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！
leaned with a luxurious indolence among them； sipping
chocolate and smoking a cigarrito。 Isabel was on a couch of
the same description。 She wore a satin petticoat； and a loose
linen waist richly trimmed with lace。 It showed her beautiful
shoulders and arms to perfection。 Her hands were folded above
her head。 Her tiny feet； shod in satin； were quivering like
a bird's wings； as if they were keeping time with the
restlessness of her spirit。
She had large eyes； dark and bright； strong eyebrows； a pale
complexion with a flood of brilliant color in the checks；
dazzling even teeth； and a small； handsome mouth。 Her black
hair was loose and flowing； and caressed her cheeks and
temples in numberless little curls and tendrils。 Her face was
one flush of joy and youth。 She had a look half…earnest and
half…childlike； and altogether charming。 Antonia adored her；
and she was pleased to listen to the child； telling over
again the pretty things that had been said to her。
〃Only Don Luis was not there at all； Antonia。 There is always
something wanting；〃 and her voice fell with those sad
inflections that are often only the very excess of delight。
The Senora looked sharply at her。 〃Don Luis was not
desirable。 He was better awaymuch better！〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because； Antonia； he is suspected。 There is an American
called Houston。 Don Luis met him in Nacogdoches。 He has
given his soul to him； I think。 He would have fought Morello
about him； if the captain could have drawn his sword in such
a quarrel。 I should not have known about the affair had not
Senora Valdez told me。 Your father says nothing against the
Americans。〃
〃Perhaps； then； he knows nothing against them。〃
〃You will excuse me； Antonia； not only the living but the dead
must have heard of their wickedness。 They are a nation of
ingrates。 Ingrates are cowards。 It was these words Captain
Morello said； when Don Luis drew his sword； made a circle
with its point and stood it upright in the centre。 It was a
challenge to the whole garrigon； and about this fellow
Houston； whom be calls his friend！ Holy Virgin preserve us
from such Mexicans！〃
〃It is easier to talk than to fight。 Morello's tongue is
sharper than his sword。〃
〃Captain Morello was placing his sword beside that of Don
Luis； when the Commandant interfered。 He would not permit his
officers to fight in such a quarrel。 ‘Santo Dios！' he said；
‘you shall all have your opportunity very soon； gentlemen。'
Just reflect upon the folly of a boy like Don Luis；
challenging a soldier like Morello！〃
〃He was in no danger； mother；〃 said Antonia scornfully。
〃Morello is a bully； who wears the pavement out with his
spurs and sabre。 His weapons are for show。 Americans； at
least； wear their arms for use； and not for ornament。〃
〃Listen； Antonia！ I will not have them spoken of。 They are
Jewsor at least infidels； all of them！the devil himself is
their fatherthe bishop； when he was here last confirmation；
told me so。〃
〃Mother！〃
〃At least they are unbaptized Christians； Antonia。 If you are
not baptized； the devil sends you to do his work。 As for Don
Luis； he is a very Judas！ Ah； Maria Santissima！ how I do pity
his good mother！〃
〃Poor Don Luis！〃 said Isabel plaintively。
He is so handsome； and he sings like a very angel。 And he
loves my father； he wanted to be a doctor； so that he could
always be with him。 I dare say this man called Houston is no
better than a Jew； and perhaps very ugly beside。 Let us talk
no more about him and the Americans。 I am weary of them； as
Tia Rachella says； ‘they have their spoon in every one's
mess。'〃
And Antonia； whose heart was burning； only stooped down and
closed her sister's pretty mouth with a kiss。 Her tongue was
impatient to speak for the father； and grandmother； and the
friends； so dear to her； but she possessed great discretion；
and also a large share of that rarest of all womanly graces；
the power under provocation； of 〃putting on Patience the
noble。〃
CHAPTER III。
BUILDERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH。
〃Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing
herself like a strong man after sleep and shaking her
invincible locks。 Methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her
mighty youth and kindling her undazzled eye in the full mid…
day beam。〃MILTON。
〃And from these grounds； concluding as we doe；
Warres causes diuerse； so by consequence
Diuerse we must conclude their natures too：
For war proceeding from Omnipotence；
No doubt is holy； wise； and without error；
The sword； of justice and of sin； the terror。〃
LORD BROOKE。
It is the fashion now to live for the present but the men of
fifty years ago； the men who builded the nation； they
reverenced the past； and therefore they could work for the
future。 As Robert Worth rode through the streets of San
Antonio that afternoon； he was thinking； not of his own life；
but of his children's and of the generations which should come
after them。
The city was flooded with sunshine； and crowded with
a pack…train going to Sonora； the animals restlessly
protesting against the heat and flies； their Mexican drivers
in the pulqueria； spending their last peso with their
compadres； or with the escort of soldiers which was to
accompany thema little squad of small； lithe men； with
round； yellow； beardless faces； bearing in a singular degree
the stamp of being native to the soil。 Their lieutenant； a
gorgeously clad officer with a very distinguished air； was
coming slowly down the street to join them。 He bowed； and
smiled pleasantly to the doctor as he passed him； and then in
a few moments the word of command and the shouting of men and
the clatter of hoofs invaded the enchanted atmosphere like an
insult。
But the tumult scarcely jarred with the thoughts of his mind。
They had been altogether of war and rumors of war。 Every hour
that subtile consciousness of coming events； which makes whole
communities at times prescient； was becoming stronger。 〃If
the powers of the air have anything to do with the destinies
of men；〃 he muttered； 〃there must be unseen battalions around
me。 The air I am breathing is charged with the feeling of
battle。〃
After leaving the city there were only a few Mexican huts on
the shady road leading to his own house。 All within them were
asleep； even the fighting cocks tied outside were dozing on
their perches。 He was unusually weary； he had been riding
since dawn； and his heart had not been in sympathy with his
body； it had said no good cheer to it； whispered no word of
courage or promise。
All at once his physical endurance seemed exhausted； and he
saw the white wall and arched gateway of his garden and the
turrets of his home with an inexpressible relief。 But it was
the hour of siesta； and he was always careful not to let the
requirements of his profession disturb his household。 So he
rode quietly to the rear； where he found a peon nodding within
the stable door。 He opened his eyes unnaturally wide； and
rose to serve his master。
〃See thou rub the mare well down； and give her corn and
water。〃
〃To be sure； Senior； that is to be done。 A strang