and his God and his country。 Her anger passed from one
subject to another constantly； finding in all； even in
the lukewarmness of Antonia and Isabel； and in their affection
for lovers； who were also rebels； an accumulating reason for
a stupendous reproach against herself； her husband； her
children； and her unhappy fate。 Her whole nature was in
revoltin that complete mental and moral anarchy from which
springs tragedy and murder。
Isabel wept so violently that she angered still further the
tearless suffering of her mother。 〃God and the saints！〃 she
cried。 〃What are you weeping for？ Will tears do any good？
Do I weep？ God has forbidden me to weep for the wicked。 Yet
how I suffer！ Mary； mother of sorrows； pity me！〃
She sent Isabel away。 Her sobs were not to be borne。 And
very soon she felt Antonia's white face and silent
companionship to be just as unendurable。 She would be alone。
Not even Rachela would she have near her。 She put out all the
lights but the taper above a large crucifix； and at its foot
she sat down in tearless abandon； alone with her reproaches
and her remorse。
Antonia watched with her mother； though shut out from her
presence。 She feared for a state of mind so barren of
affection； so unsoftened by tears。 Besides； it was the climax
of a condition which had continued ever since she had sent her
boy away without a word of love。 In the dim corridor outside
she sat still； listening for any noise or movement which might
demand help or sympathy。 It was not nine o'clock； but the
time lengthened itself out beyond endurance。 Even yet she had
hope of some word from her father。 Surely； they would let him
send some word to them！
She heard the murmur of voices downstairs； and she thought
angrily of Rachela； and Molly； and Manuel； 〃making a little
confidence together〃 over their trouble； and spicing their
evening gossip with the strange thing that had happened to the
Senor Doctor。 She knew that Rachela and Manuel would call him
heretic and Americano； and； by authority of these two words；
accuse him of every crime。
Thinking with a swelling heart of these things； she heard the
door open； and a step slowly and heavily ascend the stairs。
Ere she had time to wonder at it； her father came in sight。
There was a shocking change in his air and appearance； but as
he was evidently going to her mother's room； she shrank
back and sat motionless so as not to attract his attention。
Then she went to the parlor； and had the fire renewed and food
put upon the table。 She was sure that he would need it； and
she believed he would be glad to talk over with her the events
of the afternoon。
The Senora was still sitting at the foot of the crucifix when
her husband opened the door。 She had not been able to pray；
ave and paternoster alike had failed her。 Her rebellious
grief filled every corner of her heart。 She understood that
some one had entered the room； and she thought of Rachela； but
she found a kind of comfort in the dull stupor of grief she
was indulging； and she would not break its spell by lifting
her head。
〃Maria。〃
She rose up quickly and stood gazing at him。
She did not shriek or exclaim； her surprise controlled her。
And also her terror； for his face was white as death； and had
an expression of angry despair that terrified her。
〃Roberto！ Roberto！ Mi Roberto！ How you have tortured me！ I
have nearly died！ Fray Ignatius said you had been sent
to prison。〃
She spoke as calmly as a frightened child； sad and hesitating。
If he had taken her in his arms she would have sobbed her
grief away there。
But Robert Worth was at that hour possessed by two master
passions； tyrannical and insatiablethey would take notice of
nothing that did not minister to them。
〃Maria； they have taken my arms from me。 Cowards！ Cowards！
Miserable cowards！ I refused to give them up！ They held my
hands and robbed merobbed me of my manhood and honor！ I
begged them to shoot me ere they did it； and they spoke
courteously and regretted this； and hoped that； till I felt
that it would be a joy to strangle them。〃
〃Roberto！ Mi Roberto！ You have me！〃
〃I want my rifle and all it represents。 I want myself back
again。 Maria； Maria； until then； I am not worthy to be any
good woman's husband！〃
〃Roberto； dearest！ It is not your fault。〃
〃It is my fault。 I have waited too long。 My sons showed me
my dutymy soul urged me to do it。 I deserve the shame；
but I will wipe it out with crimson blood。〃
The Senora stood speechless； wringing her hands。 Her own
