her。 She concentrated in herself his memory of home； mother；
and country。 She embodied； in the perfectness of their mental
companionship； that rarest and sweetest of tiesa beloved
child； who is also a wise friend and a sympathetic comrade。
As he entered the garden she slipped her hand into his。 He
clasped it tightly。 His smile answered her smile。 There was
no need for any words of salutation。
The full moon had risen。 The white house stood clearly out in
its radiance。 The lattices were wide open and the parlor
lighted。 They walked slowly towards it； between hedges of
white camelias and scarlet japonicas。 Vanilla； patchuli；
verbena； wild wandering honeysucklea hundred other scents
perfumed the light； warm air。 As they came near the house
there was a sound of music； soft and tinkling； with a
rhythmic accent as pulsating as a beating heart。
〃It is Don Luis； father。〃
〃Ah！ He plays welland he looks well。〃
They had advanced to where Don Luis was distinctly visible。
He was within the room； but leaning against the open door；
playing upon a mandolin。 Robert Worth smiled as he offered
his hand to him。 It was impossible not to smile at a youth so
handsome； and so charminga youth who had all the romance of
the past in his name； his home； his picturesque costume； and
all the enchantments of hope and great enthusiasms in his
future。
〃Luis； I am glad to see you； and I felt your music as soon as
I heard it。〃
He was glancing inquiringly around the room as he spoke； and
Antonia answered the look：
〃Mother and Isabel are supping with Dona Valdez。 There is to
be a dance。 I am waiting for you； father。 You must put on
your velvet vest。〃
〃And you； Luis？〃
〃I do not go。 I asked the judge for the appointment。 He
refused me。 Very well！ I care not to drink chocolate and
dance in his house。 One hand washes the other； and one cousin
should help another。〃
〃Why did he refuse you？〃
〃Who can tell？〃 but Luis shrugged his shoulders expressively；
and added； 〃He gave the office to Blas…Sangre。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃Yes； it is sonaturally；Blas…Sangre is rich； and when the
devil of money condescends to appear； every little devil rises
up to do him homage。〃
〃Let it pass； Luis。 Suppose you sing me that last verse
again。 It had a taking charm。 The music was like a boat
rocking on the water。〃
〃So it ought to be。 I learned the words in New Orleans。 The
music came from the heart of my mandolin。 Listen； Senor！
〃‘Row young oarsman； row； young oarsman；
Into the crypt of the night we float：
Fair； faint moonbeams wash and wander；
Wash and wander about the boat。
Not a fetter is here to bind us；
Love and memory lose their spell；
Friends that we have left behind us；
Prisoners of content；farewell！'〃
〃You are a wizard； Luis； and I have had a sail with you。
Now； come with us； and show those dandy soldiers from the
Alamo how to dance。〃
〃Pardon！ I have not yet ceased to cross myself at the affront
of this morning。 And the Senora Valdez is in the same mind as
her husband。 I should be received by her like a dog at mass。
I am going to…morrow to the American colony on the Colorado。〃
〃Be careful； Luis。 These Austin colonists are giving great
troublethere have been whispers of very strong measures。 I
speak as a friend。〃
〃My heart to yours！ But let me tell you this about the
Americanstheir drum is in the hands of one who knows how to
beat it。〃
〃As a matter of hearsay； are you aware that three detachments
of troops are on their way from Mexico？〃
〃For Texas？〃
〃For Texas。〃
〃What are three detachments？ Can a few thousand men put Texas
under lock and key？ I assure you not； Senor； but now I must
say adieu！
He took the doctor's hand； and； as he held it； turned his
luminous face and splendid eyes upon Antonia。 A sympathetic
smile brightened her own face like a flame。 Then he went
silently away； and Antonia watched him disappear among the
shrubbery。
〃Come； Antonia！ I am ready。 We must not keep the Senora
waiting too long。〃
〃I am ready also； father。〃 Her voice was almost sad； and yet
it had a tone of annoyance in it〃Don Luis is so imprudent；〃
she said。 〃He is always in trouble。 He is full of
enthusiasms； he is as impossible as his favorite； Don
Quixote。〃
〃And I thank God； Antonia； that I can yet feel with him。 Woe
to the centuries without Quixotes！ Nothing will remain to
them butSancho Panzas。〃
CHAPTER II。
ANTONIA AND ISABEL。
〃He various changes of the world had known；
