The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-12-26
L" HECTOR."
BY CELIE GAINES.

MOI tnat son OIL ITldln, tne DelOVeu Oh
Andromache, but still a real prince of
his race, and greatly beloved by one
small woman. A magnificent mastiff is
Hector, as brave and bold, not to say as
gallant and noble, as many a 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 doglessness" to the end of his
DAYS. Twill tell you about Hector, and
you may Judge for yourself.
Having been suddenly thrown upon my
own resources, as so often bcfalls girl
brought up in luxury in this swiftly
whirling maelstrom of our American life,
determined to cultivate the only decided
talent | possessed, that for painting.
Dresden was recommended to me as u
place both cheap to live in and offering
unusual facilities for art study. ac-
cordingly went there. Without a
chaperone? Certainly. | was to be a
pcrsuli OF affairs, and what was 4 business
woman to do with so costly, not to say in
Convenient, anappendage as chapcrone?
All winter | studied and copied in the
I gallery, and when summer came | took
! the little steamboat which runs DIP and
down the Elbe, bowling its smokc-stack so
dcfercntially to all the bridges, and
hunted up picturesque castles to sketch.
! "LieJen-felscn' was the beautiful old
/ sch!Oss fell specially III love with; SO |
! finally persuaded an old couple who lived
I near it to take me into board for a lew
weeks. They had rather nice little
house, and garden that sloped down TO
the waters edge. There, under the
oyerhanging trees, 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 ycarned tor some
of the pleasures of the JOYOUS past. One
morning | asked my landIady Il any of
the numerous German laws would be in
fringed if should go in swimming. AT
! first she declared | would drown immedi-
ately, but when assured her that had
known how to swim since a child, she
finally consented with Il protest as to the
general unusualness of American be-
havior.
How refreshing it was. What happi-
ness to plunge fearlcssly into the cool,
clear wateri Not living soul was to
! be seen; not a sounl 10 be heard. Sud-
denly great splash startled me. l felt
my bathing dress seized between the
shoulders and myself dragged vigorously
out of the water upon the bank. was
1 thoroughly terrified, but fortunately
made no resistance. As looked up All
enormous head appeared, and large pair
of eyes gazed inquirin-;ly into mine. l
had always loved dogs, but this monstrous
disturber of my peace was so formidable
/ that | dared not move. lie, too, was
motionless; and read on his collar the
name, "Hector." At last | raised my
hand very gently and patted him on the
T neck, and to my infinite relief | per-
ceived 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
frolicked as large as young lion, as
gentle us kitten.
/ Presently tried TO 60 back into the
water, but to this he forcibly objected,
and was obliged to submit. When |
returned to the house he accompanied
me, to the terror of my hostess. ale
belongs up at the schloss," she ex-
planned; 1.-THE young graf is away trav-
cling, and almost all the servants are
afraid of him."
Poor fellow, l thought; he has been
lonely, too; that is what We read in each
others eyes. After that Hector ana |
were inseparab!e. He came every day
and we explored all the surrounding
country together. ! am sure he thought
yes. thought. just as much as you or
can think-that he saved my life and
consequently ourht tn nnpoint himself