had　helped　her　in　many　ways；　and　she　still　felt　an
  interest　in　her　welfare。　　It　appeared　now　to　be　assured。
  Antonia　found　her　camping　in　a　little　grove　of　mulberry　trees。
  She　had　recovered　her　health；　her　children　were　noisy　and
  happy；　and　her　husband；　a　tall；　athletic　man；　with　a
  determined　eye　and　very　courteous　manners；　was　unharnessing
  the　mules　from　a　fine　Mexican　wagon；　part　of　the　lawful　spoils
  of　war。　　They；　too；　were　going　home：　〃back　to　the　Brazos；〃
  said　the　woman　affectionately；　and　we're　in　a　considerable
  hurry；〃　she　added；　because　it's　about　time　to　get　the　corn　in。
  Jake　lays　out　to　plant　fifty　acres　this　year。　　He　says　he　can
  go　to　planting　now　with　an　easy　conscience；　he　'lows　he　has
  killed　enough　Mexicans　to　keep　him　quiet　a　spell。〃
  They　talked　a　short　time　together；　and　then　Antonia　walked
  slowly　into　the　deeper　shadows　of　the　wood。　　She　found　a　wide
  rock；　under　trees　softly　dimpling；　pendulous；　and　tenderly
  green；　and　she　sat　down　in　the　sweet　gloom；　to　think　of　the
  beloved　dead。　　She　had　often　longed　for　some　quiet　spot；
  where；　alone　with　God　and　nature；　she　could；　just　for　once；
  give　to　her　sorrow　and　her　love　a　free　expression。
  Now　the　opportunity　seemed　to　be　hers。　　She　began　to　recall
  her　whole　acquaintance　with　Daretheir　hours　of　pleasant
  studytheir　sails　upon　the　rivertheir　intercourse　by　the
  firesidethe　most　happy　Sundays；　when　they　walked　in　the
  house　of　God　together。　　In　those　days；　what　a　blessed　future
  was　before　them！　　She　recalled　also　the　time　of　hope　and
  anxiety　after　the　storming　of　the　Alamo；　and　then　the　last
  heroic　act　of　his　stainless　life。　　She　had　felt　sure　that　in
  such　a　session　with　her　own　soul　she　would　find　the　relief　of
  unrestrained　and　unchecked　weeping。　　But　we　cannot　kindle　when
  we　will　either　the　fire　or　the　sensibility　of　the　soul。　　She
  could　not　weep；　tears　were　far　from　her。　　Nay；　more；　she　began
  to　feel　as　if　tears　were　not　needed　for　one　who　had　found　out
  so　beautiful；　so　unselfish；　so　divine　a　road　to　the　grave。
  Ought　she　not　rather　to　rejoice　that　he　had　been　so　early
  called　and　blest？　　To　be　glad　for　herself；　too；　that　all　her
  life　long　she　could　keep　the　exquisite　memory　of　a　love　so
  noble？
  In　the　drift　of　such　thoughts；　her　white；　handsome　face
  grew　almost　angelic。　　She　sat　motionless　and　let　them　come　to
  her；　as　if　she　were　listening　to　the　comforting　angels。
  For　God　has　many　ways　of　saying　to　the　troubled　soul：　　〃Be　at
  peace〃；　and；　certainly；　Antonia　had　not　anticipated　the
  calmness　and　resignation　which　forbid　her　the　tears　she　had
  bespoken。
  At　length；　in　that　sweet　melancholy　which　such　a　mental
  condition　induces；　she　rose　to　return　to　the　camp。　　A　few
  yards　nearer　to　it　she　saw　Lopez　sitting　in　a　reverie　as
  profound　as　her　own　had　been。　　He　stood　up　to　meet　her。　　The
  patience；　the　pathos；　the　exaltation　in　her　face　touched　his
  heart　as　no　words　could　have　done。　　He　said；　only：　　〃Senorita；
  if　I　knew　how　to　comfort　you！〃
  〃I　went　away　to　think　of　the　dead；　Senor。〃
  〃I　comprehendbut　then；　I　wonder　if　the　dead　remember　the
