“A great forbearance has been shown him, but the end of mercy comes. As he persisted in wearing arms, he has been taken to the Alamo and disarmed.”
“It is a great shame! An infamous shame and wrong!” cried Antonia. “What right has any one to take my father’s arms? No more than they have to take his purse or his coat.”
“General Santa Anna—”
“General Santa Anna is a tyrant and a thief. I care not who says different.”
“Antonia! Shameless one!”
“Mother, do not strike me.” Then she took her mother’s hands in her own, and led her to a couch, caressing her as she spoke—
“Don’t believe any one—ANY ONE, mother, who says wrong of my father. You know that he is the best of men. Rachela! Come here instantly. The rosary is not the thing, now. You ought to be attending to the Senora. Get her some valerian and some coffee, and come and remove her clothing. Fray Ignatius, we will beg you to leave us to-night to ourselves.”
“Your mother’s sin, in marrying a heretic, has now found her out. It is my duty to make her see her fault.”
“My mother had a dispensation from one greater than you.”
“Oh, father, pray for me! I accuse myself! I accuse myself! Oh, wretched woman! Oh, cruel husband!”