President Jackson； introducing him as ‘a God…chosen patriot。'
President Jackson already sees Texas in the Union； and Gaines
understands that if the American…Texans should be repulsed by
Santa Anna； and fall back upon him； that he may then gather
them under his standard and lead them forward to victoryand
the conquest of Texas。 Father； you will see the Stars and
Stripes on the palaces of Mexico。〃
〃Do not talk too fast； Jack。 And now； go lie down on my bed。
In four hours you must leave； if you want to reach Gonzales
to…night！〃
Then Dare was called； and the lovers knew that their hour of
parting was come。 They said nothing of the fears in their
hearts； and on Antonia's lifted face there was only the light
of love and of hope。
〃The fight will soon be over； darling； and then！〃
〃And then？ We shall be so happy。〃
CHAPTER VI。
ROBERT WORTH IS DISARMED。
〃Strange sons of Mexico； and strange her fate；
They fight for freedom who were never free；
A kingless people for a nerveless state。〃
* * * * * *
〃Not all the threats or favors of a crown；
A Prince's whisper； or a tyrant's frown；
Can awe the spirit or allure the mind
Of him； who to strict Honor is inclined。
Though all the pomp and pleasure that does wait
On public places； and affairs of state；
Though all the storms and tempests should arise；
That Church magicians in their cells devise；
And from their settled basis nations tear：
He would； unmoved； the mighty ruin bear。
Secure in innocence； contemn them all；
And； decently arrayed； in honor fall。〃
* * * * * *
〃Say； what is honor？ 'Tis the finest sense
Of justice which the human mind can frame。〃
The keenest sufferings entailed by war are not on the battle…
field； nor in the hospital。 They are in the household。 There
are the maimed affections； the slain hopes； the broken ties of
love。 And before a shot had been fired in the war of
Texan independence； the battle had begun in Robert Worth's
household。
The young men lay down to rest； but he sat watching the night
away。 There was a melancholy sleepiness in it； the
mockingbirds had ceased singing； the chirping insects had
become weary。 Only the clock； with its regular 〃tick； tick；〃
kept the watch with him。
When it was near dawn； he lifted a candle and went into the
room where Jack and Dare were sleeping。 Dare did not move；
Jack opened his eyes wide； and smiled brightly at the
intruder。
〃Well； father？〃
〃It is time to get up； Jack。 Tell Dare。〃
In a few minutes both came to him。 A bottle of wine； some
preserved bears' paws； and biscuits were on the table。 They
ate standing； speaking very little and almost in whispers； and
then the doctor went with them to the stable。 He helped Jack
to saddle his horse。 He found a sad pleasure in coming so
close to him。 Once their cheeks touched； and the touch
brought the tears to his eyes and sent he blood to his heart。
With his hand on the saddle； Jack paused and said；
softly； 〃Father； dear； tell mi madre my last look at the
house； my last thought in leaving it； was for her。 She would
not kiss me or bless me last night。 Ask her to kiss you for
me；〃 and then the lad broke fairly down。 The moment had come
in which love could find no utterance； and must act。 He flung
his arm around his father's neck and kissed him。 And the
father wept also； and yet spoke brave words to both as he
walked with them to the gate and watched them ride into the
thick mist lying upon the prairie like a cloud。 They were
only darker spots in it。 It swallowed them up。 They were
lost to sight。
He thought no one had seen the boys leave but himself。 But
through the lattices two sorrowful women also watched their
departure。 The Senora； as wakeful as her husband； had heard
the slight movements； the unusual noises of that early hour；
and had divined the cause of them。 She looked at Rachela。
The woman had fallen into the dead sleep of exhaustion； and
she would not have to parry her objections and warnings。
Unshod； and in her night…dress； she slipped through the
corridor to the back of the house； and tightly clasping her
rosary in her hands； she stood behind the lattice and watched
her boy away。
He turned in his saddle just before he passed the gate； and
she saw his young face lifted with an unconscious； anxious
love； to the very lattice at which she stood： In the dim
light it had a strange pallor。 The misty air blurred and made
all indistinct。 It was like seeing her Jack in some woful
dream。 If he had been dead； such a vision of him might have
come to her from the shadow land。
