Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-24
THE RED HAT.

~ w TIC uCsI yOu Will.
~s -Ph0bc Cary.
THE RED HAT.
On the evening Of a dark and rainy day
in the month Of December, 10, soil
tary horseman, wrapped in large cloak,
might have been seen squirting his Jatted
steed along the high-road leading from
Ruel toward the gloomy and antiquated
chateau then the residence Of the formid-
able prime minister Of Louis the Thir-
teenth, Armand DIN Plesis, Cardinal and
Duke of Richelieu. Remember, there
was but one cavalier. Add another, and
you might think l was borrowing from
the lamented G.. P. r. James.
This horseman drew his bride and dis
mounted at the door of an humble little
village inn, bearing on its sign-board the
efigy of St. Nicholas, and which stood at
the entrance to gloomy avenue OF pop
lars, at the opposite extremity Of which
was the chateau. and to which it served
as q kind of lodge
The horseman wore a felt hat without
plume, band or buckle; and 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 de-
faint countenance and cavalierly turned
up moustache, it was not difficult to pro
nounce him one of those sturdy and indie
pendent burgesses whose fathers had
fought in the wars Of the League, and
who, temporarily kept in subsection by
the iron hand of Richelieu, reappeared
during the troubles Of the Fronde. but
were destined to he completely absorbed
by the glory of the Grand Monarque.
His horse appeared completely worn
out, and the muddy state of his cloak tes-
tilted to his having come long distance
by bad roads, in an age when all roads
were execrable.
MAY the plague light on the rogues
who are bound to keep the kings high
way in repair" grumbled the traveller, as,
lettering his steed to post, he entered
the inn, and proceeded to hammer with
the but-end Of his whip upon long table
of coarse deal, which stood in the midst
of low-ceiled, smoky, common room.
A fat man, Of rotund abdomen and pur-
pie face, clad in the traditional white
apron and night-cap, and with a knife
stuck in his girdle, for he was cook as
we'll as host, entered the room.
"What might your lordship be pleased
to wantl' he asked, pulling off his cap,
and making lowly reverence.
~ am no lord, master Of mine," re-
piled the traveller, twisting his mustache
not without complaccncy; "but plain
burgess, who owes nothing, and asks for
nothing without he can pay for it. am
hungry and athirst Give me some sup
per; make up blazing fire; see to my
horse; and promise you that you shall
have no reason to complain of me-"
And as he spoke the traveller struck his
pocket, which, gave forth metallic clink
pleasant to hear.
The purple face of the inn keeper be-
came one grin.
I'VE have not one room unoccupied,'
he said; but my own private bedroom is
at your grandeur's service. My wife
shall make up bed directly. As for the
rest, you have but to wait few minutes
and all your wishes shall be attended to-
Mine host was as good as his word
Ere long the traveller was comfortably
stretched in huge armchair, toasting
his feet at a blazing fire, to which couple
Of logs had been added. He could sec
through the easement that snow was be.
ginning to fall thickly;; he could hear the
Wintry wind dolefully bowling; soft
warm odor from the kitchen began to ii
tillate his nostrils, and he felt as cosy ani
complacent as men in all countries ane
ages have felt under similar circumstan
ces. .gE
"Come, this is BETTER he murmured
with sigh of relief. "A dogs life il
that Of 4 traveller in December. May tn
black fever choke the CARDINAL
He bounded in his chair with terror
he was nearly falling into a swoon, as
looking upward, he saw the inn-keep
er, night-cap in hand, standing befor
him. --.-..----.
Sheath, man, what do you want!
he exclaimed, with ill:disguised trepida
II am desirous," returned the Other
with apparent embarrassment, to ask
favor Of your excellency."
The imprudent burgess breatheda littl
more freely after this, for he had expecte'
nothing less than to be at once arrested
by an exempt of his terrible eminence tn
Cardinal.
ASK what you will, my FRIEND" h
responded in courteous tone.
'sOnly imagine, your highness," pur
sued the diplomatic inn-keeper, twisting
one Of the corners Of, his. apron, "that n
sooner had my wife made your room
comfortable and tidy for5you than a Gus
omer asrived. He is anold customer, and.
very good customer too, for he only ask
how much there is to pay, and allows m
to tot up the reckoning. Well, you set
your superiority, that 1 can't exactly tur
him out of doors on such night as this
30 I've Just come to ask your grace if 20
will allow him to share your fire an
your supper till :. bedtime, when mus
find him shake down somewhere"
LIKE IN honest man, this customer {
you1slA Saked the traveller in digniie
tone. .t15f aak al ..zs5ts4 l{z.esss. f.as. g. go.
If it were possible for the deep-tinte
face ofa.the inn-keeper to assume an il
tensers hue, he may be said to ,hay
blushed.
"Yes. yes, your excellency," ~ he repiet
"he i honest very honest man, as ho1
eat men go, and in his way Of business
"Tell him, then, that shall be ver
pleased With his company, and that he
welcome to lfmy supper-the best hal
and, bark ye, Mr.. Landlord, see that it /
good, and that the wine is of the rigl
sort" II
The inn-keeper was profuse in his e.
pressipls Of gratitude and in promises
: speedy appearance Of excellent chez
and then he left the room, somewh'
precipitately, . the traveller thought, !
inform biz customer asr q. 1 the result a Of
n 5 minute or two the customer MAD
biz appearance. He va : strange Gu
tomsr-and, to tell the truth, somewh
Of an ugly customer. He was very to
very thin, had very harshly marked tfe
tarss, ussy small gray eyes, whose Ii
dropped awhenevef he WAS looked full
the Ac6; indsap pointed beard and mu
taehe coarse and E gIizsled. His han.
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