and　his　God　and　his　country。　　Her　anger　passed　from　one
  subject　to　another　constantly；　finding　in　all；　even　in
  the　lukewarmness　of　Antonia　and　Isabel；　and　in　their　affection
  for　lovers；　who　were　also　rebels；　an　accumulating　reason　for
  a　stupendous　reproach　against　herself；　her　husband；　her
  children；　and　her　unhappy　fate。　　Her　whole　nature　was　in
  revoltin　that　complete　mental　and　moral　anarchy　from　which
  springs　tragedy　and　murder。
  Isabel　wept　so　violently　that　she　angered　still　further　the
  tearless　suffering　of　her　mother。　　〃God　and　the　saints！〃　she
  cried。　　〃What　are　you　weeping　for？　　Will　tears　do　any　good？
  Do　I　weep？　　God　has　forbidden　me　to　weep　for　the　wicked。　　Yet
  how　I　suffer！　Mary；　mother　of　sorrows；　pity　me！〃
  She　sent　Isabel　away。　　Her　sobs　were　not　to　be　borne。　　And
  very　soon　she　felt　Antonia's　white　face　and　silent
  companionship　to　be　just　as　unendurable。　　She　would　be　alone。
  Not　even　Rachela　would　she　have　near　her。　　She　put　out　all　the
  lights　but　the　taper　above　a　large　crucifix；　and　at　its　foot
  she　sat　down　in　tearless　abandon；　alone　with　her　reproaches
  and　her　remorse。
  Antonia　watched　with　her　mother；　though　shut　out　from　her
  presence。　　She　feared　for　a　state　of　mind　so　barren　of
  affection；　so　unsoftened　by　tears。　　Besides；　it　was　the　climax
  of　a　condition　which　had　continued　ever　since　she　had　sent　her
  boy　away　without　a　word　of　love。　　In　the　dim　corridor　outside
  she　sat　still；　listening　for　any　noise　or　movement　which　might
  demand　help　or　sympathy。　　It　was　not　nine　o'clock；　but　the
  time　lengthened　itself　out　beyond　endurance。　　Even　yet　she　had
  hope　of　some　word　from　her　father。　　Surely；　they　would　let　him
  send　some　word　to　them！
  She　heard　the　murmur　of　voices　downstairs；　and　she　thought
  angrily　of　Rachela；　and　Molly；　and　Manuel；　〃making　a　little
  confidence　together〃　over　their　trouble；　and　spicing　their
  evening　gossip　with　the　strange　thing　that　had　happened　to　the
  Senor　Doctor。　　She　knew　that　Rachela　and　Manuel　would　call　him
  heretic　and　Americano；　and；　by　authority　of　these　two　words；
  accuse　him　of　every　crime。
  Thinking　with　a　swelling　heart　of　these　things；　she　heard　the
  door　open；　and　a　step　slowly　and　heavily　ascend　the　stairs。
  Ere　she　had　time　to　wonder　at　it；　her　father　came　in　sight。
  There　was　a　shocking　change　in　his　air　and　appearance；　but　as
  he　was　evidently　going　to　her　mother's　room；　she　shrank
  back　and　sat　motionless　so　as　not　to　attract　his　attention。
  Then　she　went　to　the　parlor；　and　had　the　fire　renewed　and　food
  put　upon　the　table。　　She　was　sure　that　he　would　need　it；　and
  she　believed　he　would　be　glad　to　talk　over　with　her　the　events
  of　the　afternoon。
  The　Senora　was　still　sitting　at　the　foot　of　the　crucifix　when
  her　husband　opened　the　door。　　She　had　not　been　able　to　pray；
  ave　and　paternoster　alike　had　failed　her。　　Her　rebellious
  grief　filled　every　corner　of　her　heart。　　She　understood　that
  some　one　had　entered　the　room；　and　she　thought　of　Rachela；　but
  she　found　a　kind　of　comfort　in　the　dull　stupor　of　grief　she
  was　indulging；　and　she　would　not　break　its　spell　by　lifting
  her　head。
  〃Maria。〃
  She　rose　up　quickly　and　stood　gazing　at　him。
  She　did　not　shriek　or　exclaim；　her　surprise　controlled　her。
  And　also　her　terror；　for　his　face　was　white　as　death；　and　had
  an　expression　of　angry　despair　that　terrified　her。
  〃Roberto！　Roberto！　Mi　Roberto！　　How　you　have　tortured　me！　　I
  have　nearly　died！　　Fray　Ignatius　said　you　had　been　sent
  to　prison。〃
  She　spoke　as　calmly　as　a　frightened　child；　sad　and　hesitating。
  If　he　had　taken　her　in　his　arms　she　would　have　sobbed　her
  grief　away　there。
  But　Robert　Worth　was　at　that　hour　possessed　by　two　master
  passions；　tyrannical　and　insatiablethey　would　take　notice　of
  nothing　that　did　not　minister　to　them。
  〃Maria；　they　have　taken　my　arms　from　me。　　Cowards！　　Cowards！
  Miserable　cowards！　　I　refused　to　give　them　up！　　They　held　my
  hands　and　robbed　merobbed　me　of　my　manhood　and　honor！　　I
  begged　them　to　shoot　me　ere　they　did　it；　and　they　spoke
  courteously　and　regretted　this；　and　hoped　that；　till　I　felt
  that　it　would　be　a　joy　to　strangle　them。〃
  〃Roberto！　　Mi　Roberto！　　You　have　me！〃
  〃I　want　my　rifle　and　all　it　represents。　　I　want　myself　back
  again。　　Maria；　Maria；　until　then；　I　am　not　worthy　to　be　any
  good　woman's　husband！〃
  〃Roberto；　dearest！　　It　is　not　your　fault。〃
  〃It　is　my　fault。　　I　have　waited　too　long。　　My　sons　showed　me
  my　dutymy　soul　urged　me　to　do　it。　　I　deserve　the　shame；
  but　I　will　wipe　it　out　with　crimson　blood。〃
  The　Senora　stood　speechless；　wringing　her　hands。　　Her　own
  passion　was　puny　beside　the　sternness；　the　reality；　and　the
  intensity　of　the　quiet　rage　before　her。　　She　was　completely
  mastered　by　it。　　She　forgot　all　but　the　evident　agony　she
  could　neither　mistake　nor　console。
  〃I　have　come　to　say　‘farewell；'　Maria。　　We　have　been　very
  happy　togetherMariaour　childrendearest〃
  〃Oh；　Roberto！　　My　husband！　　My　soul！　　My　life！　　Leave　me　not。〃
  〃I　am　going　for　my　arms。　　I　will　take　them　a　hundredfold　from
  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　th