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！
expecting this useless bombast； and ere the words were well
uttered； they answered them with a yell of defiance。 I do not
think more than one proclamation was necessary； but Morello
went from point to point in the city and the Americans
followed him。 I can tell you this； Maria： all the millions in
Mexico can not take their rifles from the ten thousand
Americans in Texas； able to carry them。〃
〃We shall see！ We shall see！ But； Roberto； you at least will
not interfere in their quarrels。 You have never done so
hitherto。〃
〃No one has ever proposed to disarm me before； Maria。 I tell
you frankly； I will not give up a single rifle； or revolver；
or weapon of any kind； that I possess。 I would rather be
slain with them。 I have never carried arms before； but I
shall carry them now。 I apologize to my countrymen for not
having them with me this afternoon。 My dearest wife！ My good
Maria！ do not cry in that despairing way。
You will be killed； Roberto！ You will be a rebel！ You
will be shot like a dog； and then what will become of me and
my daughters？〃
〃You have two sons； Maria。 They will avenge their father； and
protect their mother and sisters。〃
〃I shall die of shame！ I shall die of shame and sorrow！〃
〃Not of shame； Maria。 If I permitted these men to deprive me
of my arms； you might well die of shame。〃
〃What is it？ Only a gun； or a pistol； that you never use？〃
〃Great God； Maria！ It is everything！ It is honor！ It is
liberty！ It is respect to myself！ It is loyalty to my
country！ It is fidelity to my countrymen！ It is true that
for many years the garrison has fully protected us； and I have
not needed to use the arms in my house。 But thousands of
husbands and fathers need them hourly； to procure food for
their children and wives； and to protect them from the
savages。 One tie binds us。 Their cause is my cause。 Their
country is my country； and their God is my God。 Children； am
I right or wrong？〃
They both stepped swiftly to his side。 Isabel laid her
cheek against his； and answered him with a kiss。 Antonia
clasped his hand； stood close to him； and said： 〃We are all
sure that you are right； dear father。 My mother is weary and
sick with anxiety； but she thinks so too。 Mother always
thinks as you do； father。 Dear mother； here is Rachela with
a cup of chocolate； and you will sleep and grow strong before
morning。〃
But the Senora； though she suffered her daughter's caresses；
did not answer them； neither did she speak to her husband；
though he opened the door for her and stood waiting with a
face full of anxious love for a word or a smile from her。 And
the miserable wife； still more miserable than her husband；
noticed that Isabel did not follow her。 Never before had
Isabel seemed to prefer any society to her mother's； and the
unhappy Senora felt the defection； even amid her graver
trouble。
But Isabel had seen something new in her father that night；
something that touched her awakening soul with admiration。
She lingered with him and Antonia； listening with vague
comprehension to their conversation； until Rachela called
her angrily； and as she was not brave enough for a second
rebellion that night； she obediently answered her summons。
An hour afterwards； Antonia stepped cautiously within her
room。 She was sleeping； and smiling in her sleep。 Where was
her loving； innocent soul wandering？ Between the myrtle
hedges and under the fig…tree with her lover？ Oh； who can
tell where the soul goes when sleep gives it some release？
Perhaps it is at night our angels need to watch us most
carefully。 For the soul； in dreams； can visit evil and
sorrowful places； as well as happy and holy ones。 But Isabel
slept and smiled； and Antonia whispered a prayer at her side
ere she went to her own rest。
And the waning moon cast a pathetic beauty over the Eden…like
land； till dawn brought that mystical silence in which every
new day is born。 Then Robert Worth rose from the chair in
which he had been sitting so long； remembering the past and
forecasting the future。 He walked to the window； opened it；
and looked towards the mountains。 They had an ethereal hue；
a light without rays； a clearness almost polar in its
severity。 But in some way their appearance infused into
his soul calmness and strength。
〃Liberty has always been bought with life； and the glory of
the greatest nations handseled with the blood of their
founders。〃 This was the thought in his heart； as looking far
off to the horizon； he asked hopefully：
〃What then； O God； shall this good land produce
That Thou art watering it so carefully？〃
CHAPTER V。
A FAMOUS BARBECUE。
〃So when fierce zeal a nation rends；
And stern injustice rules the throne；
Beneath the yoke meek virtue bends；
And modest truth is heard to groan。
But when fair Freedom's star appears；
Then hushed are sighs； and calmed are fears。
And who； when nations long opprest；
Decree to curb the oppressor's pride；
And patriot virtues fire the breast；
Who shall the generous ardor chide？
What shall withstand the great decree；
When a brave nation will be free？
It is flesh and blood that makes husbands and wives； fathers
and children； and for the next few days these ties were sorely
wounded in Robert Worth's house。 The Senora was what Rachela
called 〃difficult。〃 In reality； she was angry and sullen。 At
such times she always went early to mass； said many prayers；
and still further irritated herself by unnecessary fasting。
But there are few homes which totally escape the visitations
of this‘pious temper in some form or other。 And no
creed modifies it； the strict Calvinist and strict Catholic
are equally disagreeable while under its influence。
Besides； the Senora； like the ill…tempered prophet； thought
she 〃did well to be angry。〃 She imagined herself deserted and
betrayed in all her tenderest feelings； her husband a rebel；
her home made desolate； her sons and daughters supporting
their father's imprudent views。 She could only see one
alternative before her； she must choose between her country
and her religion； or her husband and children。
True； she had not yet heard from her sons； but she would
listen to none of Rachela's hopes regarding them。 Thomas had
always said yes to all his father's opinions。 How could she
expect anything from John when he was being carefully trained
in the very principles which everywhere made the Americans so
irritating to the Mexican government。
Her husband and Antonia she would not see。 Isabel she
received in her darkened room； with passionate weeping and
many reproaches。 The unhappy husband had expected this
trouble at the outset。 It was one of those domestic
thorns which fester and hamper； but to which the very best of
men have to submit。 He could only send pleasant and
affectionate messages by Rachela； knowing that Rachela would
deliver them with her own modifications of tone and manner。
〃The Senor sends his great love to the Senora。 Grace of Mary！
If he would do a little as the most wis