Mexicans　to　flight。〃
  〃And　more；〃　added　a　young　Mexican　coming　up　to　the　group　of
  which　Robert　Worth　was　one；　〃Stephen　Austin　has　escaped；　and
  he　arrived　at　Gonzales　at　the　very　moment　of　victory。　　And
  more　yet：　　Americans　are　pouring　into　Gonzales　from　every
  quarter。〃
  An　officer　tapped　Doctor　Worth　on　the　shoulder。　　〃Senor
  Doctor；　your　arms。　　General　Cos　hopes；　in　the　present
  extremity；　you　will　set　an　example　of　obedience。〃
  〃I　will　not　give　up　my　arms。　　In　the　present　extremity　my　arms
  are　the　greatest　need　I　have。〃
  〃Then　Senor；it　is　a　great　affliction　to　meI　must　arrest
  you。〃
  He　was　led　away；　amid　the　audible　murmurs　of　the　men　who
  filled　the　streets。　　There　needed　but　some　one　to　have　said
  the　word；　and　they　would　have　taken　him　forcibly　from　the
  military。　　A　great　crowd　followed　him　to　the　gates　of　the
  Alamo。　　For　there　was　scarcely　a　family　in　San　Antonio　of　which
  this　good　doctor　was　not　an　adopted　member。　　The　arrest　of　their
  favorite　confessor　would　hardly　have　enraged　them　more。
  Fray　Ignatius　brought　the　news　to　the　Senora。　　Even　he　was
  affected　by　it。　　Never　before　had　Antonia　seen　him　walk　except
  with　thoughtful　and　deliberate　steps。　　She　wondered　at　his
  appearance；　at　its　suppressed　hurry；　at　a　something　in　it
  which　struck　her　as　suppressed　satisfaction。
  And　the　priest　was　in　his　heart　satisfied；　though　he　was
  consciously　telling　himself　that　〃he　was　sorry　for　the　Senora；
  and　that　he　would　have　been　glad　if　the　sins　of　her　husband
  could　have　been　set　against　the　works　of　supererogation　which
  the　saints　of　his　own　convent　had　amassed。〃
  〃But　he　is　an　infidel；　he　believes　not　in　the　saints；〃　he
  muttered；　〃then　how　could　they　avail　him！〃
  Antonia　met　him　at　the　door。　　He　said　an　Ave　Maria　as　he
  crossed　the　threshold；　and　gave　her　his　hand　to　kiss。　　She
  looked　wonderingly　in　his　face；　for　unless　it　was　a　special
  visit；　he　never　called　so　near　the　Angelus。　　Still；　it　is
  difficult　to　throw　off　a　habit　of　obedience　formed　in　early
  youth；　and　she　did　not　feel　as　if　she　could　break　through　the
  chill　atmosphere　of　the　man　and　ask：　　〃For　what　reason　have
  you　come；　father？〃
  A　long；　shrill　shriek　from　the　Senora　was　the　first　answer　to
  the　fearful　question　in　her　heart。　　In　a　few　moments　she　was
  at　her　mother's　door。　　Rachela　knelt　outside　it；　telling　her
  rosary。　　She　stolidly　kept　her　place；　and　a　certain　instinct
  for　a　moment　prevented　Antonia　interrupting　her。　　But　the
  passionate　words　of　her　mother；　blending　with　the　low；
  measured　tones　of　the　priest；　were　something　far　more
  positive。
  〃Let　me　pass　you；　Rachela。　　What　is　the　matter　with　my
  mother？〃
  The　woman　was　absorbed　in　her　supplications；　and　Antonia
  opened　the　door。　　Isabel　followed　her。　　They　found　themselves
  in　the　the｛sic｝　presence　of　an　angry　sorrow　that　appalled
  them。　　The　Senora　had　torn　her　lace　mantilla　into　shreds；　and
  they　were　scattered　over　the　room　as　she　had　flung　them　from
  her　hands　in　her　frantic　walk　about　it。　　The　large　shell　comb
  that　confined　her　hair　was　trodden　to　pieces；　and　its　long
