on the brave hearts and strong arms that I set me here！〃 And
they answered the silent appeal with a cheer that promised
everything； with a love that even then began to wonder if
there were not a place for such a glorious star in the grand
constellation under which most of them had been born。
A short time after their return； the Senora had a letter from
her husband； saying that he was going to New Orleans with
General Houston； whose wound was in a dangerous condition。
Thomas Worth had been appointed to an important post in the
civil government； and his labors； like those of all the public
men of Texas at that date； were continuous and Herculean。 It
was impossible for him to leave them； but the doctor assured
his wife that he would return as soon as he had placed Houston
in the hands of skilful surgeons； and he asked her； until
then； to be as happy as her circumstances permitted。
She was quite willing to obey the request。 Not naturally
inclined to worry； she found many sources of content and
pleasure； until the early days of June brought back to her the
husband she so truly loved； and with him the promise of a
return to her own home。 Indeed the difficulties in the way of
this return had vanished ere they were to meet。 Fray Ignatius
had convinced himself that his short lease had fully expired；
and when Dr。 Worth went armed with the legal process necessary
to resume his rights； he found his enemy had already
surrendered them。 The house was empty。 Nothing of its old
splendor remained。 Every one of its properties had been
scattered。 The poor Senora walked through the desolate rooms
with a heartache。
〃It was precisely in this spot that the sideboard stood；
Roberto！the sideboard that my cousin Johar presented to me。
It came from the City of Mexico； and there was not another
like it。 I shall regret it all my life。〃
〃Maria； my dearest； it might have been worse。 The silver
which adorned it is safe。 Those rmonks did not find
out its hiding…place； and I bought you a far more beautiful
sideboard in New Orleans； the very newest style； Maria。〃
〃Roberto！ Roberto！ How happy you make me！ To be sure my
cousin Johar's sideboard was already shabbyand to have a
sideboard from New Orleans； that； indeed； is something to talk
about！〃
〃Besides； which； dearest one； I bought new furniture for the
parlors； and for your own apartments； also for Antonia's and
Isabel's rooms。 Indeed； Maria； I thought it best to provide
afresh for the whole house。〃
〃How wonderful！ No wife in San Antonio has a husband so good。
I will never condescend to speak of you when other women talk
of their husbands。 New furniture for my whole house！ The
thing is inconceivably charming。 But when； Roberto； will
these things arrive？ Is there danger on the road they are
coming？ Might not some one take them away？ I shall not be
able to sleep until I am sure they are safe。〃
〃I chartered a schooner in New Orleans； and came with them to
the Bay of Espiritu Santo。 There I saw them placed upon
wagons； and only left them after the customs had been paid in
the interiorsixty miles away。 You may hire servants at once
to prepare the rooms： the furniture will be here in about
three days。〃
〃I am the happiest woman in the world； Roberto！ 〃And she
really felt herself to be so。 Thoughtful love could have
devised nothing more likely to bridge pleasantly and surely
over the transition between the past and the coming life。
Every fresh piece of furniture unpacked was a new wonder and
a new delight。 With her satin skirts tucked daintily clear of
soil； and her mantilla wrapped around her head and shoulders；
she went from room to room； interesting herself in every strip
of carpet； and every yard of drapery。 Her delight was
infectious。 The doctor smiled to find himself comparing
shades； and gravely considering the arrangement of chairs and
tables。
But how was it possible for so loving a husband and father to
avoid sharing the pleasure he had provided？ And Isabel was
even more excited than her mother。 All this grandeur had a
double meaning to her； it would reflect honor upon the
betrothal receptions which would be given for Luis and
herself〃amber satin and white lace is exactly what I should
have desired； Antonia；〃 she said delightedly。 〃How
exceedingly suitable it will be to me！ And those delicious
chintzes and dimities for our bedrooms！ Did you ever conceive
of things so beautiful？〃
Antonia was quite ready to echo her delight。 Housekeeping and
