登陆注册
15455000000070

第70章 CHAPTER XVI. THE LOADSTONE IN THE BREAST.(2)

"The poor little one!" Her motherly instincts crushed down everything else. In the child's agony she forgot her own grief. With glad hearts the doctor and Antonia encouraged her in her good work, and when at length the sufferer had been relieved and was sleeping against her breast, the Senora had wept. The stone from her heart had been rolled away by a little child. Her own selfish sorrow had been buried in a wave of holy, unselfish maternal affection. The key to her nature had been found, and henceforward Isabel brought to her every suffering baby.

On the next day they marched ten miles through a heavy rain, and arrived at Burnett's settlement. The women had shelter, the men slept on the wet ground--took the prairie without cover--with their arms in their hands. They knew they were in the vicinity of Santa Anna, and all were ready to answer in an instant the three taps of the drum, which was the only instrument of martial music in the camp, and which was never touched but by Houston.

Another day of eighteen miles brought them to within a short distance of Harrisburg. Santa Anna had just been there, and the place was in ashes. It was evident to all, now, that the day and the hour was at hand. Houston first thought of the two hundred families he had in charge, and they were quickly taken over the bayou. When he had seen the last one in this comparative safety, he uttered so fervent a "Thank God!" that the men around unconsciously repeated it. The bayou though narrow was twenty feet deep, and the very home of alligators.

There was only one small bridge in the vicinity. He intended its destruction, and thus to make his little band and the deep, dangerous stream a double barrier between the Mexicans and the women and children beyond them. It was after this duty he wrote:

"This morning we are in preparation to meet Santa Anna. We will only be about seven hundred to march, besides the camp guard. But we go to conquest. The troops are in fine spirits, and now is the time for action. I leave the result in the hands of an all-wise God, and I rely confidently in his Providence.

"SAM HOUSTON."[5]

[5] Copy from Department of War of the Republic of Texas.

The women and children, under a competent guide, continued their march eastward. But they were worn out. Many were unable to put their feet to the ground. The wagons were crowded with these helpless ones. The Senora had so far recovered as to understand that within a few hours Santa Anna and the Americans must meet. And, mentally led by Isabel's passionate hatred, she now showed a vindictiveness beyond that of any other woman.

She spent hours upon her knees, imploring the saints, and the stars, and the angel Michael, to fight against Santa Anna. To Isabel she whispered, "I have even informed the evil one where he may be found. The wretch who ordered such infamies! He poisons the air of the whole world as he goes through it. I shall never be happy till I know that he is in purgatory. He will be hated even there--and in a worse place, too. Yes, it is pleasant to think of that! There will be many accusers of him there. I shall comfort myself with imagining his punishment. Isabel, do you believe with your heart that Senor Houston and the Americans will be strong enough to kill him?"

"Mi madre, I know it."

"Then do be a little delighted. How can you bear things with such a provoking indifference? But as Luis is safe--"

"Chito! Chito! Do not be cruel, mi madre. I would stab Santa Anna with my own hands--very slowly, I would stab him.

It would be so sweet. The Sisters told me of a woman in the Holy Book, who smiled upon the one she hated, and gave him milk and butter, and when he slept, drove a great nail through his temples. I know how she felt. What a feast it would be, to strike, and strike, and strike! I could drive ten, twenty, fifty nails, into Santa Anna, when I think of Juan."

No one had before dared to breathe her boy's name in her hearing. She herself had never spoken it. It fell upon the ears of both women like a strain of forgotten music. They looked at each other with eyes that stirred memory and love to their sweetest depths. Almost in whispers they began to talk of the dead boy, to recall how lovable, how charming, how affectionate, how obedient he had been. Then the Senora broke open the seals of her sorrow, and, with bitter reproaches on herself, confessed that the kiss she had denied her Juan was a load of anguish upon her heart that she could not bear.

"If I had only blessed him," she moaned; "I had saved him from his misfortune. A mother's blessing is such a holy thing!

And he knelt at my knees, and begged it. I can see his eyes in the darkness, when my eyes are shut. I can hear his voice when I am asleep. Isabel, I shall never be happy till I see Juan again, and say to him, `Forgive me, dear one, forgive me, for I have suffered.'"

Both were weeping, but Isabel said, bravely: "I am sure that Juan does not blame you now, mi madre. In the other world one understands better. And remember, also, the letter which he wrote you. His last thought was yours. He fell with your name on his lips. These things are certain. And was it not good of Dare to die with him? A friend like that! Out of the tale-books who ever hears of such a thing? Antonia has wept much. In the nights, when she thinks I am asleep, I hear her. Have you seen that she has grown white and thin? I think that my father is very unhappy about her."

"In an hour of mercy may the merciful One remember Dare Grant!

I will pray for his peace as long as I live. If he had left Juan--if he had come back alone--I think indeed I should have hated him."

