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not suffer Antonia to approach her。 She felt that now was the
hour of her supreme trial。 She had tolerated the rebellion of
her husband； and her sons； and her daughter； and now she was
justly punished。 They had driven away from her the confessor；
and the maid who had been her counsellor and her reliance from
her girlhood。
Her grief and terror were genuine； and therefore pitiful； and；
in spite of his annoyance； the doctor recognized the fact。 In
a moment； as soon as they were alone； he put aside his anger。
He knelt beside her； he soothed her with tender words； he
pleaded the justice of his indignation。 And ere long she
began to listen to his excuses； and to complain to him：
He had been born a heretic； and therefore might be excused a
little； even by Almighty God。 But Antonia！ Her sin was
beyond endurance。 She herself； and the good Sisters； and Fray
Ignatius； had all taught her in her infancy the true religion。
And her Roberto must see that this was a holy wara war for
the Holy Catholic Church。 No wonder Fray Ignatius was angry。
〃My dear Maria； every church thinks itself right； and all
other churches wrong。 God looks at the heart。 If it is
right； it makes all worship true。 But when the Americans have
won Texas； they will give to every one freedom to worship God
as they wish。〃
〃Saints in heaven； Roberto！ That day comes not。 One victory！
Bah！ That is an accident。 The Mexicans are a very brave
people；the bravest in the world。 Did they not drive the
Spaniards out of their country； and it is not to be
contradicted that the Spaniards have conquered all other
nations。 That I saw in a book。 The insult the Americans
have given to Mexico will be revenged。 Her honor has
been compromised before the world。 Very well； it will be made
bright again； yes； Fray Ignatius says with blood and fire it
will be made bright。〃
〃And in the mean time； Maria； we have taken from them the city
they love best of all。 An hour ago I saw； General Cos； with
eleven hundred Mexican soldiers； pass before a little band of
less than two hundred Americans and lay down their arms。
These defenders of the Alamo had all been blessed by the
priests。 Their banners had been anointed with holy oil and
holy water。 They had all received absolution everyday before
the fight began； they had been promised a free passage through
purgatory and a triumphant entry into heaven。〃
〃Well； I will tell you something； Fray Ignatius showed it to
meit was a paper printed。 The rebels and their wives and
children are to be sent from this earthyou may know where
they will all go； RobertoCongress says so。 The States will
give their treasures。 The archbishops will give the episcopal
treasures。 The convents will give their gems and gold
ornaments。 Ten thousand men had left for San Antonio；
and ten thousand more are to follow； the whole under our great
President Santa Anna。 Oh； yes！ The rebels in Washington are
to be punished also。 It is well known that they sent soldiers
to Nacogdoches。 Mexicans are not blind moles； and they have
their intelligence； you know。 All the States who have helped
these outrageous ingrates are to be devastated； and you will
see that your famous Washington will be turned into a heap of
stories。 I have seen these words in print； Roberto。 I assure
you； that it is not just a little breathwhat one or another
saysit is the printed orders of the Mexican government。
That is something these Americans will have to pay attention
to。〃
The doctor sighed； and answered the sorrowful； credulous woman
with a kiss。 What was the use of reasoning with simplicity so
ignorant and so confident？ He turned the conversation to a
subject that always roused her best and kindest feelingsher
son Jack。
〃I have just seen young Dewees； Maria。 He and Jack left San
Felipe together。 Dewees brought instructions to General
Burleson； and Jack carried others to Fannin； at Goliad。〃
She took her husband's hands and kissed them。 〃That indeed！
Oh； Roberto！ If I could only see my Jack once more！ I have
had a constant accusation to bear about him。 Till I kiss my
boy again； the world will be all dark before my face。 If Our
Lady will grant me this miraculous favor； I will always
afterwards be exceedingly religious。 I will give all my
desires to the other world。〃
〃Dearest Maria； God did not put us in this world to be always
desiring another。 There is no need； mi queridita； to give up
this life as a bad affair。 We shall be very happy again；
soon。
〃As you say。 If I could only see Jack！ For that； I would
promise God Almighty and you Roberto to be happy。 I would
forgive the rebels and the hereticsfor they are well
acquainted with hell road； and will guide each other there
without my wish。〃
〃I am sure if Jack has one day he will come to you。 And when
he hears of the surrender of General Cos〃
〃Well now； it was God's will that General Cos should
surrender。 What more can be said？ It is sufficient。〃
〃Let me call Antonia。 She is miserable at your displeasure；
and it is not Antonia's fault。〃
〃Pardon me； Roberto。 I have seen Antonia。 She is not
agreeable and obedient to Fray Ignatius。〃
〃She has been very wickedly used by him； and I fear he intends
to do her evil。〃
〃It is not convenient to discuss the subject now。 I will see
Isabel； she is a good childmy only comfort。 Paciencia！
there is Luis Alveda singing； Isabel will now be deaf to all
else〃； and she rose with a sigh and walked towards the
casement looking into the garden。
Luis was coming up the oleander walk。 The pretty trees were
thinner now； and had only a pink blossom here and there。 But
the bright winter sun shone through them； and fell upon Luis
and Isabel。 For she had also seen him coming； and had gone to
meet him； with a little rainbow…tinted shawl over her head。
She looked so piquant and so happy。 She seemed such a proper
mate for the handsome youth at her side that a word of dissent
was not possible。 The doctor said only； 〃She is so like you；
Maria。 I remember when you were still more lovely； and
when from your balcony you made me with a smile the happiest
man in the world。〃
Such words were never lost ones； for the Senora had a true and
great love for her husband。 She gave him again a smile； she
put her hand in his； and then there were no further
conciliations required。 They stood in the sunshine of their
own hearts； and listened a moment to the gay youth； singing；
how at
The strong old Alamo
Two hundred men； with rifles true；
Shot down a thousand of the foe；
And broke the triple ramparts through；
And dropped the flag as black as night；
For Freedom's green and red and white。＇3＇
＇3＇ The flag of the Mexican Republic of 1824 was green； red
and white in color。
CHAPTER XI。
A HAPPY TRUCE。
〃Well； honor is the subject of my story；
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life； but for my single self；
I had as lief not be； as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself。〃
〃Two truths are told
As happy p