Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-10-22

Hector: she abused me; she abused the
aristocracy, to which she seemed to think
we both belonged as highway robbers
and assassins In my desperation |
picked up stick to compel Hector to
obedience, but she mistook my motive
and advanced upon me in rage.
I" Silence !" We turned quickly. just
out of the wood came a young man in
uniform, evidently an officer. The dogs
stood still an instant, and l rushed for
ward and grasped Hector's collar.
"He did not consent kindly to being
led off, but the other dog had been pretty
well chastised by this time. Hector felt
his knightly powers had been duly estab-
lished, and he quieted down in a deferen-
tial sort of way, as if he were only con-
senting to it on my account Then the
market-woman began to wall that her
wares were spoiled and she might as well
go home; but when | gave her some
money, and the gentleman kindly added
some, too. she harnessed herself and her
dog again and resumed her journey.
Then l turned to thank my preserver.
Hector, whose collar | still held, was
restlessly dragging me forward, so we
walked on together.
.I'm so sorry" began, "that my dog
should have made such trouble"
He smiled. Happily" he said, "the
| damage was not irreparable."
Il am very much obliged to you for
interfering just now," went on, rather
excitedly; lit gave me chance to bring
Hector away"
at was courageous of you to do it,
he replied. "He is huge beast for you
to defy"
"Well," I protested, che would not
hurt me. He is such noble fellow, and
we are very fond of each other, Hector
and |. Indeed, he has been my best
friend all summer"
He looked down on me and smiled
again. II am glad of that" he said,
''for Hector is my favorite dog"
This, then, was the count, and / had
been claiming his property. No wonder
Hector had quieted down at his voice!
He must have read the disappointment
and modification in my face, for we had
Just arrived at the castle gates, and Hec-
tor had bounded away into the grounds,
when he raised his military cap with
graceful courtesy and said: "Frauein,
we shall let Hector choose between us.
If he prefers you, | shall never claim
him, and shall moreover admire his
taste"
He walked toward the gate while l
went on; but Hector rushed out past him
to me and whined pathetically, then he
ran back to the count and stood defiantly
in his path. To humor him his master
came out again, and | turned and faced
him. Hector's joy was unbounded. He
jumped around us both wildly, and
showed by every sign in his power that
he had no intention of "cleaving TO the
one and forsaking the other" 1t was so
evident and so amusing that we both
laughed heartily, which seemed to estab.
lish a friendliness at once.
" He is determined we shall not part,
fraulein; will you permit us both to ac-
company you homer" They did so, and
on the way assured the count of my in
tention to return shortly to the city when
he would probably have his favorite's
undivided affection again.
The next morning, when | took my ac-
customed place out under the trees, Hec-
tor soon came trotting gayly along the
bank, holding in his mouth small object
of dark blue and red cloth, which he de-
posted at my feet. picked it up. 1t
was a military cap! You may call it ac-
cident if you like, and say any dog will
pick up hat and carry it off, but you
will see how mistaken you are. After
while Hector's tail, as he lay at my side,
began to hammer the ground with graf
flied thumps, and l looked up question
ingly. The count came toward us
laughing-to get his cap, he said, but he
must have forgotten his purpose, for he
stayed to watch me sketch, and the next
day he came again, and the next.
| did not return to Dresden as soon as
| had intended. Indeed, finally decided |
not to return at all, but to make my home
in the beautiful old castle. had always
been opposed to American girls marrying
foreign uoblemen, and the count had
had, he told me, most disappearing
opinion of American girls in general;
but, you see, Hector had made up his
his MIND, not to spare either
of us, and he is such fine fellow, we
could but acquiesce in the matter.-IOur
Animal Friends.