And some vicissitudes of human fate；
Still altering； never in a steady state
Good after ill； and after pain delight；
Alternate； like the scenes of day and night。〃
〃Ladies whose bright eyes
Rain influence。〃
〃But who the limits of that power shall trace；
Which a brave people into life can bring；
Or hide at will； for freedom combating
By just revenge inflamed？〃
For many years there had never been any doubt in the mind of
Robert Worth as to the ultimate destiny of Texas； though he was
by no means an adventurer； and had come into the beautiful
land by a sequence of natural and business…like events。 He
was born in New York。 In that city he studied his profession；
and in eighteen hundred and three began its practice in an
office near Contoit's Hotel； opposite the City Park。 One day
he was summoned there to attend a sick man。 His
patient proved to be Don Jaime Urrea； and the rich Mexican
grandee conceived a warm friendship for the young physician。
At that very time； France had just ceded to the United States
the territory of Louisiana； and its western boundary was a
subject about which Americans were then angrily disputing。
They asserted that it was the Rio Grande； but Spain； who
naturally did not want Americans so near her own territory；
denied the claim； and made the Sabine River the dividing line。
And as Spain had been the original possessor of Louisiana； she
considered herself authority on the subject。
The question was on every tongue； and it was but natural that
it should be discussed by Urrea and his physician。 In fact；
they talked continually of the disputed boundary； and of
Mexico。 And Mexico was then a name to conjure by。 She was as
yet a part of Spain； and a sharer in all her ancient glories。
She was a land of romance； and her very name tasted on the
lips； of gold； and of silver； and of precious stones。 Urrea
easily persuaded the young man to return to Mexico with him。
The following year there was a suspicious number of American
visitors and traders in San Antonio； and one of the Urreas was
sent with a considerable number of troops to garrison the
city。 For Spain was well aware that； however statesmen might
settle the question； the young and adventurous of the American
people considered Texas United States territory； and would be
well inclined to take possession of it by force of arms； if an
opportunity offered。
Robert Worth accompanied General Urrea to San Antonio； and the
visit was decisive as to his future life。 The country
enchanted him。 He was smitten with love for it； as men are
smitten with a beautiful face。 And the white Moorish city had
one special charm for himit was seldom quite free from
Americans； Among the mediaeval loungers in the narrow streets；
it filled his heart with joy to see at intervals two or three
big men in buckskin or homespun。 And he did not much wonder
that the Morisco…Hispano…Mexican feared these Anglo…Americans；
and suspected them of an intention to add Texan to their
names。
His inclination to remain in San Antonio was settled by
his marriage。 Dona Maria Flores； though connected with the
great Mexican families of Yturbide and Landesa； owned much
property in San Antonio。 She had been born within its limits；
and educated in its convent； and a visit to Mexico and New
Orleans had only strengthened her attachment to her own city。
She was a very pretty woman； with an affectionate nature； but
she was not intellectual。 Even in the convent the sisters had
not considered her clever。
But men often live very happily with commonplace wives； and
Robert Worth had never regretted that his Maria did not play
on the piano； and paint on velvet； and work fine embroideries
for the altars。 They had passed nearly twenty…six years
together in more than ordinary content and prosperity。 Yet no
life is without cares and contentions； and Robert Worth had
had to face circumstances several times； which had brought the
real man to the front。
The education of his children had been such a crisis。 He had
two sons and two daughters； and for them he anticipated a
wider and grander career than he had chosen for himself。
When his eldest child； Thomas； had reached the age of
fourteen； he determined to send him to New York。 He spoke to
Dona Maria of this intention。 He described Columbia to her
with all the affectionate pride of a student for his alma
mater。 The boy's grandmother also still lived in the home
wherein； he himself had grown to manhood。 His ey