The Character of the Story

Reading the story the reader gets acquainted with one main character - Trysdale. He is a young man, noble, educated and wealthy. He can be characterised as egoistic person, as he takes his girlfriend for granted and "supernatural number of high attributes and excellencies and talents" with which she filled him, accepts, as naturally as "the desert sand soaks up rain". 

Actually, he  himself understands that "his fatuous and tardily mourned egoism" played against him. Having returned from the wedding he rues his vanity and conceit, but, unfortunately, he doesn't understand: How?

He recalls the night on which he proposed her, he remembers how she looked at him, "how glad, how shy, how tremulous she was!". Trysdale was sure that she will answer in the affirmative.
He also can be characterised as weak and faint-hearted, as he doesn't try to find out the reason why she refused his proposal (she sent a cactus, which he have taken as a mark of refusal). This image, primarily, is created through indirect characterization.

Another minor character, who appears in the pages of the story and playes the biggest role in the Trysdale's life, is Captain Caruthers. He is the brother of the bride and Trysdale's friend. Captain is his incontinent admirer, but makes him disservice. We cannot say that Captain does it on purpose (he tells his sister thst Trysdale speaks Spanish fluently, but the latter doesn't).