yes！　　She　will　come！　　You　shall　see；　Iza！　　And　then；　Luis；　we
  shall　have　some　supper。〃
  〃You　see　that　I　am　in　heaven　already；　Antonia；　though；　indeed；
  I　am　also　hungry　and　thirsty；　my　sister。〃
  Antonia　was　not　a　minute　in　reaching　her　mother's　room。　　The
  unhappy　lady　was　half…lying　among　the　large　pillows　of　her
  gilded　bed；　wide　awake。　　Her　black　eyes　were　fixed　upon
  a　crucifix　at　its　foot；　and　she　was　slowly　murmuring　prayers
  upon　her　rosary。
  〃Madre！　　Madre！　　Luis　is　here；　Luis　is　here！　　Come　quick；　mi
  madre。　　Here　are　your　stockings　and　slippers；　and　your　gown；
  and　your　mantillano；　no；　no；　do　not　call　Rachela。　　Luis　has
  news　of　my　father；　and　of　Jack！　　Oh；　madre；　he　has　a　letter
  from　Jack　to　you！　　Come　dear；　come；　in　a　few　minutes　you　will
  be　ready。〃
  She　was　urging　and　kissing　the　trembling　woman；　and　dressing
  her　in　despite　of　her　faint　effort　to　delayto　call　Rachela
  to　bring　Luis　to　her　room。　　In　ten　minutes　she　was　ready。　　She
  went　down　softly；　like　a　frightened　child；　Antonia　cheering
  and　encouraging　her　in　whispers。
  When　she　entered　the　cheerful　parlor　the　shadow　of　a　smile
  flitted　over　her　wan　face。　　Luis　ran　to　meet　her。　　He　drew　the
  couch　close　to　the　hearth；　he　helped　Antonia　arrange　her
  comfortably　upon　it。　　He　made　her　tea；　and　kissed　her　hands
  when　he　put　it　into　them。　　And　then　Isabel　made　Luis　a　cup；
  and　cut　his　tamales；　and　waited　upon　him　with　such　pretty
  service；　that　the　happy　lover　thought　he　was　eating　a　meal　in
  Paradise。
  For　a　few　minutes　it　had　been　only　this　ordinary　gladness　of
  reunion；　but　it　was　impossible　to　ignore　longer　the　anxiety　in
  the　eyes　that　asked　him　so　many　questions。　　He　took　two
  letters　from　his　pockets　and　gave　them　to　the　Senora。　　They
  were　from　her　husband　and　Jack。　　Her　hands　trembled；　she
  kissed　them　fervently；　and　as　she　placed　them　in　her　breast
  her　tears　dropped　down　upon　them。
  Antonia　opened　the　real　conversation　with　that　never…failing
  wedge；　the　weather。　　〃You　came　through　the　storm；　Luis？　　Yet
  you　are　not　wet；　scarcely？　　Now　then；　explain　this　miracle。〃
  〃I　went　first　to　Lopez　Navarro's。　　Do　you　not　know　this　festa
  dress？　　It　is　the　one　Lopez　bought　for　the　feast　of　St。　James。
  He　lent　it　to　me；　for　I　assure　you　that　my　own　clothing　was
  like　that　of　a　beggar　man。　　It　was　impossible　that　I　could　see
  my　angel　on　earth　in　it。〃
  〃But　in　such　weather？　　You　can　not　have　come　far　to…day？〃
  〃Senorita；　there　are　things　which　are　impossible；　quite
  impossible！　　That　is　one　of　them。　　Early　this　morning　the
  north　wind　advanced　upon　us；　sword　in　hand。　　It　will　last
  fifty　hours；　and　we　shall　know　something　more　about　it　before
  they　are　over。　　Very　well；　but　it　was　also　absolutely
  necessary　that　some　one　should　reach　San　Antonio　to…night；　and
  I　was　so　happy　as　to　persuade　General　Burleson　to　send　me。
  The　Holy　Lady　has　given　me　my　reward。〃
  〃Have　you　seen　the　Senor　Doctor　lately；　Luis；〃　asked　the
  Senora。
  〃I　left　him　at　nightfall。〃
  〃At　nightfall！　　But　that　is　impossible！〃
  〃It　is　true。　　The　army　of　the　Americans　is　but　a　few　miles
