Answer:
The father of the girl that Santiago wanted to see was a merchant, "the proprietor of a dry goods shop."
Step-by-step explanation:
Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" revolves around the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy looking for a treasure he saw in his dream. The book deals with the primary theme of every individual's need to pursue one's own interest despite what others may think or say.
We first hear about the girl in Chapter 1 when Santiago mentioned the girl to his sheep. The girl's father is a merchant, a "proprietor of a dry goods shop" to whom Santiago wants to sell his wool. The girl would later become his purpose to visit the merchant again, in the hopes to see the girl, even though Santiago said "it doesn't matter" even if she doesn't remember him. But in reality, he knows it matters, for he has a special feeling for that girl.