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 the
girls stepped to a lattice at the end of the corridor and
looked out。
The residencia of Don Salvo Valasco was clearly visible from
this site。 They saw that it was illuminated throughout。
Lovely women； shining with jewels； and soldiers in scarlet and
gold； were chatting through the graceful movements of the
danza； or executing the more brilliant Jota Aragonesa。 The
misty beauty of white lace mantillas； the glitter and color of
fans and festival dresses； made a moving picture of great
beauty。
And as they watched it there was a cessation of the dance；
followed by the rapid sweep of a powerful hand over the
strings of a guitar。 Then a group of officers stepped
together； and a great wave of melodious song； solemn and
triumphant； thrilled the night。 It was the national hymn。
Antonia and Isabel knew it。 Every word beat upon their
hearts。 The power of association； the charm of a stately；
fervent melody was upon them。
〃It is Senor Higadillos who leads；〃 whispered Isabel； as a
resonant voice； powerful and sweet； cried
〃O list to the summons！ The blood of our sires；
Boils high in our veins； and to vengeance inspires！
Who bows to the yoke？ who bends to the blow？〃
and； without a moment's hesitation； the answer came in a
chorus of enthusiastic cadences
〃No hero will bend； no Mexican bow；
Our country in tears sends her sons to the fight；
To conquer； or die； for our land and our right。〃
〃You see； the Mexicans think THEY are in the rightTHEY
are patriots also； Antonia。〃
The sorrowful girl spoke like a puzzled child； fretfully and
uncertainly； and Antonia led her silently away。 What
could she answer？ And when she remembered the dear fugitive；
riding alone through the midnightriding now for life and
libertyshe could not help the uprising again of that cold
benumbing question〃Is it worth while？〃
CHAPTER VII。
A MEETING AT MIDNIGHT。
〃All faiths are to their own believers just；
For none believe because they will； but must；
The priest continues what the nurse began；
And thus the child imposes on the man。〃
DRYDEN。
〃if he be called upon to face
Some awful moment； to which heaven has joined
Great issues good or bad for humankind；
Is happy as a lover； and attired
With sudden brightness； like a man inspired；
And through the heat of conflict keeps the law
In calmness made； and sees what he foresaw；
Or； if an unexpected call succeed；
Come when it will； is equal to the need。〃
WORDSWORTH。
〃Ah！ love； let us be true
To one another； through the world which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams！〃
The gathering at Don Valasco's was constantly repeated in
various degrees of splendor among the loyal Mexicans of the
city。 They were as fully convinced of the justice of their
cause as the Americans were。 〃They had graciously
permitted Americans to make homes in their country； now they
wanted not only to build heretic churches and sell heretic
bibles； but also to govern Texas after their own fashion。〃
From a Mexican point of view the American settlers were a
godless； atheistical； quarrelsome set of ingrates。 For eaten
bread is soon forgotten； and Mexicans disliked to remember
that their own independence had been won by the aid of the
very men they were now trying to force into subjection。
The two parties were already in array in every house in the
city。 The Senora at variance with her daughters； their Irish
cook quarrelling with their Mexican servants； only represented
a state of things nearly universal。 And after the failure of
the Mexicans at Gonzales to disarm the Americans； the
animosity constantly increased。
In every church； the priestsmore bitter； fierce and
revengeful than either the civil or military powerurged on
the people an exterminating war。 A black flag waved from the
Missions； and fired every heart with an unrelenting vengeance
and hatred。 To slay a heretic was a free pass through the
dolorous pains of purgatory。 For the priesthood foresaw
that the triumph of the American element meant the triumph of
freedom of conscience； and the abolition of their own
despotism。 To them the struggle was one involving all the
privileges of their order； and they urged on the fight with
passionate denunciations of the foe； and with magnificent
promises of spiritual favors and blessings。 In the fortress；
the plaza； the houses； the churches； the streets； their fiery
words kept society in a ferment。
But through all this turmoil the small duties of life went on。
Soldiers were parading the streets； and keeping watch on the
flat roofs of the houses； men were solemly｛sic｝ swearing
allegiance to Santa Anna； or flying by night to the camp of
the Americans； life and death were held at a pin's fee； but
eating and dressing； dancing and flirting were pursued with an
eagerness typical of pleasure caught in the passing。
And every hour these elements gathered intensity。 The always
restless populace of San Antonio was at a feverish point of
impatience。 They wanted the war at their own doors。 They
wanted the quarrel fought out on their own streets。
Business took a secondary place。 Men fingered weapons and
dreamed of blood； until the temper of the town was as
boisterous and vehement as the temper of the amphitheatre when
impatiently waiting for the bulls and the matadores。
Nor was it possible for Antonia to lock the door upon this
pervading spirit。 After Doctor Worth's flight； it became
necessary for her to assume control over the household。 She
had promised him to do so； and she was resolved； in spite of
all opposition； to follow out his instructions。 But it was by
no means an easy task。
Fray Ignatius had both the Senora and Rachela completely under
his subjection。 Molly； the Irish cook； was already
dissatisfied。 The doctor had saved her life and given her a
good home and generous wages； and while the doctor was happy
and prosperous Molly was accordingly grateful。 But a few
wo