  coils　had　fallen　about　her　face　and　shoulders。　　Her　bracelets；
  her　chain　of　gold；　her　brooch　and　rings　were　scattered　on　the
  floor；　and　she　was　standing　in　the　centre　of　it；　like　an
  enraged　creature；　tearing　her　handkerchief　into　strips；　as　an
  emphasis　to　her　passionate　denunciations。
  〃It　serves　him　right！　　JESUS！　　MARIA！　　JOSEPH！　　It　serves
  him　right！　　He　must　carry　arms！　　HE；　TOO！　when　it　was
  forbidden！　　I　am　glad　he　is　arrested！　　Oh；　Roberto！　　Roberto！〃
  〃Patience；　my　daughter！　　This　is　the　hand　of　God。　　What　can
  you　do　but　submit？〃
  〃What　is　it；　mi　madre？〃　and　Isabel　put　her　arms　around　her
  mother　with　the　words　mi　madre。　　〃Tell　Isabel　your　sorrow。〃
  〃Your　father　is　arrestedtaken　to　the　Alamohe　will　be　sent
  to　the　mines。　　I　told　him　so！　　I　told　him　so！　　He　would
  not　listen　to　me！　　How　wicked　he　has　been！〃
  〃What　has　my　father　done；　Fray　Ignatius？　　Why　have　they
  arrested　him？〃
  The　priest　turned　to　Antonia　with　a　cold　face。　　He　did　not
  like　her。　　He　felt　that　she　did　not　believe　in　him。
  〃Senorita；　he　has　committed　a　treason。　　A　good　citizen　obeys
  the　law；　Senor　Worth　has　defied　it。〃
  〃Pardon；　father；　I　cannot　believe　it。〃
  〃A　great　forbearance　has　been　shown　him；　but　the　end　of　mercy
  comes。　　As　he　persisted　in　wearing　arms；　he　has　been　taken　to
  the　Alamo　and　disarmed。〃
  〃It　is　a　great　shame！　　An　infamous　shame　and　wrong！〃　cried
  Antonia。　　〃What　right　has　any　one　to　take　my　father's　arms？
  No　more　than　they　have　to　take　his　purse　or　his　coat。〃
  〃General　Santa　Anna〃
  〃General　Santa　Anna　is　a　tyrant　and　a　thief。　　I　care　not　who
  says　different。〃
  〃Antonia！　　Shameless　one！〃
  〃Mother；　do　not　strike　me。〃　　Then　she　took　her　mother's　hands
  in　her　own；　and　led　her　to　a　couch；　caressing　her　as　she
  spoke
  〃Don't　believe　any　oneANY　ONE；　mother；　who　says　wrong　of
  my　father。　　You　know　that　he　is　the　best　of　men。　　Rachela！
  Come　here　instantly。　　The　rosary　is　not　the　thing；　now。　　You
  ought　to　be　attending　to　the　Senora。　　Get　her　some　valerian
  and　some　coffee；　and　come　and　remove　her　clothing。　　Fray
  Ignatius；　we　will　beg　you　to　leave　us　to…night　to　ourselves。〃
  〃Your　mother's　sin；　in　marrying　a　heretic；　has　now　found　her
  out。　　It　is　my　duty　to　make　her　see　her　fault。〃
  〃My　mother　had　a　dispensation　from　one　greater　than　you。〃
  〃Oh；　father；　pray　for　me！　　I　accuse　myself！　　I　accuse　myself！
  Oh；　wretched　woman！　　Oh；　cruel　husband！〃
  〃Mother；　you　have　been　a　very　happy　woman。　　You　have　had　the
  best　husband　in　the　world。　　Do　not　reproach　my　father　for　the
  sins　of　others。　　Do　not　desert　him　when　he　is　in　the　power　of
  a　human　tiger。　　My　God；　mother！　let　us　think　of　something　to
  be　done　for　his　help！　　I　will　see　the　Navarros；　the　Garcias；
  Judge　Valdez；　I　will　go　to　the　Plaza　and　call　on　the　thousands
  he　has　cured　and　helped　to　set　him　free。〃
  〃You　will　make　of　yourself　something　not　to　be　spoken　of。
  This　is　the　judgment　of　God；　my　daughter。〃
  〃It　is　the　judgment　of　a　wicked　man；　Fray　Ignatius。　　My　mother
  is　not　now　able　to　listen　to　you。　　Isabel；　come　here　and
  comfort　her。〃　　Isabel　put　her　cheek　to　her　mother's；　she
