The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-11-16

ugliness was hereditary, and 60 was
the aggravatingly tight curl of his tail.
He was fat and wheezy because he was
overfed and underexercised. That cir
cumstance should have excited the SYM
pathy of the man, but it did not
The dog, which belonged next door,
was standing. in the middle Of the side
walk when the man came out Of the
house. There was blue ribbon round
the dogs neck, and the effect of that
blue ribbon on the mans nerves was as
scarlet to bull. 1t was not because
the man wanted to wear blue ribbon,
yet he regarded the dog with certain
degree of envy. He was such a we'll
conditioned, stupid, prosperous-looking
animal and there was probably no lux
ury that he did not enjoy. though with
out a merit but his ugliness and his
breed.
"A mighty poor breed" thought the
man. "A pngnacious mouse would
most likely scare him into a fit. There
is nothing that dog should do that
he can do, yet he sleeps on down cush-
ion and breakfasts on mutton chops
and milk. l can't get mutton chops
for breakfast. l am in luck to get ham.
AS for milk, l suppose l could get it if
I fought for it, but the atmosphere
would be chilly round the table and the
milk would be half water at that. He
hasn't got blamed thing to do but en-
JOY himself, and have to go down and
grind over ledger all day and come
back holding on to strap in crowded
street car, and as far as | can see there
is nothing better before me-"
AT other times the man might have
taken comfort in the thought that he
was regarded as a person of conse-
quence in the implement house-that
the younger clerks approached him rev.
erentially and that he was generally
consulted by the members of the firm
whenever there was big deal on. He
might have reckoned in the list of the
blessings vouchsafed to him the Sun
day dinner with his married niece Me-
linda and her husband at Rogers Park,
to say nothing of his book collection
and his annual hunting trip-from
which he returned more dyspeptic than
ever. But just now the fiend possessed
him and all was gall and bitterness,
dust and ashes and vanity exceeding.
Consequently he kicked the dog. The
pudgy little creature tried to get out
of his way, but was too slow, and, more
over, got so confused by the mans
brisk advance that he waddled right
against his legs. The man said DARN"
which was an expression out of all pro-
portion to the kick 1t was about as
vicious kick as could be, and the little
pug was impelled by its force to the
foot of the steps, where he lay, strug-
Cling fecbly for a moment before he
recovered strength and breath TO howl.
Then he howled.
The man did not exactly run, but he
walked fast and did not look behind.
He heard door shut and the sound
of the bowling ceased, and he concluded
that the dog had been taken indoors
by his grief-stricken mistress. He
wished that he had not kicked so hard
and tried to tell himself that his cal
culation had been that the dog would
get out of the way in time to evade the
full force of the impact.
This dyspeptic man had u conscience
that was particularly healthy and Wig
orous-a conscience that nailed its col
ors to the mast, hewed to the exact line
and would admit of no compromises
conscience that for years had been PIN
ing for something to do, and now act
ing in cooperation with a lively imag-
ination and morbid stomach proceeded
to make life very burdensome for the
man.
Before this experience the man had
entertained fairly good opinion Of
himself. Now he feit thst he Was lAtls
better than a murderer. "And . cow
ardly. mean-spirited murderer" added
conscience. would You have kicked
. mas,iH like ,hst@ No; hut poor IT.