nephew.  At present the young man was assisting his father at the Mission, and in time, no doubt, would succeed to the business.  However, realizing that her living fifty miles distant might be an objection to the girl’s parents, he was not for insisting on that point, as no doubt Las Palomas offered equally good advantages for business.  He simply mentioned this by way of suggestion, and invited the opinion of his host.

“Well, now, Don Alejandro,” said the old matchmaker, in flutelike tones, “we are a very simple people here at Las Palomas.  Breeding a few horses and mules for home purposes, and the rearing of cattle has been our occupation.  As to merchandising here at the ranch, I could not countenance it, as I refused that privilege to the stage company when they offered to run past Las Palomas.  At present our few wants are supplied by a merchant at Shepherd’s Ferry.  True, it’s thirty miles, but I sometimes wish it was farther, as it is quite a temptation to my boys to ride down there on various pretexts.  We send down every week for our mail and such little necessities as the ranch may need.  If there was a store here, it would attract loafers and destroy the peace and contentment which we now enjoy.  I would object to it; ’one man to his trade and another to his merchandise.’”

The padrino, with good diplomacy, heartily agreed that a store was a disturbing feature on a ranch, and instantly went off on a tangent on the splendid business possibilities of the Mission.  The matchmaker in return agreed as heartily with him, and grew reminiscent.  “In the spring of ’51,” said he, “I made the match between Tiburcio and Dona Inez, father and mother of Juana.  Tiburcio was a vaquero of mine at the time, Inez being a Mission girl, and I have taken a great interest in the couple ever since.  All their children were born here and still live on the ranch.  Understand, Don Alejandro, I have no personal feeling in the matter, beyond the wishes of the parents of the girl.  My sister has taken a great interest in Juana, having had the girl under her charge for the past eight years.  Of course, I feel a pride in Juana, and she is a fine girl.  If your nephew wins her, I shall tell the lucky rascal when he comes to claim her that he has won the pride of Las Palomas.  I take it, Don Alejandro, that your visit and request was rather unexpected here, though I am aware that Juana has visited among cousins at the Mission several times the past few years.  But that she had lost her heart to some of your gallants comes as a surprise to me, and from what I learn, to her parents also.  Under the circumstances, if I were you, I would not urge an immediate reply, but give them the customary period to think it over.  Our vaqueros will not be very busy for some time to come, and it will not inconvenience us to send a reply by messenger to the Mission.  And tell Don Blas, even should the reply be unfavorable, not to be discouraged.  Women, you know, are peculiar.  Ah, Don Alejandro, when you and I were young and went courting, would we have been discouraged by a first refusal?”