No　pomp　of　war　was
theirs。　　They　were　isolated　from　all　their　fellows。　　They　were
surrounded　by　their　enemies。　　No　word　of　sympathy　could　reach
them。　　Yet　　she　knew　they　would　stand　like　lions　at　bay；　that
they　would　give　life　to　its　last　drop　for　liberty；　and　rather
than　be　less　than　freemen；　they　would　prefer　not　to　be　at　all。



CHAPTER　XIV。

THE　FALL　OF　THE　ALAMO。

　　　　　　　　〃The　combat　deepens。　　On；　ye　brave！
　　　　　　　　　Who　rush　to　glory　or　the　grave。〃

　　　　　　　　〃To　all　the　sensual　world　proclaim：
　　　　　　　　　One　crowded　hour　of　glorious　life
　　　　　　　　　Is　worth　an　age　without　a　name。〃

　　　　　　　　〃Gashed　with　honorable　scars；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Low　in　Glory's　lap　they　lie；
　　　　　　　　　Though　they　fell；　they　fell　like　stars；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Streaming　splendor　through　the　sky。〃

The　passing…by　of　Santa　Anna　and　the　Mexican　army；　though　it
had　been　hourly　expected　for　nearly　three　days；　was　an　event
which　threw　the　Senora　and　her　daughters　into　various
conditions　of　mental　excitement。　　They　descended　from　the　roof
to　the　Senora's　room；　where　they　could　move　about　and　converse
with　more　freedom。　　For　the　poor　lady　was　quite　unable　to
control　her　speech　and　actions；　and　was　also　much　irritated　by
Antonia's　more　composed　manner。　　She　thought　it　was　want　of
sympathy。

〃How　can　you　take　things　with　such　a　blessed　calmness；〃　she
asked；　angrily。　　〃But　it　is　the　way　of　the　Americans；　no
doubt；　who　must　have　everything　for　prudence。　　Sensible！　
Sensible！　　Sensible！　that　is　the　tune　they　are　forever
playing；　and　you　dance　to　it　like　a　miracle。〃

〃My　dear　mother；　can　we　do　any　good　by　exclaiming　and
weeping？〃

〃Holy　Virgin！　　Perhaps　not；　but　to　have　a　little　human　nature
is　more　agreeable　to　those　who　are　yet　on　the　earth　side　of
purgatory。〃

〃Mi　madre；〃　said　Isabel；　〃Antonia　is　our　good　angel。　　She
thinks　for　us；　and　plans　for　us；　and　even　now　has　everything
ready　for　us　to　move　at　a　moment's　notice。　　Our　good　angels
have　to　be　sensible　and　prudent；　madre。〃

〃To　move　at　a　moment's　notice！　　Virgin　of　Guadalupe！　where
shall　we　go　to？　　Could　my　blessed　father　and　mother　see　me　in
this　prison；　this　very　vault；　I　assure　you　they　would　be
unhappy　even　among　the　angels。〃

〃Mother；　there　are　hundreds　of　women　today　in　Texas　who　would
think　this　house　a　palace　of　comfort　and　safety。〃

〃Saints　and　angels！　　Is　that　my　fault？　　Does　it　make　my
condition　more　endurable？　　Ah；　my　children；　I　have　seen　great
armies　come　into　San　Antonio；　and　always　before　I　have　been
able　to　make　a　little　pleasure　to　myself　out　of　the　event。　
For　the　Mexicans　are　not　blood…thirsty；　though　they　are　very
warlike。　　When　Bravo　was　here；　what　balls；　what　bull…fights；
what　visiting　among　the　ladies！　　Indeed　there　was　so　much　to
tell；　the　tertulia　was　as　necessary　as　the　dinner。　　To　be
sure；　the　Mexicans　are　not　barbarians；　they　made　a　war　that
had　some　refinement。　　But　the　Americans！　　They　are　savages。　
With　them　it　is　fight；　fight；　fight；　and　if　we　try　to　be
agreeable；　as　we　were　to　that　outrageous　Sam　Houston；　they　say
thank　you；　madam；　and　go　on　thinking　their　own　cruel　thoughts。　
I　wonder　the　gentle　God　permits　that　such　men　live。〃

〃Dear　mother；　refinement　in　war　is　not　possible。　　Nothing　can
make　it　otherwise　than　brutal　and　bloody。〃

〃Antonia；　allow　that　I；　who　am　your　mother；　should　know　what
I　have　simply　seen　with　my　eyes。　　Salcedo；　Bravo；　Martinez；
Urreaare　they　not　great　soldiers？　　Very　well；　then；　I
say　they　brought　some　pleasure　with　their　armies；　and　you　will
see　that　Santa　Anna　will　do　the　same。　　If　we　were　only　in　our
own　home！　　It　must　have　been　the　devil　who　made　us　leave　it。〃

