Chapter 66

           ItwasIsidorawhohadthusstrangelyandsuddenlyshownherself.Whatwasbringingherback?Andwhywassheridingatsuchaperilouspace?

           Toexplainit,wemustreturntothatdarkreverie,fromwhichshewasstartledbyherencounterwiththe"Tejanos."

           WhilegallopingawayfromtheAlamo,shehadnotthoughtoflookingback,toascertainwhethershewasfollowed.Absorbedinschemesofvengeance,shehadgoneon—withoutevengivingaglancebehind.

           Itwasbutslightcomforttohertoreflect:thatLouisePoindexterhadappearedequallydetermineduponpartingfromthejacalé.Withawoman’sintuitivequickness,shesuspectedthecause;thoughsheknew,toowell,itwasgroundless.

           Still,therewassomepleasureinthethought:thatherrival,ignorantofherhappyfortune,wassufferinglikeherself.

           Therewasahope,too,thattheincidentmightproduceestrangementintheheartofthisproudCreoleladytowardsthemansocondescendinglybeloved;thoughitwasfaint,vague,scarcebelievedinbyherwhoconceivedit.

           Takingherownheartasastandard,shewasnotonetolaymuchstressonthecondescensionoflove:herownhistorywasproofofitslevellingpower.Stillwastherethethoughtthatherpresenceatthejacaléhadgivenpain,andmightresultindisastertothehappinessofherhatedrival.

           Isidorahadbeguntodwelluponthiswithasortofsubduedpleasure;thatcontinuedunchecked,tillthetimeofherrencontrewiththeTexans.

           Onturningbackwiththese,herspiritsunderwentachange.