Houston； whom be calls his friend！ Holy Virgin preserve us
from such Mexicans！〃
〃It is easier to talk than to fight。 Morello's tongue is
sharper than his sword。〃
〃Captain Morello was placing his sword beside that of Don
Luis； when the Commandant interfered。 He would not permit his
officers to fight in such a quarrel。 ‘Santo Dios！' he said；
‘you shall all have your opportunity very soon； gentlemen。'
Just reflect upon the folly of a boy like Don Luis；
challenging a soldier like Morello！〃
〃He was in no danger； mother；〃 said Antonia scornfully。
〃Morello is a bully； who wears the pavement out with his
spurs and sabre。 His weapons are for show。 Americans； at
least； wear their arms for use； and not for ornament。〃
〃Listen； Antonia！ I will not have them spoken of。 They are
Jewsor at least infidels； all of them！the devil himself is
their fatherthe bishop； when he was here last confirmation；
told me so。〃
〃Mother！〃
〃At least they are unbaptized Christians； Antonia。 If you are
not baptized； the devil sends you to do his work。 As for Don
Luis； he is a very Judas！ Ah； Maria Santissima！ how I do pity
his good mother！〃
〃Poor Don Luis！〃 said Isabel plaintively。
He is so handsome； and he sings like a very angel。 And he
loves my father； he wanted to be a doctor； so that he could
always be with him。 I dare say this man called Houston is no
better than a Jew； and perhaps very ugly beside。 Let us talk
no more about him and the Americans。 I am weary of them； as
Tia Rachella says； ‘they have their spoon in every one's
mess。'〃
And Antonia； whose heart was burning； only stooped down and
closed her sister's pretty mouth with a kiss。 Her tongue was
impatient to speak for the father； and grandmother； and the
friends； so dear to her； but she possessed great discretion；
and also a large share of that rarest of all womanly graces；
the power under provocation； of 〃putting on Patience the
noble。〃
CHAPTER III。
BUILDERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH。
〃Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing
herself like a strong man after sleep and shaking her
invincible locks。 Methinks I see her as an eagle mewing her
mighty youth and kindling her undazzled eye in the full mid…
day beam。〃MILTON。
〃And from these grounds； concluding as we doe；
Warres causes diuerse； so by consequence
Diuerse we must conclude their natures too：
For war proceeding from Omnipotence；
No doubt is holy； wise； and without error；
The sword； of justice and of sin； the terror。〃
LORD BROOKE。
It is the fashion now to live for the present but the men of
fifty years ago； the men who builded the nation； they
reverenced the past； and therefore they could work for the
future。 As Robert Worth rode through the streets of San
Antonio that afternoon； he was thinking； not of his own life；
but of his children's and of the generations which should come
after them。
The city was flooded with sunshine； and crowded with
a pack…train going to Sonora； the animals restlessly
protesting against the heat and flies； their Mexican drivers
in the pulqueria； spending their last peso with their
compadres； or with the escort of soldiers which was to
accompany thema little squad of small； lithe men； with
round； yellow； beardless faces； bearing in a singular degree
the stamp of being native to the soil。 Their lieutenant； a
gorgeously clad officer with a very distinguished air； was
coming slowly down the street to join them。 He bowed； and
smiled pleasantly to the doctor as he passed him； and then in
a few moments the word of command and the shouting of men and
the clatter of hoofs invaded the enchanted atmosphere like an
insult。
But the tumult scarcely jarred with the thoughts of his mind。
They had been altogether of war and rumors of war。 Every hour
that subtile consciousness of coming events； which makes whole
communities at times prescient； was becoming stronger。 〃If
the powers of the air have anything to do with the destinies
of men；〃 he muttered； 〃there must be unseen battalions around
me。 The air I am breathing is charged with the feeling of
battle。〃
After leaving the city there were only a few Mexican huts on
the shady road leading to his own house。 All within them were
asleep； even the fighting cocks tied outside were dozing on
their perches。 He was unusually weary； he had been riding
since dawn； and his heart had not been in sympathy with his
body； it had said no good cheer to it； whispered no word of
courage or promise。
All at once his physical endurance seemed exhausted； and he
saw the white wall and arched gateway of his garden and the
turrets of his home with an inexpressible relief。 But it was
the hour of siesta； and he was always careful not to let the
requirements of his profession disturb his household。 So he
rode quietly to the rear； where he found a peon nodding within
the stable door。 He opened his eyes unnaturally wide； and
rose to serve his master。
〃See thou rub the mare well down； and give her corn and
water。〃
〃To be sure； Senior； that is to be done。 A stranger has been