homemaking； in all its ways； was her lovable talent。 It was
really Antonia who saw all the plans and the desires of the
Senora thoroughly carried out。 It was her clever fingers and
natural taste which gave to every room that air of comfort and
refinement which all felt and admired； but which seemed to
elude their power to imitate。
On the fourth of July the doctor and his family ate together
their first dinner in their renovated home。 The day was one
that he never forgot； and he was glad to link it with a
domestic occurence so happy and so fortunate。
Sometimes silently； sometimes with a few words to his boys； he
had always； on this festival； drank his glass of fine Xeres to
the honor and glory of the land he loved。 This day he
spoke her name proudly。 He recalled the wonders of her past
progress； he anticipated the blessings which she would bring
to Texas； he said； as he lifted the glass in his hand； and let
the happy tears flow down his browned and thinned face：
〃My wife and daughters； I believe I shall live to see the lone
star set in the glorious assemblage of her sister stars！ I
shall live to say； I dwell in San Antonio； which is the
loveliest city in the loveliest State of the American Union。
For； dear ones； I was born an American citizen； and I ask this
favor of God； that I may also die an American citizen。〃
〃MI ROBERTO； when you die I shall not long survive you。
And now that the house is made so beautiful！ With so much new
furniture！ How can you speak of dying？〃
〃And； my dear father； remember how you have toiled and suffered
for THE INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS。〃
〃Because； Antonia； I would have Texas go free into a union of
free States。 This was the hope of Houston。 ‘We can have
help；' he often said to his little army； 〃a word will call
help from Nacogdoches；but we will emancipate ourselves。
If we go into the American States； we will go as equals； we
will go as men who have won the right to say： LET US DWELL UNDER
THE SAME FLAG； FOR WE ARE BROTHERS！〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
UNDER ONE FLAG。
〃And through thee I believe
In the noble and great； who are gone。〃
〃Yes！ I believe that there lived
Others like thee in the past。
Not like the men of the crowd。
Who all around me to…day；
Bluster； or cringe； and make life
Hideous； and arid； and vile；
But souls temper'd with fire；
Fervent； heroic； and good；
Helpers； and friends of mankind。〃
ARNOLD。
〃Our armor now may rust； our idle scimitars
Hang by our sides for ornament； not use。
Children shall beat our atabals and drums；
And all the noisy trades of war no more
Shall wake the peaceful morn。〃
DRYDEN。
As the years go on they bring many changeschanges that come
as naturally as the seasonsthat tend as naturally to
anticipated growth and decaythat scarcely startle the
subjects of them； till a lengthened…out period of
time discloses their vitality and extent。 Between the ages of
twenty and thirty； ten years do not seem very destructive to
life。 The woman at eighteen； and twenty…eight； if changed； is
usually ripened and improved； the man at thirty； finer and
more mature than he was at twenty。 But when this same period
is placed to women and men who are either approaching fifty；
or have passed it； the change is distinctly felt。
It was even confessed by the Senora one exquisite morning in
the beginning of March； though the sun was shining warmly； and
the flowers blooming； and the birds singing； and all nature
rejoicing； as though it was the first season of creation。
〃I am far from being as gay and strong as I wish to be；
Roberto；〃 she； said； 〃and today； consider what a company there
is coming！ And if General Houston is to be added to it； I
shall be as weary as I shall be happy。〃
〃He is the simplest of men； a cup of coffee； a bit of steak〃
〃SAN BLAS！ That is how you talk！ But is； it possible to
receive him like a common mortal？ He is a hero； and； besides
that； among hidalgos de casa Solar〃 （gentlemen of known
property）
〃Well； then； you have servants； Maria； my dear one。〃
〃Servants！ Bah！ Of what use are they； Roberto； since they
also have got hold of American ideas？〃
〃Isabel and Antonia will be here。〃
〃Let me only enumerate to you； Roberto。 Thomas and his wife
and four children arrived last night。 You may at this moment
hear the little Maria crying。 I dare say Pepita is washing
the child； and using soap which is very disagreeable。 I have
always admired the