ry strip of carpet, and
every yard of drapery. Her delight was infectious. The doctor smiled to
find himself comparing shades, and gravely considering the arrangement
of chairs and tables.

But how was it possible for so loving a husband and father to avoid
sharing the pleasure he had provided? And Isabel was even more excited
than her mother. All this grandeur had a double meaning to her; it would
reflect honor upon the betrothal receptions which would be given for
Luis and herself--"amber satin and white lace is exactly what I should
have desired, Antonia," she said delightedly. "How exceedingly suitable
it will be to me! And those delicious chintzes and dimities for our
bedrooms! Did you ever conceive of things so beautiful?"

Antonia was quite ready to echo her delight. Housekeeping and
homemaking, in all its ways, was her lovable talent. It was really
Antonia who saw all the plans and the desires of the Senora thoroughly
carried out. It was her clever fingers and natural taste which gave
to every room that air of comfort and refinement which all felt and
admired, but which seemed to elude their power to imitate.

On the fourth of July the doctor and his family ate together their first
dinner in their renovated home. The day was one that he never forgot,
and he was glad to link it with a domestic occurrence so happy and so
fortunate.

Sometimes silently, sometimes with a few words to his boys, he had
always, on this festival, drank his glass of fine Xeres to the honor
and glory of the land he loved. This day he spoke her name proudly. He
recalled the wonders of her past progress; he anticipated the blessings
which she would bring to Texas; he said, as he lifted the glass in his
hand, and let the happy tears flow down his browned and thinned face:

"My wife and daughters, I believe I shall live to see the lone star set
in the glorious assemblage of her sister stars! I shall live to say, I
dwell in San Antonio, which is the loveliest city in the loveliest State
of the American Union. For, dear ones, I was born an American citizen,
and I ask this favor of God, that I may also die an American citizen."

"MI ROBERTO, when you die I shall not long survive you. And now that
the house is made so beautiful! With so much new furniture! How can you
speak of dying?"

"And, my dear father, remember how you have toiled and suffered for THE
INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS."

"Because, Antonia, I would have Texas go free into a unio