The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-11-05
4" HECTOR"
BY CELIE GAINES.

Not that son Of Priam, the beloved of
Andromache, but still real prince of
his race, and greatly beloved by one
small woman. A magnificent mastitf is
Hector, as brave and bold, not to say as
gallant and noble, as many hero with
two legs less. As for dogs not being able
to think, any one who can entertain such
an idea deserves to live in "chill condi-
ton of dogIessness" to the end of his
days. will tell you about Hector, and
you may judge for yourself.
Having been suddenly thrown upon my
own resources, as so often bcfalls a girl
brought up in luxury. in: this swiftly
whirling maelstrom of our American life,
[ determined to cultivate the only decided
talent I possessed, that for painting.
Dresden was recommended TO me as a
place both cheap to live in and offering
unusual facilities for art study. | &C
cordingIy went there. Without a
chaperone? Certainly. | was to be a
person of affairs, and what was business
woman to do with so costly, not to say in
convenient, anappendagea as chaperone?
All winter / studied and copied in the
gallery, and when summer came | took
the little steamboat which runs Up and
down the Elbe, bowling its smoke-stack so
deferentialIy to all the bridges, and
hunted Up picturesque castles to sketch.
ttLieben-felsen" was the beautiful Old
schloss fell specially in love with; so |
finally persuaded an old couple who lived
near it to take me into board for lew
weeks They had rather nice little
house, and a garden that sloped down to
the waters edge. There, under the
overhanging trees, l used to sit for hours
gazing up at the massive towers just on
the other side of the castle wall. Now
and then feeling of loneliness swept
over me, and my heart yearned tor some
of the pleasures of the joyous past. One
morning asked my landlady If any of
the numerous German laws would be in
fringed if | should go in swimming. At
first she declared l would drown immedi-
ateIy, but when | assured her that | had
known how to swim since child, she
finally consented with protest as to the
general unusualness of American be-
havi0r.
How refreshing it was! What happi-
ness to plunge fearIessly into the cool,
clear water! Not a living soul was to
be seen; not a sound to be heard. Sud
denly a great splash startled me. l felt
nly bathing dress seized between the
shoulders and myself dragged vigorously
out of the water upon the bank. / was
thoroughly terrified, but fortunately
made no resistance As | looked up an
enormous head appeared, and large pair
e
had always loved dogs, but this monstrous
disturber of my peace was so formidable
that / dared not move. He, too, was
ElotionIess; and / read on his collar the
name, Hector" At last | raised my
hand very gently and patted him on the
neck, and to my infinite relief per-
ceived a slight vibration in the tip end
of his tail Just as was wondering
how far l dared presume upon that
friendly symptom, he Tapped his rough
tongue all over my face. Then [ sat up
and laughed, and he jumped and
frol;cked as Iargo as young lion, as
gentle as kitten.
Presently / tried to go back into the
water, but to this he forcibly objected
and was obliged to submit. When
returned III the mouse ne accompanies
ae, to the terror of my hostess. He
belongs up at the schloss," she OK
planned; 1.-the young graf is away trav-
cling, and almost all the servants are
afraid of him.
Poor fellow, l thought; he has beer
lonely, too; that is what we read in eacl
others eyes After that Hector and
were inseparabIe. He came every day
and ne explored all the surrounding
country together. | am sure he though
yes, thought, just as much as you or
can think-that he saved my life an(
consequently ought to appoint himself
nav guardian. To me he seemed ike
living link to the beautiful old castle, !;
protector and faithful friend.
One morning as we were returning
from long walk, / saw advancing tina
always novel sight to American eyes,
woman and a dog harnessed together
dragging cart In this instance tn
cart was full of vegetables 1t was cyl
IDENTIFY market frau taking produce +
town Now Hector was true knight, val
liant, loyal and gentle, but he possesses
also that ether Characteristic of knight
hood, he broOked no intruders; and IL