  living！〃
  〃In　whatever　dwelling…place　of　eternity　the　dear　ones　who　died
  at　Goliad　are；　I　am　sure　that　they　remember。　　Will　the
  emancipated　soul　be　less　faithful　than　the　souls　still
  earthbound？　　Good　souls　could　not　even　wish　to　forgetand
  they　were　good。〃
  〃It　will　never　be　permitted　me　to　know　two　souls　more　pure；
  more　faithful；　more　brave；　Juan　was　as　a　brother　to　me；
  and；　BY　MY　SANTIGUADA！＇6＇　　I　count　it　among　God's　blessings
  to　have　known　a　man　like　Senor　Grant。　　A　white　soul　he　had
  indeed；　full　of　great　nobilities！〃
  ＇6＇　Sign　of　the　Cross。
  Antonia　looked　at　him　gratefully。　　Tears　uncalled…for　sprang
  into　the　eyes　of　both；　they　clasped　hands　and　walked　mutely
  back　to　the　camp　together。　　For　the　sentiment　which　attends
  the　realization　that　all　is　over；　is　gathered　silently　into
  the　heart；　it　is　too　deep　for　words。
  They　found　the　camp　already　in　that　flurry　of　excitement
  always　attendant　upon　its　rest　and　rising；　and　the　Senora　was
  impatiently　inquiring　for　her　eldest　daughter。
  〃GRACIOUS　MARIA！　　Is　that　you；　Antonia？　　At　this　hour　we
  are　all　your　servants；　I　think。　　I；　at　least；　have　been
  waiting　upon　your　pleasure〃；　then　perceiving　the　traces　of
  sorrow　and　emotion　on　her　face；　she　added；　with　an
  unreasonable　querulousness：　　〃I　bless　God　when　I　see　how　He
  has　provided　for　women；　giving　them　tears；　when　they　have　no
  other　employment　for　their　time。〃
  〃Dearest　mother；　I　am　sorry　to　have　kept　you　waiting。　　I　hope
  that　you　have　forgotten　nothing。　　Where　is　your　mantilla？　　And
  have　you　replenished　your　cigarito　case？　　Is　there　water　in
  the　wagon？〃
  〃Nothing　has　been　provided。　　Things　most　necessary　are
  forgotten；　no　doubt。　　When　you　neglect　such　matters；　what　less
  could　happen？〃
  But　such　little　breezes　of　temper　were　soon　over。　　The
  influences　surrounding；　the　prospects　in　advance；　were　too
  exhilarating　to　permit　of　anything　but　passing　shadows；　and
  after　an　easy；　delightful　journey；　they　reached　at　length　the
  charming　vicinity　of　the　romantic　city　of　the　sword。　　They　had
  but　another　five　miles　ride；　and　it　was　the　Senora's　pleasure
  to　take　it　at　the　hour　of　midnight。　　She　did　not　wish　her
  return　to　be　observed　and　talked　about；　she　was　in　reality
  very　much　mortified　by　the　condition　of　her　own　and　her
  daughters'　wardrobe。
  Consequently；　though　they　made　their　noon　camp　so　near　to
  their　journey's　end；　they　rested　there　until　San　Antonio　was
  asleep　and　dreaming。　　It　was　the　happiest　rest　of　all　the
  delightful　ones　they　had　known。　　The　knowledge　that　it
  was　the　last　stage　of　a　journey　so　remarkable；　made　every　one
  attach　a　certain　tender　value　to　the　hours　never　to　come　back
  to　the　experiences　never　to　be　repeated。
  The　Senora　was　gay　as　a　child；　Isabel　shared　and　accentuated
  her　enthusiasms；　Luis　was　expressing　his　happiness　in　a
  variety　of　songs；　now　glorifying　his　love　in　some　pretty
  romance　or　serenade；　again　musically　assuring　liberty；　or
  Texas；　that　he　would　be　delighted　at　any　moment　to　lay　down
  his　life　for　their　sakes。　　Antonia　was　quite　as　much　excited
