Isabel。 The traditions of caste and country； the social bonds
of centuries； held them。 But Isabel snapped them asunder。
She looked at Luis。 His eyes were alight with love for her；
his handsome face was transfigured with the nobility of the
emotions that possessed him。 In spite of his disordered
dress； he was incomparably handsome。 When he said； 〃Angel
mio！〃 and bent to kiss her hand； she lifted her lovely face to
his； she put her arms around his neck； she cried softly on his
breast； whispering sweet little diminutives of affection and
pride。 Such hours as followed are very rare in this life； and
they are nearly always bought with a great pricepaid for in
advance with sorrow and anxiety； or earned by such
faithful watching and patient waiting as touches the very
citadel of life。
The men were hungry； they had eaten nothing all day。 How
delicious was their meal！ How happy and merry it made the
Senora； and Antonia； and Isabel； to see them empty dish after
dish； to see their unaffected enjoyment of the warm room； and
bright fire； of their after…dinner coffee and tobacco。 There
was only one drawback to the joy of the reunionthe absence
of Jack。
〃His disappointment will be greater than ours；〃 said Jack's
father。 〃To be present at the freeing of his native city； and
to bring his first laurels to his mother； was the brightest
dream Jack had。 But Jack is a fine rider； and is not a very
fine marksman； so it was decided to send him with Houston to
the Convention。 We expected him back before the attack on the
city began。 Indeed； we were waiting for orders from the
Convention to undertake it。〃
〃Then you fought without orders； father？〃
〃Well； yes； Antoniain a way。 Delays in war are as dangerous
as in love。 We were surrounded by dragoons； who scoured the
country in every direction to prevent our foraging。 San
Antonio HAD to be taken。 Soon done was well done。 On the
third of December Colonel Milam stepped in front of the ranks；
and asked if two hundred of the men would go with him and
storm the city。 The whole eleven hundred stepped forward； and
gave him their hands and their word。 From them two hundred of
the finest marksmen were selected。〃
〃I have to say that was a great scene； mi Roberto。〃
〃The greater for its calmness； I think。 There was no
shouting； no hurrahing； no obvious enthusiasm。 It was the
simple assertion of serious men determined to carry out their
object。〃
〃And you stormed San Antonio with two hundred men； father？〃
〃But every man was a picked man。 A Mexican could not show his
head above the ramparts and live。 We had no powder and ball
to waste； and I doubt if a single ball missed its aim。〃
〃A Mexican is like a Highland Scot in one respect；〃 said
Dare；〃 he fights best with steel。 They are good cavalry
soldiers。〃
〃There are no finer cavalry in the world than the
horsemen from Santa Fe； Dare。 But with powder and ball
Mexicans trust entirely to luck； and luck is nowhere against
Kentucky sharpshooters。 Their balls very seldom reached us；
though we were close to the ramparts； and we gathered them up
by thousands； and sent them back with our double…Dupont
powder。 THEN they did damage enough。 In fact； we have
taken the Alamo with Mexican balls。〃
〃Under what flag did you fight； Roberto？〃
〃Under the Mexican republican flag of eighteen twenty…four；
but indeed； Maria； I do not think we had one in the camp。 We
were destitute of all the trappings of warwe had no
uniforms； no music； no flags； no positive military discipline。
But we had one heart and mind； and one object in view； and
this four days' fight has shown what men can do； who are moved
by a single； grand idea。〃
The Senora lay upon a sofa； the doctor sat by her side。
Gradually their conversation became more low and confidential。
They talked of their sons； and their probable whereabouts； of
all that the Senora and her daughters had suffered from the
disaffection of the servants； and the attitude taken by
Fray Ignatius。 And the doctor noticed； without much surprise；
that his wife's political sympathies were still in a state of
transition and uncertainty。 She could not avoid prophesying
the speedy and frightful vengeance of Mexico。 She treated the
success at San Antonio as one of the accidents of war。 She
looked forward to an early renewal of hostilities。
〃My countrymen are known to me； Roberto；〃 she said； with a
touch that was almost a hope of vengeance。 〃They have an
insurmountable honor； they will revenge this insult to it in
