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isi Tho Immortal Alamo
By John Cliericlge Chandos
DOWN on the San Antonio Eiver the mellow light of late winter sunset shone from a cloudless west with no prophecy of impending danger in its serene beauty. There was. a cluster of low-walled dwellings near the stream — a town then called Bexar — and a little beyond them an ancient Spanish mission — the Alamo — once a stronghold of religious pioneers, now occupied as a fortress by those of freedom.
From one cottage came a sweeter music than the song of a southern nightingale — the laugh of a happy woman. She was Lucy, the young and spirited wife of Lieutenant Dickenson, much more charmed than alarmed by the presence of danger at this advanced post. Mexicans were numerous in this Texas town and it was rumored that Santa Anna at the head of an army was coming into the land of freedom to establish his military despotism. But why should she fear ? There were one hundred and fifty Americans in possession of the old mission, and among them some of the greatest fighters in the new world. With ten times that number of daring spirits the Texans would have unhesitatingly marched to the Mexican capital and deposed a tyrant too strong for his own countrymen.
Lucy was chatting and laughing with the man she loved, as lightly as if the touch of amber on her cheeks — the parting sun's benediction — was the dawn's new splendor of promise.
Suddenly the western light went out like a snuffed candle.
She shivered and paled.
Her husband, alarmed at the change in his wife's spirits, turned and saw Senor Xavarre and a companion approaching.
There was a smile on the Mexican's face; he was openly opposed to SanU. Anna's destruction of Mexican liberty, and an avowed friend of Texan independence. He greeted the American officer with cordiality and the young wife with mingled deference and gallantry, then passed on, but his shadow remained.
Pressed for explanation of her change of mood, the lieutenant's wife confessed that she had no other ground for a sudden fear that had taken possession of her mind than an alteration in Navarre's attitude. He had admired her in a respectful way, betraying more than ordinary interest, but with becoming modesty and deference. She had just noted a remarkable change in the expression of his face, as tho a mask had fallen. There was a revelation of cruel anticipation in his smile, as tho he had been secretly planning to destroy her happiness and was on the verge of complete triumph.
Lieutenant Dickenson laughed away his wife's fears for the moment, but they were destined to be renewed at a social gathering soon after.
Officers assembled with their friends to make merry at headquarters, altho it was known that ruthless Santa Anna had formed an army of five thousand men within menacing distance of the post. This condition of overconfidence was due to the character of such leaders as Colonel William Barrett Travis, James Bowie and Davy Crockett in the tiny crarrison, all