passion was puny beside the sternness； the reality； and the
intensity of the quiet rage before her。 She was completely
mastered by it。 She forgot all but the evident agony she
could neither mistake nor console。
〃I have come to say ‘farewell；' Maria。 We have been very
happy togetherMariaour childrendearest〃
〃Oh； Roberto！ My husband！ My soul！ My life！ Leave me not。〃
〃I am going for my arms。 I will take them a hundredfold from
those who have robbed me。 I swear I will！〃
〃You do not love me。 What are these Americans to you？ I am
your wife。 Your Maria〃
〃These Americans are my brothersmy sons。 My mother is an
American woman。〃
〃And I？〃
〃You are my wifemy dear wife！ I love youGod Almighty
knows how well I love you； but we must part now； at least for
a short time。 Maria； my dear one； I must go。〃
〃Go？ Where to？〃
〃I am going to join General Houston。〃
〃I thought so。 I knew it。 The accursed one！ Oh that I had
him here again！ I would bury my stiletto in his heart！ Over
the white hilt I would bury it！ I would wash my hands in his
blood； and think them blessed ever afterwards！ Stay till
daylight； Roberto。 I have so much to say； dearest。〃
〃I cannot。 I have stayed too long。 And now I must ride
without a gun or knife to protect me。 Any Indian that I meet
can scalp me。 Do you understand now what disarming means；
Maria？ If I had gone with my boy； with my brave Jack； I could
at least have sold my life to its last drop。〃
〃In the morning； Roberto； Lopez Navarro will get you a gun。
Oh； if you must go； do not go unarmed！ There are ten thousand
Comanche between here and the Brazos。〃
〃How could I look Lopez Navarro in the face？ Or any other
man？ No； no！ I must win back my arms； before I can walk the
streets of San Antonio again。〃
He took her in his arms； he kissed her eyes； her cheeks； her
lips； murmuring tender little Spanish words that meant；
oh； so much； to the wretched woman！words she had taught him
with kisseswords he never used but to her ears only。
She clung to his neck； to his hands； to his feet； she made his
farewell an unspeakable agony。 At last he laid her upon her
couch； sobbing and shrieking like a child in an extremity of
physical anguish。 But he did not blame her。 Her
impetuosities； her unreasonable extravagances； were a part of
her nature； her race； and her character。 He did not expect a
weak； excitable woman to become suddenly a creature of flame
and steel。
But it was a wonderful rest to his exhausted body and soul to
turn from her to Antonia。 She led him quietly to his chair by
the parlor fire。 She gave him food and wine。 She listened
patiently； but with a living sympathy； to his wrong。 She
endorsed； with a clasp of his hand and a smile； his purpose。
And she said； almost cheerfully：
〃You have not given up all your arms； father。 When I first
heard of the edict； I hid in my own room the rifle； the powder
and the shot； which were in your study。 Paola has knives in
the stable； plenty of them。 Get one from him。〃
Good news is a very relative thing。 This information made the
doctor feel as if all were now easy and possible。 The words
he said to her； Antonia never forgot。 They sang in her heart
like music； and led her on through many a difficult path。 The
conversation then turned upon money matters； and Antonia
received the key of his study； and full directions as to the
gold and papers secreted there。
Then Isabel was awakened； and the rifle brought down； and
Paola saddled the fleetest horse in the stable； and after one
solemn five minutes with his daughter； Robert Worth rode away
into the midnight darkness； and into a chaos of public events
of which no man living could forecast the outcome。
Rode away from wife and children and home； leaving behind him
the love and labor of his lifetime
〃The thousand sweet； still joys of such
As hand in hand face earthly life。〃
For what？ For justice； for freedom of thought and action； for
the rights of his manhood； for the brotherhood of race
and religion and country。 Antonia and Isabel stood hand in
hand at the same lattice from which the Senora had watched her
son away； and in a dim； uncertain manner these thoughts
connected themselves in each mind with the same mournful
inquiryIs it worth while？
As the beat of the horse's hoofs died away； they turned。 The
night was cold but clear； and the sky appeared so high that
their eyes throbbed as they gazed upward at the grand arch；
sprinkled with suns and worlds。 Suddenly into the tranquil
spaces there was flung a sound of joy and revelry； and th