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none more dear； than that which unites us with the
commonwealth。 Our parents； children； relations and neighbors
are dear； but our fatherland embraces the whole round of these
endearments。 In its defence； who would not dare to die； if
only he could assist it？〃
CHAPTER IV。
THE SHINING BANDS OF LOVE。
〃O blest be he！ O blest be he！
Let him all blessings prove；
Who made the chains； the shining chains；
The holy chains of love！〃
Spanish Ballad。
〃If you love a lady bright；
Seek； and you shall find a way
All that love would say； to say
If you watch the occasion right。〃
Spanish Ballad。
In the morning Isabel took breakfast with her sister。 This
was always a pleasant event to Antonia。 She petted Isabel；
she waited upon her； sweetened her chocolate； spread her cakes
with honey； and listened to all her complaints of Tia Rachela。
Isabel came gliding in when Antonia was about half way through
the meal。 Her scarlet petticoat was gorgeous； her bodice
white as snow； her hair glossy as a bird's wing； but her lips
drooped and trembled； and there was the shadow of tears in her
eyes。 Antonia kissed their white fringed lids； held
the little form close in her arms； and fluttered about in that
motherly way which Isabel had learned to demand and enjoy。
〃What has grieved you this morning； little dove？〃
〃It is Tia Rachela； as usual。 The cross old woman！ She is
going to tell mi madre something。 Antonia； you must make her
keep her tongue between her teeth。 I promised her to confess
to Fray Ignatius； and she said I must also tell mi madre。 I
vowed to say twenty Hail Marias and ten Glorias； and she said
‘I ought to go back to the convent。'〃
〃But what dreadful thing have you been doing； Iza？〃
Iza blushed and looked into her chocolate cup； as she answered
slowly： 〃I gaveafloweraway。 Only a suchil flower；
Antonia； thatIworeatmybreastlastnight。〃
〃Whom did you give it to； Iza？〃
Iza hesitated； moved her chair close to Antonia； and then hid
her face on her sister's breast。
〃But this is serious； darling。 Surely you did not give it to
Senor Houston？〃
〃Could you think I was so silly？ When madre was talking to
him last night； and when I was singing my pretty serenade； he
heard nothing at all。 He was thinking his own thoughts。〃
〃Not to Senor Houston？ Who then？ Tell me； Iza。〃
〃ToDon Luis。〃
〃Don Luis！ But he is not here。 He went to the Colorado。〃
〃How stupid are you； Antonia！ In New York they did not teach
you to put this and that together。 As soon as I saw Senor
Houston； I said to myself： ‘Don Luis was going to him； very
likely they have met each other on the road； very likely Don
Luis is back in San Antonio。 He would not want to go away
without bidding me good…by；' and； of course； I was right。〃
〃But when did you see him last night？ You never left the
room。〃
So many things are possible。 My heart said to me when the
talk was going on； ‘Don Luis is waiting under the oleanders；'
and I walked on to the balcony and there he was； and he looked
so sad； and I dropped my suchil flower to him； and Rachela
saw me； for I think she has a million eyes；and that is the
whole matter。〃
〃But why did not Don Luis come in？〃
〃Mi madre forbade me to speak to him。 That is the fault of
the Valdez's。〃
〃Then you disobeyed mi madre； and you know what Fray Ignatius
and the Sisters have taught you about the fourth command。〃
〃Oh； indeed； I did not think of the fourth command！ A sin
without intention has not penance； and consider； Antonia； I am
now sixteen； and they would shut me up like a chicken in its
shell。 Antonia； sweet Antonia； speak to Rachela； and make
your little Iza happy。 Fear is so bad for me。 See； I do not
even care for my cakes and honey this morning。
〃I will give Rachela the blue silk kerchief I brought from New
York。 She will forget a great deal for that； and then； Iza；
darling； you must tell Fray Ignatius of your sin； because it
is not good to have an unconfessed sin on the soul。〃
〃Antonia； do not say such cruel things。 I have confessed to
you。 Fray Ignatius will give me a hard penance。 Perhaps he
may say to mi madre： ‘That child had better go back to
the convent。 I say so； because I have knowledge。' And now I
am tired of that life； I am almost a woman； Antonia； am I
not？〃
Antonia looked tenderly into her face。 She saw some
inscrutable change there。 All was the same； and all was
different。 She did not understand that it was in the eyes；
those lookouts of the soul。 They had lost the frank；
