Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-29

n
lie 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,
vet he regarded the dog with a certain
degree of envy. He was such we'll
conditioned, stupid, prosperous-looking
animal and there was probably no luA-
Dry that he did not enjoy, though with
out a merit but his ugliness and his
breed.
"a mighty poor breed" thought the
man. "A pugnacious mouse would
most likely scare him into fit. There
is nothing that dog should do that
he can do, yet he sleeps on down cusll-
ion and breakfasts on mutton chops
and milk. | can't get mutton chops
W
As for milk, l suppose | could get 1t II
[ fought for it, but the atmosphere
would be chilly round the table and the
| milk would be half water at that. Tic
hasn't got blamed thing to do but en-
iov himself, and have to go down and
grind over ledger all day and come
back holding on to strap in crowded
street ear, 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 person or conse-
ouence in the impleme mt house-that
the younger clerks approached him rev.
erentialIy and that he was generally
consulted by the members OF the firm
whenever there was big deal on. lie
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-trom
which he returned more dyspeptlc than
ever. But Just now the tiend possessed
| him ana an Nuo gan tiiN
dust and ashes and vanity exceeding.
Consequently he kicked the dog. The
pudpy little creature tried to get out
of his way, but was too slow, and, more
over. got so confused by the man S
brisk advance that he waddled right
against his legs. The man said Darn!
which was an expression out OF all pro-
| ~ DhOllt
vicious kick as could be, and the little
mug was impelled by its force to the
ioot of the steps, where he lay, strue-
cling feebly for moment before ne
> recovered strength and breath to howl.
Then he howled.
The man did not exactly run, but ne
walked last and did not look behind.
He heard a door shut and the sound
of the bowling ceased, and he concl"ceo
that the dog had been taken indoors
{ by his grief-stricken mistress. lie
wished that he had not kicked so hard
and tried to tell himself that his cal
rulation had been that the dog would
ret out of the way in time to evade the
full force of the impact.
This dyspeptic man had conscience
that was particularly healthy and vig'
orous-a conscience that nailed its co.,
ors to the mast, hewed to the exact line
6 md 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 mag
0 nation and morbid stomach proceeded
q 10 make life very burdensome for the
% man.
70 Before this experience the man ha'
% entertained a fairly good opinion o.
"a himself. Now he felt that he was llttI'
better than a murderer. "And COW
nrlly, spirited murderer" added
" conscience. would you have k'cke'
n mastie f like that? No: but poor III