here to…day； an American。〃
〃What did he say to thee？〃
〃That he would call again； Senor。〃
The incident was not an unusual one； and it did not trouble
the doctor's mind。 There was on the side of the house a low
extension containing two rooms。 These rooms belonged
exclusively to him。 One was his study； his office； his
covert； the place to which he went when he wanted to be alone
with his own soul。 There were a bed and bath and refreshments
in the other room。 He went directly to it； and after eating
and washing； fell into a profound sleep。
At the hour before Angelus the house was as noisy and busy as
if it had been an inn。 The servants were running hither and
thither； all of them expressing themselves in voluble Spanish。
The cooks were quarrelling in the kitchen。 Antonia was
showing the table men； as she had to do afresh every day； how
to lay the cloth and serve the dishes in the American fashion。
When the duty was completed； she went into the garden to
listen for the Angelus。 The young ladies of to…day would
doubtless consider her toilet frightfully unbecoming； but
Antonia looked lovely in it； though but a white muslin frock；
with a straight skirt and low waist and short； full sleeves。
It was confined by a blue belt with a gold buckle； and her
feet were in sandalled slippers of black satin。
The Angelus tolled； and the thousands of Hail Maries！ which
blended with its swinging vibrations were uttered； and left to
their fate； as all spoken words must be。 Antonia still
observed the form。 It lent for a moment a solemn beauty to
her face。 She was about to re…enter the house； when she saw
a stranger approaching it。 He was dressed in a handsome
buckskin suit； and a wide Mexican hat； but she knew at once
that he was an American； and she waited to receive him。
As soon as he saw her； he removed his hat and approached with
it in his hand。 Perhaps he was conscious that the act not
only did homage to womanhood； but revealed more perfectly a
face of remarkable beauty and nobility。 For the rest； he was
very tall； powerfully built； elegantly proportioned； and his
address had the grace and polish of a cultured gentleman。
〃I wish to see Dr。 Worth； Dona。〃
With a gentle inclination of the head； she led him to the door
of her father's office。 She was the only one in the Doctor's
family at all familiar with the room。 The Senora said so
many books made her feel as if she were in a church or
monastery； she was afraid to say anything but paternosters in
it。 Isabel cowered before the poor skeleton in the corner；
and the centipedes and snakes that filled the bottles on the
shelves。 There was not a servant that would enter the room。
But Antonia did not regard books as a part of some vague
spiritual power。 She knew the history of the skeleton。 She
had seen the death of many of those 〃little devils〃 corked up
in alcohol。 She knew that at this hour； if her father were at
home he was always disengaged； and she opened the door
fearlessly； saying； 〃Father； here is a gentleman who wishes to
see you。〃
The doctor had quite refreshed himself； and； in a house…suit
of clean； white linen； was lying on a couch reading。 He arose
with alacrity； and with his pleasant smile seemed to welcome
the intruder； as he stepped behind him and closed the door。
Antonia had disappeared。 They were quite alone。
〃You are Doctor Robert Worth； sir？〃
Their eyes met； their souls knew each other。
〃And you are Sam Houston？〃
The questions were answered in a hand grip； a sympathetic
smile on both facesthe freemasonry of kindred spirits。
〃I have a letter from your son Thomas； doctor； and I think；
also； that you will have something to say to me； and I to
you。〃
The most prudent of patriots could not have resisted this man。
He had that true imperial look which all born rulers of men
possessthat look that half coerces； and wholly persuades。
Robert Worth acknowledged its power by his instant and
decisive answer。
〃I have； indeed； much to say to you。 We shall have dinner
directly； then you will give the night to me？〃
After a short conversation he led him into the sala and
introduced him to Antonia。 He himself had to prepare the
Senora for her visitor； and he had a little quaking of the
heart as he entered her room。 She was dressed for dinner； and
turned with a laughing face to meet him。
〃I have been listening to the cooks quarrelling over the olla；
Roberto。 But what can my poor Manuel say when your Irishwoman
attacks him。 Listen to her！ ‘Take your dirty stew aff
the fire then！ Shure it isn't fit for a Christian to ate at
all！'〃
〃I hope it is； Maria； for we have a visitor to…night。〃
〃Who； then； my love？〃
〃Mr。 Houston。〃
〃Sam Houston？ Holy Virgin of Guadalupe preserve us！ I will
not see the man。〃
〃I think you will； Maria。 He has brought this letter for you
from our son Thomas； and he has been so kind as to take charge
of some fine horses； and sell them well for him in San
Antonio。 When a man does us a kindness； we should say thank
you。〃
〃That is truth； if