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 wise and tender of spouses
wishes him！ That would be for the good fortune of every one。
〃Ah； Rachela； my heart is broken！ Bring me my mantilla。 I
will go to early mass； when one's husband and children forsake
them； who； then； is possible but the Holy Mother？
〃My Senora； you will take cold； the morning is chill； besides；
I have to say the streets will be full of those insolent
Americans。〃
〃I shall be glad to take cold； perhaps even to die。 And the
Americans do not offend women。 Even the devil has his good
points。〃
〃Holy Virgin！ Offend women！ They do not even think us worth
looking at。 But then it is an intolerable offence to see them
standing in our streets； as if they had made the whole
land。〃
But this morning； early as it was； the streets were empty of
Americans。 There had been hundreds of them there at the
proclamation； there was not one to be seen twelve hours
afterwards。 But at the principal rendezvous of the city； and
on the very walls of the Alamo； they had left this
characteristic notice：
〃To SANTA ANNA：
If you want our arms…take them。
TEN THOUSAND AMERICAN TEXANS。
Robert Worth saw it with an irrepressible emotion of pride and
satisfaction。 He had faithfully fulfilled his promise to his
conscience； and； with his rifle across his shoulder； and his
revolvers and knife in his belt； was taking the road to his
office with a somewhat marked deliberation。 He was yet a
remarkably handsome man； and what man is there that a rifle
does not give a kind of nobility to？ With an up…head carriage
and the light of his soul in his face； he trod the narrow；
uneven street like a soldier full of enthusiasm at his own
commission。
No one interfered with his solitary parade。 He perceived；
indeed； a marked approval of it。 The Zavalas； Navarros。
Garcias； and other prominent citizens； addressed him with but
a slightly repressed sympathy。 They directed his attention
with meaning looks to the counter…proclamation of the
Americans。 They made him understand by the pressure of their
hands that they also were on the side of liberty。
As he did not hurry； he met several officers； but they wisely
affected not to see what they did not wish to see。 For Doctor
Worth was a person to whom very wide latitude might be given。
To both the military and the civilians his skill was a
necessity。 The attitude he had taken was privately discussed；
but no one publicly acted or even commented upon it。 Perhaps
he was a little disappointed at this。 He had come to a point
when a frank avowal of his opinions would be a genuine
satisfaction； when； in fact； his long…repressed national
feeling was imperious。
On the third morning； as he crossed the Plaza； some one called
him。 The voice made his heart leap； his whole nature
responded to it like the strings of a harp to the sweep of a
skilful hand。 He turned quickly； and saw two young men galloping
towards him。 The foremost figure was his sonhis beloved
youngest sonwhom he had just been thinking of as well out of
danger； safe and happy in the peaceful halls of Columbia。 And
lo！ here he was in the very home of the enemy； and he was glad
of it。
〃Why； Jack！〃 he cried； 〃Why； Jack； my boy！ I never thought of
you here。〃 He had his hand on the lad's shoulder； and was
gazing into his bright face with tears and smiles and happy
wonder。
Father； I had to come。 And there are plenty more coming。 And
here is my other selfthe best fellow that ever lived：
Darius Grant。 ‘Dare' we call him； father； for there is not
anything he won't venture if he thinks it worth the winning。
And how is mi madre and Antonia； and Iza？ And isn't it
jolly to see you with a rifle？〃
〃Well； Dare； well； Jack； you are both welcome； never so
welcome to Texas as at this hour。 Come home at once and；
refresh yourselves。〃
There was so much to tell that at first the conversation
was in fragments and exclamations； and the voices of the two
young men； pitched high and clear in their excitement； went
far before them as if impatient of their welcome。 Antonia
heard them first。 She was on the balcony； standing thoughtful
and attent。 It seemed to her as if in those days she was
always listening。 Jack's voice was the loudest； but she heard
Dare's first。 It vibrated in midair and fell upon her
consciousness； clear and sweet as a far…away bell。
〃That is Dare's voice HERE。〃
She leaned forward； her soul hearkened after the vibrations；
and again they called her。 With swift steps she reached the
open door。 Rachela sat in her chair within it。
〃The Senorita had better remain within；〃 she said； sullenly；
〃the sun grows hot。〃
〃Let me pass； Rachela； I am in a hurry。〃
〃To be sure； the Senorita will have her waygood or bad。〃
Antonia heeded her not； she was hastening down the main avenue
toward the gateway。 This avenue was hedged on each side with
oleanders； and they met in a light； waving arch above her
head。 At this season they were one mass of pale pink
blossoms and dark glossy leaves。 The vivid sunshine through
them made a rosy light which tinged her face and her white
gown with an indescribable glow。 If a mortal woman can ever
look like an angel； the fair； swiftly moving Antonia had at
that moment the angelic expression of joy and love； the
angelic unconsciousness of rapid and graceful movement； the
angelic atmosphere that was in itself a dream of paradise；
rose…tinted； divinely sweet and warm。
Dare saw her coming； and suddenly ceased speaking｛。？？｝ He was
in the midst of a sentence； but he forgot what he was saying。
He forgot where he was。 He knew nothing； felt nothing； saw
nothing； heard nothing but Antonia。 And yet he did not fall
at her feet； and kiss her hands and whisper delightful
extravagances； all of which things an Iberian lover would have
done； and felt and looked in the doing perfectly graceful and
natural。
Dare Grant only clasped both the pretty hands held out to him；
only said 〃Antonia！ Antonia！〃 only looked at her with eyes
full of a loving question； which found its instant answer in
her own。 In that moment they revealed to each other the
length and breadth； the height and the depth of their
affection。 They had not thought of disguising it； they made
no attempt to do so； and Robert Worth needed not the
confession which； a few hours later； Grant thought it right to
make to him。
When they entered the house together； a happy； noisy group；
Rachela had left her chair and was going hurriedly upstairs to
tell the Senora her surmise； but Jack passed her with a bound；
and was at his mother's side before the heavy old woman had
comprehended his passing salutation。
〃Madre！ Mother； I am here！
The Senora was on her couch in her darkened room。 She had
been at the very earliest mass； had a headache； and had come
home in a state of rebellion against heaven and earth。 But
Jack was her idol； the one child for whose presence she
continually pined； the one human creature to whose will and
happiness she delighted to sacrifice her own。 When she heard
his voice she rose quickly； crying out：
〃A miracle！ A miracle！ Grace of God and Mary； a miracle！
Only this morning； my precious； my boy！ I asked the Holy
Mother to pity my sorrows； and send you to me。 I vow to
Mary a new shrine。 I vow to keep it； and dress it for one
whole year。 I will give my opal ring to the poor。 Oh； Juan！
Juan！ Juan I am too blessed。〃
Her words were broken into pieces by his kisses。 He knelt at
her knees； and stroked her face； and patted her hands； and did
all with such natural fervor and grace； that anything else； or
anything less； must have seemed cold and unfilial。
〃Come； my beautiful mother； and see my friend。 I have told
him so much about you； and poor Dare has no mother。 I have
promised him that you will be his mother also。 Dare is so
goodthe finest fellow in all the world； come down and see
Dare； and let us have a real Mexican dinner； madre。 I have
not tasted an olla since I left you。〃
She could not resist him。 She made Rachela lay out her
prettiest dress； and when Jack said 〃how beautiful your hai