〃How　truly　splendid　the　officers　looked；　mi　madre。　　I　dare　say
Senora　Valdez　will　entertain　them。〃

〃That　is　certain。　　And　as　for　Dorette　Valdezthe　coquetteit
will　certainly　be　a　great　happiness　to　her。〃

Isabel　sighed；　and　the　Senora　felt　a　kind　of　satisfaction　in
the　sigh。　　It　was　unendurable　to　be　alone　in　her　regrets　and
her　longings。

〃Yes；〃　she　continued；　〃every　night　Senora　Trespalacios　will
give　a　tertulia；　and　the　officers　will　have　military　balls
the　brave　young　men；　they　will　be　so　gay；　so　charming；　so
devoted；　and　in　a　few　hours；　perhaps；　they　will　go　into　the
other　world　by　the　road　of　the　battlefield。　　Ah；　how　pitiful！　
How　interesting！　　Cannot　you　imagine　it？〃

Isabel　sighed　again；　but　the　sigh　was　for　the　gay；　the
charming　Luis　Alveda。　　And　when　she　thought　of　him；　she
forgot　in　a　moment　to　envy　Dorette　Valdez；　or　the　senoritas　of
the　noble　house　of　Trespalacios。　　And　some　sudden；　swift　touch
of　sympathy；　strong　as　it　was　occult；　made　the　Senora　at　the
same　moment　remember　her　husband　and　her　sons。　　A　real　sorrow
and　a　real　anxiety　drove　out　all　smaller　annoyances。　　Then
both　her　daughters　wept　together；　until　their　community　of
grief　had　brought　to　each　heart　the　solemn　strength　of　a
divine　hope　and　reliance。

〃My　children；　I　will　go　now　and　pray；〃　said　the　sorrowful　wife
and　mother。　　〃At　the　foot　of　the　cross　I　will　wait　for　the
hour　of　deliverance；　and　casting　herself　on　her　knees；　with
her　crucifix　in　her　hand；　she　appeared　in　a　moment　to　have
forgotten　everything　but　her　anguish　and　her　sins；　and　the
Lamb　of　God　upon　whom；　with　childlike　faith；　she　was
endeavoring　to　cast　them。　　Her　tears　dropped　upon　the　ivory
image　of　the　Crucified；　and　sympathetic　tears　sprung　into
Antonia's　and　Isabel's　eyes；　as　they　listened　to　her
imploration。

That　night；　when　all　was　dark　and　still；　Ortiz　returned　with
the　wagon。　　In　the　morning　Antonia　went　to　speak　to　him。　
He　looked　worn…out　and　sorrowful；　and　she　feared　to　ask　him
for　news。　　〃There　is　food　in　the　house；　and　I　have　made　you
chocolate；〃　she　said；　as　she　pitifully　scanned　the　man's
exhausted　condition。

〃The　Senorita　is　kind　as　the　angels。　　I　will　eat　and　drink　at
her　order。　　I　am；　indeed；　faint　and　hungry。〃

She　brought　him　to　the　table；　and　when　he　refused　to　sit　in
her　presence；　she　said　frankly；　〃Captain　Ortiz；　you　are　our
friend　and　not　our　servant。　　Rest　and　refresh　yourself。〃

He　bent　upon　one　knee　and　kissed　the　hand　she　offered；　and
without　further　remonstrance　obeyed　her　desire。　　Isabel　came
in　shortly；　and　with　the　tact　of　true　kindness　she　made　no
remark；　but　simply　took　the　chair　beside　Ortiz；　and　said；　in
her　usual　voice　and　manner：　　〃Good　morning；　Captain。　　We　are
glad　to　see　you。　　Did　you　meet　my　brother　Thomas　again？〃

〃Senorita；　God　be　with　you！　　I　have　not　seen　him。　　I　was　at
Goliad。〃

〃Then　you　would　see　our　brother　Juan？〃

〃Si。　　The　Senor　Juan　is　in　good　health　and　great
happiness。　　He　sent　by　my　willing　hands　a　letter。〃

〃Perhaps　also　you　saw　his　friend；　Senor　Grant？〃

〃From　him；　also；　I　received　a　letter。　　Into　your　gracious
care；　Senorita；　I　deliver　them。〃

〃I　thank　you　for　your　kindness；　Captain。　　Tell　us　now　of　the
fortress。　　Are　the　troops　in　good　spirits？〃

〃Allow　me　to　fear　that　they　are　in　too　good　assurance　of
success。　　The　most　of　the　men　are　very　young。　　They　have　not
yet　met　our　Lady　of　Sorrows。　　They　have　promised　to　themselves
the　independence　of　Texas。　　They　will　also　conquer　Mexico。　
There　are　kingdoms　in　the　moon　for　them。　　I　en