The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-05-25
Dick Spray and the " Muz-
Zling Order"
From London Truth.

From London Truth.
Dick Spray, young bachelor of good family
and Independent fortune, was highly popular
with his large circle of acquaintance, as much
for his innate love Of mischievous pranlls as for
the kind and genuine nature which lay beneath
his harum-scarum exterior. After long and
enjoyable bachelorhood, during which he had
been stricken with no feeling deeper than an
ephemeral passion for any member of the fair
sex, Dick at last thought it necessary to fall Sc
riously in love. The object of his affections was
that pretty little widow, Mrs. Cecil Herbert,
who, in addition to her great personal attrac-
tions, was blessed with an easy competence and
bijou residence in Mayfair Not that Dick was
primarily attracted by her fortune; he would
have been equally as much in love with her had
she been penniless. But still he felt himself
lucky in having ''laid his love where money
was.n
Of course the widow had many other sutors;
her pretty face and her good income insured
that. But Dick fattered himself that he was
first favorite, and thus far was satisfied with his
position. There was however, one rival whom
he regarded with some jealousy and dislike as
occupying a large slice of his mstresss affec-
tions. This was snarling little lap-dog, sleek,
pampered pug, which rejoiced in the stereotyped
name of "Fido.n
The little creature fully returned Dicks dis
like, flying at his legs from under chairs and
tables on every possible occasion, and growing
and snarling the whole time he was present.
And when the pampered brute was lying on its
mistress's lap, (as it often was,) and Dick
wanted to draw very close, in order to whisper
soft speeches in his charmer's ear he was forced
to keep his distance by the pug's savage snaps,
which more than once came dangerously near
his nose.
The worst of it was that Mrs. Herbert would
only laugh, in her provoking way, at these eXhi-
bitions of jealousy the part of "Fido, you lit
tie wretch !" and would never risk hurting the
creatures ''poor little feelings, then,' by turn
ing him off her lap, or ousting him from the
room.
1t is no wonder, therefore, that Dick, while he
carefully dssembled his feelings in Mrs Her
bert's presence grew to regard Fido with pro-
found hatred, and felt every day more disposed
to wiring the little brute's neck.
One afternoon Fido behaved even worse than
usual and actually tore with his teeth the sleeve
of Dicks coat when he put his hand forward to
take Mrs. Herbert's. The young man was more
put out of temper by the circumstance than he
had ever been before in the widows presence,
and left the house with very sulky expression
of face, muttering to himself that it was srathel
too bad of Constance-by Jove, it was to keep
that ill-tempered little cur, and let it play such
tricks with fellow !"
When he turned the corner of the street he
happened to look around, and saw, to his great
surprise, that Fido was following him. Appar-
emily the odious little brute had slipped out
after him unobserved and taken fancy to GO
for n 1ly wit 6ret
to take Fido back to his owner, and it would
have been well for him had he done so. But I'M
fortunately a second idea crossed his mind
which, in his present temper, he was much more
disposed to entertain.
''By Jover he thought to himself, ''what q
splendid opportunity of paying the little brute
out Why not entice him into the most crowded
part of Piccadilly, and lose him there? He's as
likely not to be run over or stolen, and, even
if Constance gets him back, she'll never guess
the truth By Jove, I'll do it !"
Absorbed with the one idea of paying off old
scores on the pug, and regardless of the possible
consequences that such an act might entail, as
well of the pain which Fidos loss would
cause the widow, Dick Spray, with his usual
thoughtless rashness, at once followed out his
resolve. "Come along, Fido Come along,
good dog he said, slapping his knee, and adj
dressing the little animal in his blandest tones
Fido set his head on one side and regarded Dick
with tentative gaze, as if rather suspicious of
this sudden atrability on the part of his enemy
apparently he was not quite satisfied, for, while
he did not retire, he refused to advance any
nearer.
This compelled Dick to change his tactics and
walk slowly on, but be was pleased to observe
by hasty glances over his shoulder, that the dog
continued to follow him, some dozen yards in
rear In this manner they proceeded through
several streets, Fido, for reasons best known to
himself, trottng sedately along in the wake OF
his mortal foe.
But when they entered Bond street the dog,
frightened, seemingly, by the din of the traffic
and by the glare of light from the shop windows
stopped Short and appeared disnclined to &C
any further,
''Fhis won't do at all p soliloquized Dick
'If l leave the little beast now, ten to one he'll