Usually her grief was noisy and imperative of sympathy。 But
this morning she could not cry nor lament。 She went softly
back to her room and sat down； with her crucifix before her
aching eyes。 Yet she could not say her usual prayers。 She
could not remember anything but Jack's entreaty〃Kiss me； mi
madre！ Bless me； mi madre！〃 She could not see anything but
that last rapid turn in the saddle； and that piteous young
face； showing so weird and dreamlike through the gray mist of
the early dawn。
Antonia had watched with her。 Dare； also； had turned； but
there had been something about Dare's attitude far more cheery
and hopeful。 On the previous night Antonia had put some
sprays of rosemary in his hat band 〃to bring good； and keep
away evil on a journey〃； and as he turned and lifted his hat
he put his lips to them。 He had the belief that from some
point his Antonia was watching him。 He conveyed to her； by
the strength of his love and his will； the assurance of all
their hopes。
That day Doctor Worth did not go out。 The little bravado of
carrying arms was impossible to him。 It was not that his
courage had failed； or that he had lost a tittle of his
convictions； but he was depressed by the uncertainty of his
position and duty； and he was； besides； the thrall of that
intangible anxiety which we call PRESENTIMENT。
Yet； however dreary life is； it must go on。 The brave…hearted
cannot drop daily duty。 On the second day the doctor went to
his office again； and Antonia arranged the meals and received
company； and did her best to bring the household into peaceful
accord with the new elements encroaching on it from all sides。
But the Senora was more 〃difficult〃 than even Rachela had ever
seen her before。 She did not go to church； but Fray Ignatius
spent a great deal of time with her； and his influence was not
any more conciliating than that of early masses and much fasting。
He said to her； indeed： 〃My daughter； you have behaved with
the fortitude of a saint。 It would have been more than a
venial sin； if you had kissed and blessed a rebel in the very
act of his rebellion。 The Holy Mary will reward and comfort
you。〃
But the Senora was not sensible of the reward and comfort； and
she did feel most acutely the cruel wound she had given her
mother love。 Neither prayers nor penance availed her。 She
wanted to see Jack。 She wanted to kiss him a hundred times；
and bless him with every kiss。 And it did not help her to be
told that these longings were the suggestions of the Evil One；
and not to be listened to。
The black…robed monk； gliding about his house with downcast
eyes and folded hands； had never seemed to Robert Worth so
objectionable。 He knew that he kept the breach open between
himself and his wifethat he thought it a point of religious
duty to do so。 He knew that he was gradually isolating the
wretched woman from her husband and children； and that
the continual repetition of prayers and penances did not give
her any adequate comfort for the wrong she was doing her
affections。
The city was also in a condition of the greatest excitement。
The soldiers in the Alamo were under arms。 Their officers had
evidently received important advices from Mexico。 General
Cos； the brother…in…law of Santa Anna； was now in command； and
it was said immense reinforcements were hourly looked for。
The drifting American population had entirely vanished； but
its palpable absence inspired the most thoughtful of the
people with fear instead of security。
Nor were the military by any means sure of the loyalty of the
city。 It was well known that a large proportion of the best
citizens hated the despotism of Santa Anna； and that if the
Americans attacked San Antonio； they would receive active
sympathy。 Party feeling was no longer controllable。 Men
suspected each other。 Duels were of constant occurrence； and
families were torn to pieces； for the monks supported Santa
Anna with all their influence； and there were few women
who dared to disobey them。
Into the midst of this turbulent； touchy community； there fell
one morning a word or two which set it on fire。 Doctor Worth
was talking on the Plaza with Senor Lopez Navarro。 A Mexican
soldier； with his yellow cloak streaming out behind him；
galloped madly towards the Alamo and left the news there。 It
spread like wildfire。 〃There had been a fight at Gonzales；
and the Americans had kept their arms。 They had also put the
Mexicans to flight。〃
〃And more；〃 added a young Mexican coming up to the group of
which Robert Wor