Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-16
THE PARCHMENT OF THE MOOR.
lSH DOCTOR.
Translated from the French of Emile Souvestre
by w. Waybridge, Esq.

Translated from the French of Emile Souvestre
by w. Waybrdge, Esql
CHAPTER I.
4 traveller has SAID of the taverns of
Spain that they are sort ofshelter where
certain men, called innkeepers, furnish
YOU with smoke and vermin for the night
Another adds: at is not the host that
feeds the traveller, but the traveller that
feeds the host and a contemporary has
just advised the stranger who travels
through the eastern provinces of the 1be-
rian peninsula to carry his bed with him,
under pain of sleeping in homemade
sheets on mattresses of greasy wool,
changed only IN the spring time How
ever much these observations need verifi-
cation, it is very evident that the inns of
Spain are much better than they were two
centuries ago.
At that period they were indeed but just
sort of caravansary, visited by mule
drivers, who found therein litter for
themselves and cattle. The most comfort
able of them had, in addition to the
stable and the common hail. onlyan attic,
divided into several compartments, hon
ored by the name of rooms, to which the
ascent was by a ladder.
~'bN II was llto oilt vi tlltSc Cudiu-
0ers that Don Joseph de Fuer d Alcantra,
a doctor standing we'll at Salamanca,
an hidalgo of Asturian blood, possess
ing only the coat he wore, twenty reals
and passably good opinion of his own
atalnments, entered. Though hardly
over thirty, he had already tried his hand
al several pursuits without coming to
opulence (Which in his own opinion
would have suited him As well as anyone
else) and he now returned to Leon with
the hope of being employed by Count
Don Alonzo Mendos, who owned between
loro and Zamora a magnificent estate
which our doctor had already visited.
Unfortunately he was appraised of the
4eath OF the Count by the innkeeper and
was still under the disappointment which
MS intelligence gave him when this re-
cltal opens
Don Alonzo dead!" repeated he, with
s,upetaction.
And buried" reioined the tavern
Keeper; magnificently buried, as be
came his rank"
But the chateau is then occupied by
his heirs?"
he only heir is the nephew of the
count and he has ordered Perez Cavallos
~ sell the place at auction tomorrow
"Aen, suppose, ii will go into the hands
'. new proprietor"
Don Joseph thought that the new own
O. might need some one to. oversee the es-
.".e' and that possibly he might accept his
..l' ICES. He accordingly declared that he
""G continue at the inn until the matter
r-s decided. The innkeeper favored his
-s'iIn, assuring him that he could find no
.faoleor more cemmodious lodging
t.'+ unsupported his assertion by directing
.'.- a.lentlon o. his guest to the furniture of
~ chamber. This was all the better ven.
--',s4 because three of the four panes of
''s, were wanting to the window, and
-'-'H was an lllimitable view of the sky
49, a.. sa'n being placed upon the roof The
tt"llufe consisted Of bed of straw. a
Ary stool and a three-iegged table
me chinks and crevices in the sides
.Hs garrett formed, as the tavern keeper
A,eu out, multitude of compartments
r-I,A adyantageously took the place OF
-r, ana drawers Most of these were
via earthen vessels, meldy rags,
- Flals, and, what surprised Don Joseph
-.- @lth books and papers His host
e." 70 him that all these things had
teil here by an old doctor. who had
r. 'e1 the room for several months. en-
49, ID studying, writing and distilling
but that some indications HAVING
',' asuspieion that he was of Moor.