When Don Alejandro asked for his horse the following morning on leaving, Uncle Lance, Quayle, and myself formed a guard of honor to escort our guest a distance on his way.  He took leave of the mistress of Las Palomas in an obeisance worthy of an old-time cavalier.  Once we were off, Uncle Lance pretended to have had a final interview with the parents, in which they had insisted on the customary time in which to consider the proposal.  The padrino graciously accepted the situation, thanking his host for his interest in behalf of his nephew.  On reaching the river, where our ways separated, all halted for a few minutes at parting.

“Well, Don Alejandro,” said the old ranchero, “this is my limit of escort to guests of the ranch.  Now, the only hope I have in parting is, in case the reply should he unfavorable, that Don Blas will not be discouraged and that we may see you again at Las Palomas.  Tender my congratulations to your nephew, and tell him that a welcome always awaits him in case he finds time and inclination to visit us.  I take some little interest in matches.  These boys of mine are going north to the Frio on a courting errand to-day.  But our marriage customs are inferior to yours, and our young people, left to themselves, don’t seem to marry.  Don Alejandro, if you and I had the making of the matches, there’d be a cradle rocking in every jacal.”  Both smiled, said their “Adios, amigos,” and he was gone.

As our guest cantered away, down the river road, Quayle and I began looking for a ford.  The river had been on a rampage, and while we were seeking out a crossing our employer had time for a few comments.  “The Don’s tickled with his prospects.  He thinks he’s got a half inch rope on Juana right now; but if I thought your prospects were no better than I know his are, you wouldn’t tire any horse-flesh of mine by riding to the Frio and the San Miguel.  But go right on, and stay as long as you want to, for I’m in no hurry to see your faces again.  Tom, with the ice broken as it is, as soon as Esther can remove her disabilities—­well, you won’t have to run off the next time.  And Theodore, remember what I told you the other day about sparking a girl.  You’re too timid and backward for a young fellow.  I don’t care if you come home with one eye scratched out, just so you and Frances have come to an understanding and named the day.”

CHAPTER XVI

MATCHMAKING

After our return to the Frio, my first duty was writing, relative to the proposed match, an unfavorable reply to Don Alejandro Travino.