“Blessed be the hand of God! my children,” said the Senora; “and may the angels give us in our dreams grateful thoughts.”
And then, in the dark, Isabel nestled her head in her sister’s breast, and whispered: “Forgive me for being happy, sweet Antonia. Indeed, when I smiled on Luis, I was often thinking of you. In my joy and triumph and love, I do not forget that one great awful grave at Goliad. But a woman must hide so many things; do you comprehend me, Antonia?”
“Querdita,” she whispered, “I comprehend all. God has done right. If His angel had said to me, ‘One must be taken and the other left,’ I should have prayed, ‘Spare then my little sister all sorrow.’ Good-night, my darling”; but as their lips met, Isabel felt upon her cheeks the bitter rain which is the price of accepted sacrifice; the rain, which afterwards makes the heart soft, and fresh, and responsive to all the airs of God.
At the same moment, the white curtains of the marquee, in which the doctor sat talking with his son and Luis and Lopez, were opened; and the face of Ortiz showed brown and glowing between them.
“Senors,” he said, as he advanced to them, “I am satisfied. I have been appointed on the guard over Santa Anna. He has recognized me. He has to obey my orders. Will you think of that?” Then taking the doctor’s hand he raised it to his lips. “Senor, I owe this satisfaction to you. You have made me my triumph. How shall I repay you?”
“By being merciful in the day of your power, Ortiz.”
“I assure you that I am not so presumptuous, Senor. Mercy is the right of the Divinity. It is beyond my capacity. Besides which, it is not likely the Divinity will trouble himself about Santa Anna. I have, therefore, to obey the orders of the great, the illustrious Houston; which are, to prevent his escape at all risks. May St. James give me the opportunity, Senors! In this happy hour, a Dios!”
Then Lopez bent forward, and with a smile touched the doctor’s hand. “Will you now remember the words I said of Houston? Did I not tell you, that success was with him? that on his brow was the line of fortune? that he was the loadstone in the breast of freedom?”