The mountain Democrat., 1865-06-03
THE RED HAT,
A Legend OF the DIalm Alison.
by GEoRoR AUGUSTUS sALA.

solitary horseman, wrapped in a large
cloak, might have been seen spurring his
jaded horse along the high road leading
from Ruel toward the gloomy and anti
quated chateau then the residence of the
formidable prime minister of Louis the
Thirteenth, Armand du Plessis, Cardinal
and Duke Of Richeieu. Remember, there
was but one cavalier. Add another, and
you might think was borrowing from
the lamented G. p. r. James.
This hOrSeman drew bFiAlA and dis
mounted at the door of an humble little
village inn, bearing on its signboard the
etigy Of st. Nicholas, and which stood at
the entrance of a gloomy avenue of pop.
lars, at the opposite extremity Of which
was the chateau, and to which it served
as kind Of lodge.
The horseman wore felt hat without
plume, band or buckle aud his doublet
Of brown drugget destitute of either rib.
bons, lace or embroidery, was sufficient
to indicate, in an age when costume SO
closely denoted the gradatiOns Of rank,
that he did not belong to the patrician
class; still, from his open and almost def
ant countenancc and cavalierly turned
up mOustache, it was not difficult to pro-
nouncc him one of those sturdy and in
dependent burgeSSes whose fathers had
fought in the wars Of the Leagne, and
who, temporarily kept in suLjection by
the iron hand Of Richelieu, rtappcared
during the troubles Of the Fronde, but
were destined to be completely absorbed
by the glory Of the Grand Mpnarquc
His horse appeared completely worn
out, and the muddy state Of his cloak tes
titled to his having come a long distance
by bad roads, in an age when all roads
were cXccrable.
May the plague light on the rogue>
VIII" are bound to keep the kings high
way in repair. grumbled the traveller, as,
tctherlng his stred to a post, he entered
the inn, and proceeded to hammer with
the butt end Of his whip upon a long ia
ble Of coarse deal, which stood in the
midst Of the low cciled, smoky common
room.
\ fat man, OF round abdomen and pur-
plcd face, clad in tie traditional whlte
apron aud night cap, and with n knife il
his girdir,for he was cook as well as host,
entered the room.
What might your lord>hip he pleased
to want:' he asked, pulling of his cap,
and making lowIy reverence.
Il am no lord, master ut mine replied
the Traveller, twisting his moustache not
without complacency but a plain bur
CESS, who owes nothing, aud asks for no
thing without he eau pay for it. am
hung, red and athlrst Give me some
supptr; make up blazing fire ste to
my horse; and | promise you that YOU
shall have no Reason to complain "l me-
And as he spoke the traveller struck
his pocket, which gave fOlth a mrta,,ic
chiak pleasant to hear.
The purple face oil tie innkrcper be
came one gran.
We have not one room unoccuIief,
he said; 'but my own private bedroom Is
at your grandeurs service Ny Wite shall
make rp bed directly. As for the rest
YOU viii have to wait u few minutes. and
all your wishes shall bc attended to-
Mine host was as good as his word
Ere long the Traveller was comfortably
stretched in a huge arm chair, toasting
his feet at b.nzln. fir, To Wiich a couple
of logs had been added. He could see
thlru-h the cascmcEt that >!IuW was he.
wiutry wind dnl,fuiy howhrg; soft,
warm olor from the Kitchen BEGAN t. tit
Hate his nGStillS, and hc 4 It a. cosy ard
compacent a. men in all countries and
ages have felt under similar circumstances
Come, this is better, he murmurcd
with sigh Of relief. a dogs life is that
of a traveller in December. May the black
fever choke the cardinal
lie bounded in his chair with terror
he was nearly failing into swoon, as,
looking upward, he saw the inkeeper,
nightcap in hand, stand ng before him.
Sdeath, man! ahat do you want?'
he exclaimed, with i'll disguised trepida.
tion.
i attn dcsirous,' returned the other,
with apparent embarrassment, to ask a
favor Of your excellency.'
The imprudcnt burgess hrcathed lit
tie more freely after this, for he had ex
pected nothing less than to b. at once ar
rested by an exempt of his terrible cmi
ncnce the cardinal.
ASK what you viii, my i!icnd, he re
sponded in courteous tone.
'Only imagine, your highnc>S, purSu
cd the diplomatic Inkeeper, twisting one
Of the corners Of his apron, that no soon
er had nv wife made Your room coihfIIt
able and tidy for you than another Gus
toner arrived. lie is an old customer
and very good customer too, for he only
asks how much there is to pay, and al.
lows me to tot up the reckoning. We'll,
you see. your superiority, that can't ex
acty turn him out Of doors on such
night as this; so I've jas; come to ask
your grace if you will allow Kim tn share
your supper and your tire till bedtime,
when must tind him shakcdown some
where 7
Is he an honest man, this customer Of
yours? asked the Traveller in dlgnItled
tone.
II it were possible for the deep p-tintcd
face of the innkeeper to assume an inten.
ser hue, he may be said to have blushed.
YES yes, your exetIlency,' he replied,
'he is honest-a very honest man,a hon
est men 60, and in his way of business
Tell him, then, that shall be 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 Of
the best, and that the wine is the right
sort
The innkeeper was profusc in his pro,
fcssions of gratitude and in promises Of IA
speedy appearance of excellent cheer; and
then he left the room, somewhat preciFi.
lately, as the traveller thought, to inform
his customer of the result of his mission.
In minute or so the customer made
his appearance. He was a strange Gus
tomer-a curious cuStomer-and, to tell