Jose also had
seen the byplay; and the fire had smoldered in his eyes until at last
it kindled into flame and drove him cursing from the place. In his
heart Dade could not blame Jose.
Forgotten while Teresita held back with one hand a black lock which
the wind was trying to fling across her eyes, and murmured mocking
commiseration over the half obliterated callouses on Jack's hand,
Dade loitered across the patio, remembering many things whose very
sweetness made the present hurt more bitter. He might have known it
would be like this, he told himself sternly; but life during the past
two weeks had been too sweet for forebodings or for precaution. He
had wanted Jack to see and admire Teresita, with the same impulse that
would have made him want to show Jack any other treasure which Chance
held out to him while Hope smiled over her shoulder and whispered that
it was his.
Well, Jack had seen her, and Jack surely admired her; and the grim
humor of Dade's plight struck through the ache and made him laugh,
even though his jaws immediately went together with a click of teeth
and cut the laugh short. He might have known--but he was not the sort
of man who stands guard against friend and foe alike.
And, he owned to himself, Jack was unconscious of any hurt for his
friend in this rather transparent wooing. A little thought would have
enlightened him, perhaps, or a little observation; but Dade could
not blame Jack for not seeking for some obstacle in the path of his
desires.
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