The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-03-17
THE PAINTERS MANTLE.

Having with him only one trunk, the
innkeeper thought he could not be
very rich, and gave him for this reason
a room in the top of the house, No.
40. AT that time it was not necessary
to give ones name at an inn, and
those who wished to preserve their in.
cognito gave to their friends the mum.
Der OF their room and the name of the
inn where they lodged. This gentle
man did SO.
AT the end of the first week the
landlord presented his bill but great
was his astonishment when the un
known told him he had no money. that
he expected some every day from
home, begging him to rest easy, and
assuring that as soon as the money ar
rived he should be paid.
The innkeeper went away not very
we'll satisfied, because this stranger or
dered the most~exquisit dinners, the
most recherche viands, the most expen-
sive wines of France and Germany
and the landlord, being very miserly
and suspicious feared for his money.
AT the end of the second week he
made his guest another visit, and pre-.
senting his bill, met with the same re.
sponse; then he looked around the
room and saw magnificent mantle
hanging on the wall, all lined with
rich fur-a mantle which might be
worth FIVE hundred silver horins. The
innkoeper, delighted with his discove.
ry, saluted the gentleman, and de-
scended the stairs, saying to himself,
eff he does not pay me at the end of
another week, will make him leave
me this mantle in pledge for what he
owes me"
Some days passed, when there ar
rived an express with letter for the
gentleman in No. 40.
The landlord, sure that it contained
remittance, ran to give it himself to
the stranger, who took the letter, and
seeing the seal, exclaimed, "Oh the
imperial arms J" then opened the let
ter, and having read it. said: sit is an
order TO go at once to Bologna, where
the Emperor of Germany is staying at
present, who wishes to see me. A car.
riage will come for me in little while,
because the journey will be at the En-
peror's expense.
But sir, before you go, pay me my
bill, which amounts to $50 FORMS"
"You knoeO very well, caro- mio, that
since | came to your inn, | have re-
ceived no letter but this one therefore
| have not yet received my money ,and
not having received it, | cannot pay
you. | am an honest man; l do not
wish to defraud you, and ] will send
you the money from Bologna"
"Sir, if you have no money, as you
say, to pay me, it does not matter
leave me in pledge this mantle (point.
ing to one hanging on the walD, and
As soon as you have paid your bill, l
will take care to have it to Bologna,
or to whatever other city your lord
ship may happen to be in"
"How have you the heart to let me
go away in this cold weather without
my cloak?"
'Ah! sir, do not know you--aud
| give credit to no one"
"Inhuman wretch, without pity"
Here he was interrupted by the por-
ter Of the inn, who entered, telling the
gentleman that carriage had come
for him.
Every WE'LL" he replied, stake my
trunk and L will go.
The landlord accompanied him to
the gate, saying: "a pleasant journey,
sir; we understand each other, and l
will remember my promise"
Eager to examine more closely the
rich cloak, he mounted at once to the
chamber of the unknown, and went up
to the wall to take down the cloak,
when, oh! horror he discovered that
it was painted.
"Ahl the thief! tho villianl man
who deserves hanging!" he began to
shout, and made such an uproar that
all the strangers in the inn came ont
Of the rooms to see what had caused
such noise.
"Ahl gentlemen, see-a painted
mantle The man who had this room,
and who has just gone, not having
money enough to pay his bill, was TO
leave me in pledge his magnificent
cloak, worth more than 500 forms
Instead, the villain has put it in his
trunk, and left me this; and more
than this, he had the ellrontry to mock
me, reproaching me with being with
out human feeling, without heart"
One of the strangers, who was an
amateur painter, said to the landlord
"You are an migrate, an ignOrent fool.
You possess a treasure in this most
beautiful picture You were born
lucky. This mantle will make your