  from　San　Antonio。〃
  〃Grace　of　God！　　Luis！〃
  〃As　you　say；　Senora。　　It　is　the　grace　of　God。　　Did　you　not
  know？〃
  〃We　know　nothing　but　what　Fray　Ignatius　tells　usthat　the
  Americans　have　been　everywhere　pulling　down　churches；　and
  granting　martyrdom　to　the　priests；　and　that　everywhere
  miraculous　retributions　have　pursued　them。〃
  〃Was　Gonzales　a　retribution？　　The　Senor　Doctor　came　to　us
  while　we　were　there。　　God　be　blessed；　but　he　startled　us　like
  the　rattle　of　rifle…shots　in　the　midnight！　　‘Why　were　you　not
  at　Goliad？'　he　cried。　　‘There　were　three　hundred　stand　of　arms
  there；　and　cannon；　and　plenty　of　provisions。　　Why　were　they
  not　yours？'　　You　would　have　thought；　Senora；　he　had　been　a
  soldier　all　his　life。　　The　men　caught　fire　when　he　came　near
  them；　and　we　went　to　Goliad　like　eagles　flying　for　their　prey。
  We　took　the　town；　and　the　garrison；　and　all　the　arms　and
  military　stores。　　I　will　tell　you　something　that　came　to　pass
  there。　　At　midnight；　as　I　and　Jack　stood　with　the　Senor　Doctor
  by　the　camp…fire；　a　stranger　rode　up　to　us。　　It　was　Colonel
  Milam。　　He　was　flying　from　a　Mexican　prison　and　had　not　heard
  of　the　revolt　of　the　Americans。　　He　made　the　camp　ring　with
  his　shout　of　delight。　　He　was　impatient　for　the　morning。　　He
  was　the　first　man　that　entered　the　garrison。　　Bravissimo！
  What　a　soldier　is　he！〃
  〃I　remember！　　I　remember！〃　cried　the　Senora。　　〃Mi　Roberto
  brought　him　here　once。　　So　splendid　a　man　I　never　saw　before。
  So　tall；　so　handsome；　so　gallant；　so　like　a　hero。　　He　is
  an　American　fromwell；　then；　I　have　forgotten　the　place。〃
  〃From　Kentucky。　　He　fought　with　the　Mexicans　when　they　were
  fighting　for　their　liberty；　but　when　they　wanted　a　king　and　a
  dictator　he　resigned　his　commision｛sic｝　and　was　thrown　into
  prison。　　He　has　a　long　bill　against　Santa　Anna。〃
  〃We　must　not　forget；　Luis；〃　said　the　Senora　with　a　little
  flash　of　her　old　temper；　〃that　Santa　Anna　represents　to　good
  Catholics　the　triumph　of　Holy　Church。〃
  Luis　devoutly　crossed　himself。　　〃I　am　her　dutiful　son；　I
  assure　you；　Senoraalways。〃
  A　warning　glance　from　Antonia　changed　the　conversation。　　There
  was　plenty　to　tell　which　touched　them　mainly　on　the　side　of
  the　family；　and　the　Senora　listened；　with　pride　which　she
  could　not　conceal；　to　the　exploits　of　her　husband　and　sons；
  though　she　did　not　permit　herself　to　confess　the　feeling。　　And
  her　heart　softened　to　her　children。　　Without　acknowledging　the
  tie　between　Isabel　and　Luis；　she　permitted　or　was　oblivious　to
  the　favors　it　allowed。
  Certainly　many　little　formalities　could　be　dispensed　with；　in
  a　meeting　so　unexpected　and　so　eventful。　　When　the　pleasant
  impromptu　meal　was　over；　even　the　Senora　had　eaten　and　drunk
  with　enjoyment。　　Then　Luis　set　the　table　behind　them；　and　they
  drew　closer　to　the　fire；　Luis　holding　Isabel's　hand；　and
  Antonia　her　mother's。　　The　Senora　took　a　cigarette　from　Luis；
  and　Isabel　sometimes　put　that　of　Luis　between　her　rosy　lips。
  At　the　dark；　cold　midnight　they　found　an　hour　or　two　of
  sweetest　consolation。　　It　was　indeed　hard　to　weary　these　three