inquisitive stare of childhood； they were tender and misty；
they reflected a heart passionate and fearful； in which love
was making himself lord of all。
Antonia was not without experience。 There was in New York a
gay； handsome youth； to whom her thoughts lovingly turned。
She had promised to trust him； and to wait for him； and
neither silence nor distance had weakened her faith or her
affection。 Don Luis had also made her understand how hard it
was to leave Isabel； just when he had hoped to woo and win
her。 He had asked her to watch over his beloved； and to say
a word in his favor when all others would be condemning him。
Her sympathy had been almost a promise； and； indeed； she
thought Isabel could hardly have a more suitable lover。 He
was handsome； gallant； rich； and of good morals and noble
family。 They had been much together in their lives； their
childish affection had been permitted； she felt quite sure
that the parents of both had contemplated a stronger affection
and a more lasting tie between them。
And evidently Don Luis had advanced further in his suit than
the Senora was aware of。 He had not been able to resist the
charm of secretly wooing the fresh young girl he hoped to make
his wife。 Their love must be authorized and sanctioned； true；
he wished that； but the charm of winning the prize before it
was given was irresistible。 Antonia comprehended all without
many words； but she took her sister into the garden； where
they could be quite alone； and she sought the girl's
confidence because she was sure she could be to her a loving
guide。
Isabel was ready enough to talk； and the morning was conducive
to confidence。 They strolled slowly between the myrtle hedges
in the sweet gloom of overshadowing trees； hearing only like
a faint musical confusion the mingled murmur of the city。
〃It was just here；〃 said Isabel。 〃I was walking and
sitting and doing nothing at all but looking at the trees and
the birds and feeling happy； and Don Luis came to me。 He
might have come down from the skies； I was so astonished。 And
he looked so handsome； and he said such words！ Oh； Antonia！
they went straight to my heart。〃
〃When was this； dear？〃
〃It was in the morning。 I had been to mass with Rachela。 I
had said every prayer with my whole heart； and Rachela told me
I might stay in the garden until the sun grew hot。 And as
soon as Rachela was gone； Don Luis camecame just as sudden
as an angel。〃
〃He must have followed you from mass。〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃He should not have done that。〃
〃If a thing is delightful； nobody should do it。 Luis said he
knew that it was decided that we should marry； but that he
wanted me to be his wife because I loved him。 His face was
shining with joy； his eyes were like two stars； he called me
his life； his adorable mistress； his queen； and he knelt down
and took my hands and kissed them。 I was too happy to speak。〃
〃Oh； Iza！〃
〃Very well； Antonia！ It is easy to say ‘Oh； Iza'； but what
would you have done？ And reflect on this； no one； not even
Rachela； saw him。 So then； our angels were quite agreeable
and willing。 And II was in such joy； that I went straight
in and told Holy Maria of my happiness。 But when a person has
not been in love； how can they know； and I see that you are
going to say as Sister Sacrementa said to Lores Valdez‘You
are a wicked girl； and such things are not to be spoken of！'〃
〃Oh； my darling one； I am not so cruel。 I think you did
nothing very wrong； Iza。 When love comes into your soul； it
is like a new life。 If it is a pure； good love； it is a kind
of murder to kill it in any way。〃
〃It has just struck me； Antonia； that you may be in love
also。〃
〃When I was in New York； our brother Jack had a friend； and he
loved me； and I loved him。〃
〃But did grandmamma let him talk to you？〃
〃He came every night。 We went walking and driving。 In the
summer we sailed upon the river； in the winter we skated upon
the ice。 He helped me with my lessons。 He went with me
to church。〃
〃And was grandmamma with you？〃
〃Very seldom。 Often Jack was with us； more often we were
quite alone。〃
〃Holy Virgin！ Who ever heard tell of such good fortune？
Consuelo Ladrello had never been an hour alone with Don
Domingo before they were married。〃
〃A good girl does not need a duenna to watch her； that is what
I think。 And an American girl； pure and free； would not
suffer herself to be watched by any woman； old or young。 Her
lover comes boldly into her home； she is too proud；