forward the lagging wheels of destiny。
A long fanfare of trumpets； a roll of drums； a stirring march
of warlike melody； startled them out of the lethargic tedium
of exhausted hopes and fears。 〃It is Santa Anna！〃 said
Antonia； and though they durst not stand up； they drew closer
to the balustrade and watched for the approaching army。 Is
there any woman who can resist that nameless emotion which
both fires and rends the heart in the presence of great
military movements？ Antonia was still and speechless； and
white as death。 Isabel watched with gleaming eyes and
set lips。 The Senora's excitement was unmistakably that of
exultant national pride。
Santa Anna and his staff…officers were in front。 They passed
too rapidly for individual notice； but it was a grand moving
picture of handsome men in scarlet and goldof graceful
mangas and waving plumes； and bright…colored velvet capes； of
high…mettled horses； and richly…adorned Mexican saddles；
aqueras of black fur； and silver stirrups； of thousands of
common soldiers； in a fine uniform of red and blue； with
antique brazen helmets gleaming in the sun； and long lances；
adorned with tri…colored streamers。 They went past like a
vivid； wonderful dreamlike the vision of an army of
mediaeval knights。
In a few minutes the tumult of the advancing army was
increased tenfold by the clamor of the city pouring out to
meet it。 The clashing bells from the steeples； the shouting
of the populace； the blare of trumpets and roll of drums； the
lines of churchmen and officials in their grandest dresses； of
citizens of every age；the indescribable human murmur
altogether it was a scene whose sensuous splendor
obliterated for a time the capacity of impressionable
natures to judge rightly。
But Antonia saw beyond all this brave show the ridges of red
war； and a noble perversity of soul made her turn her senses
inward。 Then her eyes grew dim； and her heart rose in pitying
prayer for that small band of heroes standing together for
life and liberty in the grim Alamo。 No pomp of war was
theirs。 They were isolated from all their fellows。 They were
surrounded by their enemies。 No word of sympathy could reach
them。 Yet she knew they would stand like lions at bay； that
they would give life to its last drop for liberty； and rather
than be less than freemen； they would prefer not to be at all。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE FALL OF THE ALAMO。
〃The combat deepens。 On； ye brave！
Who rush to glory or the grave。〃
〃To all the sensual world proclaim：
One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name。〃
〃Gashed with honorable scars；
Low in Glory's lap they lie；
Though they fell； they fell like stars；
Streaming splendor through the sky。〃
The passing…by of Santa Anna and the Mexican army； though it
had been hourly expected for nearly three days； was an event
which threw the Senora and her daughters into various
conditions of mental excitement。 They descended from the roof
to the Senora's room； where they could move about and converse
with more freedom。 For the poor lady was quite unable to
control her speech and actions； and was also much irritated by
Antonia's more composed manner。 She thought it was want of
sympathy。
〃How can you take things with such a blessed calmness；〃 she
asked； angrily。 〃But it is the way of the Americans； no
doubt； who must have everything for prudence。 Sensible！
Sensible！ Sensible！ that is the tune they are forever
playing； and you dance to it like a miracle。〃
〃My dear mother； can we do any good by exclaiming and
weeping？〃
〃Holy Virgin！ Perhaps not； but to have a little human nature
is more agreeable to those who are yet on the earth side of
purgatory。〃
〃Mi madre；〃 said Isabel； 〃Antonia is our good angel。 She
thinks for us； and plans for us； and even now has everything
ready for us to move at a moment's notice。 Our good angels
have to be sensible and prudent； madre。〃
〃To move at a moment's notice！ Virgin of Guadalupe！ where
shall we go to？ Could my blessed father and mother see me in
this prison； this very vault； I assure you they would be
unhappy even among the angels。〃
〃Mother； there are hundreds of women today in Texas who would
think this house a palace of comfort and safety。〃
〃Saints and angels！ Is that my fault？ Does it make my
condition more endurable？ Ah； my children； I have seen great
armies come into San Antonio； and always before I have been
able to make a little pleasure to myself out of the event。