  murmured　caressing　words；　she　kissed　her　face；　and　coiled　up
  her　straggling　hair；　and　with　childlike　trust　amid　all；
  solicited　Holy　Mary　to　console　them。
  Fray　Ignatius　watched　her　with　a　cold　scrutiny。　　He　was　saying
  to　himself；　〃It　is　the　fruit　of　sin。　　I　warned　the　Senora；
  when　she　married　this　heretic；　that　trouble　would　come　of　it。
  Very　well；　it　has　come。〃　　Then　like　a　flash　a　new　thought
  invaded　his　mindIf　the　Senor　Doctor　disappeared　forever；　why
  not　induce　the　Senora　and　her　daughters　to　go　into　a　religious
  house？　　There　was　a　great　deal　of　money。　　The　church　could　use
  it　well。
  Antonia　did　not　understand　the　thought；　but　she　understood　its
  animus；　and　again　she　requested　his　withdrawal。　　This　time　she
  went　close　to　him；　and　bravely　looked　straight　into　his
  eyes。　　Their　scornful　gleam　sent　a　chill　to　her　heart　like
  that　of　cold　steel。　　At　that　moment　she　understood　that　she
  had　turned　a　passive　enemy　into　an　active　one。
  He　went；　however；　without　further　parley；　stopping　only　to
  warn　the　Senora　against　the　sin　〃of　standing　with　the　enemies
  of　God　and　the　Holy　Church；〃　and　to　order　Isabel　to　recite　for
  her　mother's　pardon　and　comfort　a　certain　number　of　aves　and
  paternosters。　　Antonia　went　with　him　to　the　door；　and　ere　he
  left　he　blessed　her；　and　said：　　〃The　Senorita　will　examine　her
  soul　and　see　her　sin。　　Then　the　ever　merciful　Church　will　hear
  her　confession；　and　give　her　the　satisfying　penance。〃
  Antonia　bowed　in　response。　　When　people　are　in　great　domestic
  sorrow；　self…examination　is　a　superfluous　advice。　　She
  listened　a　moment　to　his　departing　footsteps；　shivering　as　she
  stood　in　the　darkness；　for　a　norther　had　sprung　up；　and　the
  cold　was　severe。　　She　only　glanced　into　the　pleasant　parlor
  where　the　table　was　laid　for　dinner；　and　a　great　fire　of　cedar
  logs　was　throwing　red；　dancing　lights　over　the　white　linen　and
  the　shining　silver　and　glass。　　The　chairs　were　placed　around
  the　table；　her　father's　at　the　head。　　It　had　a　forsaken
  air　that　was　unendurable。
  The　dinner　hour　was　now　long　past。　　It　would　be　folly　to
  attempt　the　meal。　　How　could　she　and　Isabel　sit　down　alone　and
  eat；　and　her　father　in　prison；　and　her　mother　frantic　with　a
  loss　which　she　was　warned　it　was　sinful　to　mourn　over。
  Antonia　had　a　soul　made　for　extremities　and　not　afraid　to　face
  them；　but　invisible　hands　controlled　her。　　What　could　a　woman
  do；　whom　society　had　forbidden　to　do　anything；　but　endure　the
  pangs　of　patience？
  The　Senora　could　offer　no　suggestions。　　She　was　not　indeed　in
  a　mood　to　think　of　her　resources。　　A　spiritual　dread　was　upon
  her。　　And　with　this　mingled　an　intense　sense　of　personal　wrong
  from　her　husband。　　〃Had　she　not　begged　him　to　be　passive？　　And
  he　had　put　an　old　rifle　before　her　and　her　daughters！　　It　was
  all　that　Senor　Houston's　doing。　　She　had　an　assurance　of
  that。〃　　She　invoked　a　thousand　maledictions　on　him。　　She
  recalled；　with　passionate　reproaches；　Jack's　infidelity　to　her
  and　his　God　and　his　country。　　Her　anger　passed　from　one
  subject　to　another　constantly；　finding