some terrible way。 If the gracious Maria holds not the hands
of Santa Anna； he will utterly destroy the Americans！ He will
be like a tiger that has become mad。〃
〃I am not so much afraid of Santa Anna as of Fray Ignatius。
Promise me； my dear Maria； that you will not suffer yourself
or your children to be decoyed by him into a convent。 I
should never see you again。〃
The discussion on this subject was long and eager。 Antonia；
talking with Dare a little apart； could not help hearing it
and feeling great interest in her father's entreaties； even
though she was discussing with Dare the plans for their
future。 For Dare had much to tell his betrothed。 During the
siege； the doctor had discovered that his intended son…in…law
was a fine surgeon。 Dare had； with great delicacy； been quite
reticent on this subject； until circumstances made his
assistance a matter of life and death； and the doctor
understood and appreciated the young man's silence。
〃He thinks I might have a touch of professional jealousyhe
thinks I might suspect him of wanting a partnership as well as
a wife； he wishes to take his full share of the dangers of
war； without getting behind the shield of his profession〃；
these feelings the doctor understood； and he passed from Fray
Ignatius to this pleasanter topic； gladly。
He told the Senora what a noble son they were going to have；
he said； 〃when the war is over； Maria； my dear； he shall marry
Antonia。〃
〃And what do you say； Roberto； if I should give them the fine
house on the Plaza that my brother Perfecto left me？〃
〃If you do that you will be the best mother in the world；
Maria。 I then will take Dare into partnership。 He is good
and clever； and I am a little weary of work。 I shall enjoy
coming home earlier to you。 We will go riding and walking；
and our courting days will begin again。〃
〃Maria Santissima！ How delightful that will be； Roberto！ And
as for our Isabel； shall we not make her happy also？ Luis
should have done as his own family have done； a young man to
go against his mother and his uncles； that is very wicked！
but； if we forgive that fault； well； then； Luis is as good as
good bread。〃
〃I think so。 He began the study of the law。 He must finish
it。 He must learn the American laws also。 I am not a poor
man； Maria。 I will give Isabel the fortune worthy of a
Yturbide or a Floresa fortune that will make her very
welcome to the Alvedas。〃
The Senora clasped her husband's hand with a smile。 They were
sweetening their own happiness with making the happiness of
their children。 They looked first at Antonia。 She sat with
Dare； earnestly talking to him in a low voice。 Dare clasped
in his own the dear little hand that had been promised to
him。 Antonia bent toward her lover； her fair head rested
against his shoulder。 Isabel sat in a large chair； and Luis
leaned on the back of it； stooping his bright face to the
lovely one which was sometimes dropped to hide her blushes；
and sometimes lifted with flashing eyes to answer his tender
words。
〃My happiness is so great； Roberto； I am even tired of being
happy。 Call Rachela。 I must go to sleep。 To…night I cannot
even say an ave。〃
〃God hears the unspoken prayer in your heart； Maria； and to…
night let me help you upstairs。 My arm is stronger than
Rachela's。〃
She rose with a little affectation of greater weakness and
lassitude than she really felt。 But she wished to be weak； so
that her Roberto might be strongto be quite dependent on his
care and tenderness。 And she let her daughters embrace
her so prettily； and then offered her hand to Dare and Luis
with so much grace and true kindness that both young men were
enchanted。
〃It is to be seen that they are gentlemen；〃 she said； as she
went slowly upstairs on her husband's arm〃and hark！
that is the singing of Luis。 What is it he says？〃 They stood
still to listen。 Clear and sweet were the chords of the
mandolin； and melodiously to them Luis was protesting
〃Freedom shall have our shining blades！
Our hearts are yours； fair Texan maids！〃
CHAPTER X。
THE DOCTOR AND THE PRIEST。
〃I tell thee； priest； if the world were wise
They would not wag one finger in your quarrels：
Your heaven you promise； but our earth you covet；
The Phaetons of mankind； who fire the world
Which you were sent by preaching but to warm。〃
Your Saviour came not with a gaudy show；
Nor was His kingdom of the world below：
The crown He wore was of the pointed thorn
In purple He was crucified； not born。
They who contend for place a