  in　her　own　way；　which　was　naturally　a　much　quieter　way；　and
  Lopez　sat　under　a　great　pecan…tree；　smoking　his　cigarito　with
  placid　smiles　and　admiring　glances　at　every　one。
  As　the　sun　set；　the　full　moon　rose　as　it　rises　nowhere　but
  over　Texan　or　Asian　plains；　golden；　glorious；　seeming　to　fill
  the　whole　heaven　and　the　whole　earth　with　an　unspeakable
  radiance；　softly　glowing；　exquisitely；　magically　beautifying。
  The　commonest　thing　under　it　was　transfigured　into　something
  lovely；　fantastic；　fairylike。　　And　the　dullest　souls　swelled
  and　rose　like　the　tides　under　its　influence。
  Antonia　took　from　their　stores　the　best　they　had；　and　a
  luxurious　supper　was　spread　upon　the　grass。　　The　meal　might
  have　been　one　of　ten　courses；　it　occupied　so　long；　it　provoked
  so　much　mirth；　such　a　rippling　stream　of　reminiscence；
  finally；　such　a　sweetly　solemn　retrospect　of　the　sorrows　and
  mercies　and　triumphs　of　the　campaign　they　had　shared　together。
  This　latter　feeling　soon　dominated　all　others。
  The　delicious　light；　the　sensuous　atmosphere；　the　white
  turrets　and　towers　of　the　city；　shining　on　the　horizon　like
  some　mystical；　heavenly　city　in　dreamsthe　murmur　of　its　far…
  off　life；　more　audible　to　the　spiritual　than　the　natural
  earsthe　dark　figures　of　the　camp　servants；　lying　in　groups
  or　quietly　shuffling　their　cards；　were　all　elements　conducive
  to　a　grave　yet　happy　seriousness。
  No　one　intended　to　sleep。　　They　were　to　rest　in　the　moonlight
  until　the　hour　of　eleven；　and　then　make　their　last　stage。
  This　night　they　instinctively　kept　close　together。　　The　Senora
  had　mentally　reached　that　point　where　it　was　not　unpleasant　to
  talk　over　troubles；　and　to　amplify　especially　her　own　share　of
  them。
  〃But；　Holy　Maria！〃　she　said；　〃how　unnecessary　are　such
  sorrows！　　I　am　never；　in　the　least；　any　better　for　them。　　When
  the　Divine　Majesty　condescends　to　give　me　the　sunshine　of
  prosperity；　I　am　always　exceedingly　religious。　　On　the
  contrary　when　I　am　in　sorrow；　I　do　not　feel　inclined　to　pray。
  That　is　precisely　natural。　　Can　the　blessed　Mother　expect
  thanks；　when　she　gives　her　children　only　suffering　and　tears？〃
  〃God　gives　us　whatever　is　best　for　us；　dear　mother。〃
  〃Speak；　when　you　have　learned　wisdom；　Antonia。　　I　shall　always
  believe　that　trouble　comes　from　the　devil；　indeed；　Fray
  Ignatius　once　told　me　of　a　holy　man　that　had　one　grief　upon
  the　heels　of　the　other；　and　it　was　the　devil　who　was　sent　with
  all　of　them。　　I　have　myself　no　doubt　that　he　opened　the　gates
  of　hell　for　Santa　Anna　to　return　to　earth　and　do　a　little　work
  for　him。〃
  〃This　thought　makes　me　tremble；〃　said　Lopez；　〃souls　that　have
  become　angelic；　can　become　evil。　　The　degraded　seraphim；　whom
  we　call　the　devil；　was　once　the　companion　of　archangels；　and
  stood　with　Michael；　and　Raphael；　and　Gabriel；　in　the　presence
  of　the　Holy　One。　　Is　there　sin　in　heaven？　　Can　we　be
  tempted　even　there？〃
  The　inquiry　went　in　different　ways　to　each　heart；　but　no　one
  answered　it。　　There　were　even　a　few　moments　of　constrained；
  conscious　silence；　which　Luis　happily　ended；　by　chanting
  softly　a　vers