She felt that she had shown her feelings with raw candor, and the worst was that Dick was right. Though he thought she had robbed him, and was somehow her father’s enemy, she did like to know he was near. Then there had been something curious in his tone and he had asked her nothing about her father’s voyage. Indeed, it looked as if he meant to avoid the subject, although politeness demanded some remark.
“I am going shopping at the Almacen Morales,” she said by and by, giving him an excuse to leave her if he wished.
“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll come too. It will be out of this blazing sun, and there are a few things Jake told me to get.”
It was a relief to enter the big, cool, general store, but when Clare went to the dry-goods counter Dick turned aside to make his purchases. After this, he strolled about, examining specimens of native feather-work, and was presently seized by an inspiration as he stopped beside some Spanish lace. Clare ought to wear fine lace. The intricate, gauzy web would harmonize with her delicate beauty, but the trouble was that he was no judge of the material. A little farther on, a case of silver filigree caught his eye and he turned over some of the articles. This was work he knew more about, and it was almost as light and fine as the lace. The design was good and marked by a fantastic Eastern grace, for it had come from the Canaries and the Moors had taught the Spaniards how to make it long ago. After some deliberation, Dick chose a belt-clasp in a box by itself, and the girl who had been waiting on him called a clerk.
“You have a good eye, señor,” the man remarked. “The clasp was meant for a sample and not for sale.”
“Making things is my business and I know when they’re made well,” Dick answered modestly. “Anyhow, I want the clasp.”
The clerk said they would let him have it because he sometimes bought supplies for the camp, and Dick put the case in his pocket. Then he waited until Clare was ready and left the store with her. He had bought the clasp on an impulse, but now feared that she might not accept his gift. After a time, he took it out.
“This caught my eye and I thought you might wear it,” he said with diffidence.
Clare took the open case, for at first the beauty of the pattern seized her attention. Then she hesitated and turned to him with some color in her face.
“It is very pretty, but why do you want to give it to me?”