For the Mexicans are not blood…thirsty； though they are very
warlike。 When Bravo was here； what balls； what bull…fights；
what visiting among the ladies！ Indeed there was so much to
tell； the tertulia was as necessary as the dinner。 To be
sure； the Mexicans are not barbarians； they made a war that
had some refinement。 But the Americans！ They are savages。
With them it is fight； fight； fight； and if we try to be
agreeable； as we were to that outrageous Sam Houston； they say
thank you； madam； and go on thinking their own cruel thoughts。
I wonder the gentle God permits that such men live。〃
〃Dear mother； refinement in war is not possible。 Nothing can
make it otherwise than brutal and bloody。〃
〃Antonia； allow that I； who am your mother； should know what
I have simply seen with my eyes。 Salcedo； Bravo； Martinez；
Urreaare they not great soldiers？ Very well； then； I
say they brought some pleasure with their armies； and you will
see that Santa Anna will do the same。 If we were only in our
own home！ It must have been the devil who made us leave it。〃
〃How truly splendid the officers looked； mi madre。 I dare say
Senora Valdez will entertain them。〃
〃That is certain。 And as for Dorette Valdezthe coquetteit
will certainly be a great happiness to her。〃
Isabel sighed； and the Senora felt a kind of satisfaction in
the sigh。 It was unendurable to be alone in her regrets and
her longings。
〃Yes；〃 she continued； 〃every night Senora Trespalacios will
give a tertulia； and the officers will have military balls
the brave young men； they will be so gay； so charming； so
devoted； and in a few hours； perhaps； they will go into the
other world by the road of the battlefield。 Ah； how pitiful！
How interesting！ Cannot you imagine it？〃
Isabel sighed again； but the sigh was for the gay； the
charming Luis Alveda。 And when she thought of him； she
forgot in a moment to envy Dorette Valdez； or the senoritas of
the noble house of Trespalacios。 And some sudden； swift touch
of sympathy； strong as it was occult； made the Senora at the
same moment remember her husband and her sons。 A real sorrow
and a real anxiety drove out all smaller annoyances。 Then
both her daughters wept together； until their community of
grief had brought to each heart the solemn strength of a
divine hope and reliance。
〃My children； I will go now and pray；〃 said the sorrowful wife
and mother。 〃At the foot of the cross I will wait for the
hour of deliverance； and casting herself on her knees； with
her crucifix in her hand； she appeared in a moment to have
forgotten everything but her anguish and her sins； and the
Lamb of God upon whom； with childlike faith； she was
endeavoring to cast them。 Her tears dropped upon the ivory
image of the Crucified； and sympathetic tears sprung into
Antonia's and Isabel's eyes； as they listened to her
imploration。
That night； when all was dark and still； Ortiz returned with
the wagon。 In the morning Antonia went to speak to him。
He looked worn…out and sorrowful； and she feared to ask him
for news。 〃There is food in the house； and I have made you
chocolate；〃 she said； as she pitifully scanned the man's
exhausted condition。
〃The Senorita is kind as the angels。 I will eat and drink at
her order。 I am； indeed； faint and hungry。〃
She brought him to the table； and when he refused to sit in
her presence； she said frankly； 〃Captain Ortiz； you are our
friend and not our servant。 Rest and refresh yourself。〃
He bent upon one knee and kissed the hand she offered； and
without further remonstrance obeyed her desire。 Isabel came
in shortly； and with the tact of true kindness she made no
remark； but simply took the chair beside Ortiz； and said； in
her usual voice and manner： 〃Good morning； Captain。 We are
glad to see you。 Did you meet my brother Thomas again？〃
〃Senorita； God be with you！ I have not seen him。 I was at
Goliad。〃
〃Then you would see our brother Juan？〃
〃Si。 The Senor Juan is in good health and great
happiness。 He sent by my willing hands a letter。〃
〃Perhaps also you saw his friend； Senor Grant？〃
〃From him； also； I received a letter。 Into your gracious
care； Senorita； I deliver them。〃
〃I thank you for your kindness； Captain。 Tell us now of the
fortress。 Are the troops in good spirits？〃
〃Allow me to fear that they are in too good assurance of
success。 The most of the men are very young。 They have not
yet met our Lady of Sorrows。 They have promised to themselves
the independence of Texas。 They will also conquer Mexico。
There are kingdoms in the moon for them。 I en