"That was also the opinion of Antonia--she would never have loved him the same. I am sure she would not have married him."

"My good Antonia! Go bring her to me, Isabel. I want to comfort her. She has been so patient with me. I have felt it--felt it every minute; and I have been stupid and selfish, and have forgotten that she too was suffering."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 穿越之王的宠后

    穿越之王的宠后

    她是一个21世纪的女汉子,也是最倒霉的女孩,先是被男友甩了,接着又是被雷劈穿越……老天啊!为啥,人家穿越都是方式比较好的,可是她呢!唉!穿越穿越,征服一切啊!王后是吧,老娘让你变亡后胡姬是吧,老娘让你变煳鸡跟老娘抢男人,去死吧!!!!!!
  • 红魔猎人

    红魔猎人

    无界幻虚,执空者大,封石破碎,成神成魔!每个少年都曾有他的热血梦想,是杀戮、是和平、是强大,亦或守护。看一群非凡之人怀揣着迥异的梦想,如何走在一起,成就这个大陆赫赫威名的猎妖团。赫斯提亚如是说,一切只是地狱的开始。
  • 修逆乾坤

    修逆乾坤

    三千繁华,弹指刹那,时光流转,不过一捧黄沙。而我只想于黄沙之中,了却自己的牵挂。
  • 仙妃休王记

    仙妃休王记

    她貌似天仙,却不幸被选入宫中。大王不爱,王后加害,可怜早死。又有谁知,一个被贬的千年仙鼠,为了返回人间,不得不借她一半灵气和她母亲的肚子出生人间。十二年后再来寻她,却发现她已死。于是,仙鼠附与她身,还她一半灵气,让她起死回生。那加害于她的王后呢?那不爱她的大王呢?还有一直帮她报仇的他又是谁?且看仙鼠附身的她如何在这枯燥的复仇路上,过得多姿多彩,有情有爱,春风得意。
  • 我是玄幻大神

    我是玄幻大神

    当黄乘打开随他共同穿越的“玄幻网文虚拟系统”后,他的命运改变了。不会炼气,没有武技?我《斗破苍穹》萧炎分分钟教你“佛怒火莲”。不会装逼打脸抢女人?我《星辰变》秦羽分分钟教你越级杀敌千里寻妻。啥啥啥?“虚拟系统”还有各种武术秘籍、高能兵器等奖励相送?等等!奖励怎么还有核弹发射井和宇宙战舰?妈呀!这是把我往统治玄幻世界的道路上逼啊!
  • 天地圣灵

    天地圣灵

    征伐莫名,卷起了圣战,四大家族,雄踞着疆场!万年岁月,弹指间,杀伐湮没,悠悠蹉跎,惊现天外来客,迷雾中的恶魔,大陆掀起了猜测。邪魅的血族,流传着亘古的传说;恐怖的亡灵,守候到千年的承诺,一切的等候是为了什么?事实的真相,需要一个一个摸索,华夏,星辰,六院,铺垫成一条复仇的血路!轻看血海,笑谈杀戮,结交华夏皇子,皇权争战,阴谋计策,心中自然流出。游走于真相,可事实存在于迷雾,拨开阴云,望见彩虹,暴雨过后阳光洒落在,传奇的圣灵大陆!
  • 仙剑侠女

    仙剑侠女

    李梦瑶生于富豪之家,自幼在仙山学艺,学成后行侠仗义,与哥哥、好友一同仗剑天下。
  • 妄起而何为

    妄起而何为

    一时兴起闲暇之作瑕疵众多还望见谅没打草稿所以就不做介绍了反正这应该会是个悲剧的故事主角……其实我也不知道是谁你们慢慢猜吧
  • 光纹之歌

    光纹之歌

    光术,起源于世界,传承自轮回。当然,这是对人类而言。或者进一步说,新人类而言。古老的枷锁即将分崩离析,在这世界与轮回的生死存亡之际,光之巨人在消失前的刹那遥望终生,最终目光穿越无数千百年落到了这个叫林德的孩子身上。来自世界的传承,是巧合还是必然?当然,这一切的意义都要由他来自己揭开,而首当其冲的就是干掉与他为敌的那些人。偏传统严肃奇幻的作品,注重逻辑写实和细节,没多少套路~希望各位读者大大看的开心!
  • 挽纱以泪,潇湘以情

    挽纱以泪,潇湘以情

    雪国三公主远嫁火焰国,大将军潇湘负责迎接。大雨停留,琴瑟和鸣。。郎有情,女有意,跨不过界限。挽纱献身,将军冷心,誓死不违背自己的君主,皇宫待命,出征雪国,红帐中挽纱惨遭凌辱,一把匕首誓死捍卫。雪国万民陷入水深火热,挽纱不知。红颜多薄命,铁骑而归,只为最爱。红颜祸水,终为一个情字.....