Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-22

A long. struggling village 1t seemed, made up of inns strewn along tho road, liEs beads threaded on rosary. And, to be sure, to complete the likeness, we came presently upon an ancient stone cross standing on tho green. lpulled up in front of this with sigh of pleasure, for on either side of it, ono facing the other was an inn of the better class.
 ''Well," I said, which shall it be-the Roso and Crown, or tho Crown without the rose?'
 "Chooso for yourself" he answered churlishly. II go to the other"
 shrugged my shoulders. After all, you cannot mako a silk purse out of sow's ear, and if q man has not courage he is not likely to havo good fellowship. But the words angered mo nevertheless, for a shabby, hulking fellow lounging at my elbow overheard them and grinned. A hiccoughing, blear eyed man he was as I had ever met, with n red nose and the rags of n tattercd cassock about him. 1 turned away in annoyance and chose tho Crown Rt hazard, and pushing my way through the knot of horses that stood teth- cred at the door went in, leaving the two to their devices.
 found n roaring fro in the great room and three or four ycoman standing about it, drinking ale. But I was hot from walking, so after saluting them and or dcring my meal went and sat for choice on n bench by tho window away from the fire. The window was one of kind com mon in Warwickshire houses, long and low and beetle browed, the story above projecting over it. sat there a minute looking idly out at tho inn opposite a heavy stone building with a walled court yard attached to 1t, such an inn as was common enough about the time of the wars of the roses, when wayfarers looked rather for safety than comfort. Presently SAW boy come out of it and start up the road at a run. Then, a minute later, the ragged fellow had seen on the green came out and lurche'l across the road. Ho seemed to be making, though uncertainty, for my inn, and, sure enough, just as my bread and bacon-the latter hot and hiss ing-wcro put before mo, he staggered into the room, bringing a strong smell of ale and onions with him. Pax vObis- cuml'' he said, leering at me with tipsy solemnity.
 l guessed what he waS-a monk, one of those unfortunates still to be found here and there up and down the country, whom King Henry, when he put down tho mon aStericS, had mado homeless. l did not look on the class with much favor, think ing that for most of them tho cloister, even if the queen should succeed in setting the nbbeys on their legs again, would have few attractitns. But 1 saw that the simple farmers received his scrap of Latin with Icspcct, and nodded civilly us I'went on with my meal
 l was not la g,t ufT SD easily, however Hc camc and planted himself opposite to nc.
 "Paxv vnhiscum, my son." he repeated. ''Thc ale is cheap hero and good"
 So is the ham, good fathCr," replied chCcrfully, net pausing in my attack on tho victuals. will answer for so much" |"
 Well, we'll" tho knavc replied, with ready wit, Il hrrhkfaStcd early. I am con tent. Landlord, another plato and full tankard. Tho young gentleman would havo mo dino with him."
 l could not tell whether to he angry or to laugh at his impudcnce.
 The gentleman says he will answer for it!' repeated the rascal, with a twinkle in his eye, as the landlord hcsitatcd. He was by no means SD drunk as he looked.
 No, no, father ''I cried, joining in the general laugh into which tho farmers by the fro broke. A cup of ale is in reason, and for that l will pay, but for no moro, Drink it and wish me Godspecd." "
 II will do moro than that, lad, ," he an swcrCd. Swaying to and fro my cup which hc had seized in his grasp, he laid his hand on the window lcdgo beside mo- as though to steady himself, and stopped until his coarse. puffy face was but few inches from mine. Moro than that" ho whispered hoarscly, and his eyes, pcering into mine, were now sober and full of meaning. If you do not want to be put In the stocks or worse, make tracks! Make tracks, lad!' he continued. Your friend over therc-hc Is a niggardly oaf- has sent for the hundrcdman and the con stable, and you arc the quarry. So tho word is, Go! That" he added aloud standing erect again, with a drunken smile, lis for your cup of ale. and good coin tool
 For half minute I sat quite still, taken ahack and wondering, while the bacon cooled on the plato before me, what was to do. l did not doubt the monk was telling tho truth. Why should he lie to mel And l cursed my folly in trusting to a towards honor or a serving man s good faith. But lamentations were use- less What was to do? I had no horse and no means of getting one. I was in a strange country, and to try to escape on foot from pursuers who knew the roads and had the law on their side, would be a hopeless undertaking. Yet to be hauled back to CutOn End n prisoner-I could not face that, Mechanically 1 raised a morscl of bacon to my lips, and I did so a thought occurred to mc-an idea suggest ed by somo talk had heard the evening before at TowCcstor.
 Fancful as tho plan was. snatched at IL, and knowing each instant to bo pre- | cious took my courage in my hand-and my tankard. "Hcrc," cried, speaking suddenly and loudly, "hero Is bad luck to purvcyors, Master HoSt!"
 There were n couple of stahlemCn within hearing, luunging in tho doorway, besides | tho landlord and his wife and tho farmers.