Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-10
VOLUME XVI.

| circumstances.
"Come, this is better" he murrnured
with a sigh OF relief a dogs life is tha
of traveller in December May the blacl
fever choke the Cardinal"
He bounded in his chair with terror he
was nearly falling into a swoon, as, look
ing upward, he saw the inn-keeper, night
cap in hand, standing before him.
"'Sdeath, man, what do you want 2" he
exclaimed, with ill-disguised trepidation.
" am desirous," returned the other, will
appare 1t embarrassment, "to ask favor
Of your excellsncy"
The imprudent burgess breathed little
more freely after this, for he had expected
nothing less than to be at once arrested by
an exempt of his terrible eminence the Car
dinal.
Ask what you will, my FRIEND" he re-
! spOnded IN courteous tone.
Only imagine, your highness," pursued
the diplomatic inn-keeper, twisting one OF
the corners of his apron, that no sooner
had my wife made your room comfortable
and tidy for you than another customer ar
rived He is an old customer, and q very
good customer too, for he only asks how
much there is to pay, and allows me to tot
up the reckoning Well, you see, your SUI
periOrity, that | can't exactly turn HIM out
of doors or such night as this so Pve
just come to ask your grace if you will al
low him to share your fire and your supper
till Bedtime, when | must fin d him shake
down somewhere"
is he an honest man, this customer of
yours 2" asked the traveller in a dignifed
tone.
If it were possible for the deep-tinted face
of the inn-keeper to assume an intenser hue
he may be said to have bushed.
Yes, yes, your excellency," he replied ;
L" he is honest "a very honest man, as hon
est men GO and in his way of business"
"Tell him, then, that | shall be very
pleased with his company, and that he is
welcome to half my supper-the best half +;
and, hark ye, Mr.. Landlord, see that it be
good, and that the wine is of the right
| sort"
The inn-keeper was profuse in his express
sions OF gratitude and in promises of a
speedy appearance of excellent cheer and
then he left the room, somewhat precipi-
tately,as the traveller thought, to inform his
customer of the result of his mission
In a minute or so the customer made his
appearance. He was a strange customer
"a curious customer-and, to tell truth,
somewhat Of an ugly customer He was
very tall, very thin, had very harshly-
marked features, very small gray eyes,
whose lids dropped whenever he was looked
full in the face, and pointed beard and
mustache coarse and grizzled. His hands
were knotted and bony, and of huge size.
He was plainly dressed in a doublet, vest,
and trunks of gray serge, bordered with
black taffeta and terminated by long boots
of untanned leather but the most notice
able point in his appeared was his hat,
which, of the same material as that Of the
traveller, and, like his, unadorned by feath-
er or buckle, was of a dull crimson color
81 don't like the look of that Robin Red
head" the traveller bethought himself His
eminence wears scarlet hat but it has
tassels and broad brim. Who ever saw
peaceable citizen in such bloodstained-
looking chuvrechef as that?"
However, he was an open-hearted bur-
CESS and, rising, held out his hand to the
stranger, saying, Welcome, Sir and
! friend"
To his surprise the man with the Red
Hat drew back, as though half alarmed and
half astonished at this simple act of cour-
tesy and, instead Of reciprocating it, con-
tented himself with making low bow
"a very ceremOriOus parsonage, upon
my word, ~ unused the guest "Perhaps he
is Huguanot or, just as likely, a Cath
olic, and thinks | am a hereto. The spot
ted fever take all religious differences, say
!" Then, raising his voice, he said, " Sir,
am extremely happy to be able to offer
you a share of my supper and"
"A thousand thanks !" hastily yinterposed
he of the Red Hat Then diving into the
recesses of a pouch at his belt, he produced
a handful of silver and continued, Take,
entreat you, what | have to pay as my
share of the reckoning"
Sir, sir" protested the traveller, draw
ing himself up, - do you take me for a mig
gard curmudgeon who expects a stranger
to pay for the meal to which he invites
him ?"
Invites Do you mean to say that you
invite me 2" fatered the Red Hat
"Of course l do. told the landlord So"
replied the other.
"Then," responded the Red Hat, with a
very peculiar and not very pleasant smile,
" ! accept your invitation as heartily as it
was given. This is the first time in my
life that such a thing has happened to me.
But the sky has fallen, and we may expect
to catch roast larks" And he drew a stool
up to the fire and began to bask and hug
himself in the genial warmth.
Roast larks failed to come down but a
splendid roast goose just then came up,
fanked by a hotchpotch of savory ingre-
dents, and two portly pitchers of wine.
The strangely-acquainted friends sat down
to table and did the amplest justice to the
edibles and potables and so delighted did
mine host seem with the appetite Of his
guests, that he insisted upon standing treat
in more than one flask of his choicest vint-
age.
No doubt, Sir,n the Red Hat remarked,
when the landlord had removed the frag-
ments of the repast and they were left
alone, " that you are as well known as |
am in this hostelry. Goodman Aubry
waited on you as though you were prince" !"
"Not in the least" replied the burgess,
smiling. "But just sounded my pocket,
and he was content with the ring of the lit
tie livres Tournois"
His interlocutor smiled grimly in his
turn. Yes" he pursued, gold has i'm.
mense power in every country still it is
! far from prudent to show the contents Ot