  heart…starved　women；　they　asked　question　after　question；　and
  when　any　brought　out　the　comical　side　of　camp　life　they　forget
  their　pleasure　was　almost　a　clandestine　one；　and　laughed
  outright。
  In　the　very　midst　of　such　a　laugh；　Rachela　entered　the　room。
  She　stood　in　speechless　amazement；　gazing　with　a　dark；
  malicious　face　upon　the　happy　group。　　〃Senorita　Isabel！〃　she
  screamed；　〃but　this　is　abominable！　　At　the　midnight　also！　　Who
  could　have　believed　in　such　wickedness？　　Grace　of　Mary；　it　is
  inconceivable！〃
  She　laid　her　hand　roughly　on　Isabel's　shoulder；　and　Luis
  removed　it　with　as　little　courtesy。　　〃You　were　not　called；〃　he
  said；　with　the　haughty　insolence　of　a　Mexican　noble　to　a
  servant〃Depart。〃
  〃My　Senora！　　Listen！　　You　yourself　alsoyou　will　die。　　You
  that　are　really　weakso　broken…hearted〃
  Then　a　miracle　occurred。　　The　Senora　threw　off　the　nightmare
  of　selfish　sorrow　and　spiritual　sentimentality　which　had　held
  her　in　bondage。　　She　took　the　cigarito　from　her　lips　with　a
  scornful　air；　and　repeated　the　words　of　Luis：
  〃You　were　not　called。　　Depart。〃
  〃The　Senorita　Isabel？〃
  〃Is　in　my　care。　　Her　mother's　care！　do　you　understand？〃
  〃My　Senora；　Fray　Ignatius〃
  〃Saints　in　heaven！　　But　this　is　intolerable！　　Go。〃
  Then　Rachela　closed　the　door　with　a　clang　which　echoed　through
  the　house。　　And　say　as　we　will；　the　malice　of　the　wicked　is
  never　quite　futile。　　It　was　impossible　after　this　interruption
  to　recall　the　happy　spirit　dismissed　by　it；　and　Rachela　had
  the　consolation；　as　she　muttered　beside　the　fire　in　the
  Senora's　room。　　this　conviction。　　So　that　when　she　heard　the
  party　breaking　up　half　an　hour　afterwards；　she　complimented
  herself　upon　her　influence。
  〃Will　Jack　come　and　see　me　soon；　and　the　Senor　Doctor？〃
  questioned　the　Senora；　anxiously；　as　she　held　the　hand　of　Luis
  in　parting。
  〃Jack　is　on　a　secret　message　to　General　Houston。　　His　return
  advices　will　find　us；　I　trust；　in　San　Antonio。　　But　until　we
  have　taken　the　city；　no　American　can　safely　enter　it。　　For
  this　reason；　when　it　was　necessary　to　give　Lopez　Navarro
  certain　instructions；　I　volunteered　to　bring　them。　　By　the
  Virgin　of　Guadalupe！　　I　have　had　my　reward；〃　he　said；　lifting
  the　Senora's　hand　and　kissing　it。
  〃But；　then；　even　you　are　in　danger。〃
  〃Si！　　If　I　am　discovered；　but；　blessed　be　the　hand　of　God！
  Luis　Alveda　knows　where　he　is　going；　and　how　to　get　there。〃
  〃I　have　heard；〃　said　the　Senora　in　a　hushed　voice；　〃that　there
  are　to　be　no　prisoners。　　That　is　Santa　Anna's　order。〃
  〃I　heard　it　twenty　days　ago；　and　am　still　suffocating　over
  it。〃
  〃Ah；　Luis；　you　do　not　know　the　man　yet！　I　heard　Fray　Ignatius
  say　that。〃
  〃We　know　him　well；　and　also　what　he　is　capable　of〃；　and　Luis
  plucked　his　mustache　fiercely；　as　he　bowed　a　silent　farewell
  to　the　ladies。
  〃Holy　Maria！　　How　brave　he　is！〃　said　Isabel；　with　a　flash　of
  pride　that　conquered　her　desire　to　weep。　　〃How　brave　he　is！
  Certainly；　if　he　meets　Santa　Anna；　he　will　kill　him。〃
  They　went　very　quietly　up…stairs。　　The　Senora　was　anticipating
  the　interview　she　expected　with　Rach