The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-11-28
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HECTOR
A Story In Which D Dog Plays the
Principal Part.

his race and greatly beloved by one
small woman. A magnificent mastia
is Hector, us brave and bold. not to say
as gallant and noble, as many a hero
with two legs less. As for dogs not be
ing able to think, any one WHO can en-
tertaln such an idea deserves to live in
"a chill condition of doglcssness" to til
end of his days. | will tell you about
Hector, and you may judge for your
self
Having been suddenly thrown upon
my own resources. as so often befalls Il
girl brought up in luxury in this swift
ly whirline maelstrom of our American
life, | determined to cultivate the only
decided talent | possessed, that for
painting. Dresden was recommended
to me as a place both cheap to live in
and Offering unusual facilities for art
study. | accordingly went there. With
out chaperon? Certainly. | was to be
a person of affairs, and what was a
business woman to do with so costly.
not to say inconvenient, an appendagc
as a chaperon? All winter | studied
and copied in the gallery. and When
summer came | took the little steam
boat which runs UP and down the Ellie.
bowling its smokestaek so deferentiallr
to all the bridges, and hunted up pie
turesquc castles to sketch
"Liebcn-felsen" was the beautiful old
schloss | fell specially in love with. SO
| finally persuaded an old couple who
lived near it 70 take me to board for a
few weeks. They had rather Il nice lit
tie house and a garden that sloped
down to the waters edge. There, under
the over,ianging trees. | used to sit for
hours gazing up at the massive towers
lust on the other side of the castle
wall. Now and then feeling of loneli-
ness swept over me, and my heart
yearned for some of the pleasures of
my joyous past.
One morning | asked my landlady il
any of the numerous German laws
would be infringed if | should 20 III
swimming. At first she declared |
would drown Immediately but when l
assured her Chat | had known how t.
swim since child she finally consent
ed, with n protest as to the general M
| usualnesS of American behavior.
How refreshing it was, What hap
piness to plunge fearlessly into the
cool clear water. Not Il living soul
was to be seen, not Il sound 10 he
heard. suddenly great splash star
lied me. | felt my bathing dress seiz
ed between the shoulders and myself
dragged vigorously out of the water
upon the bank. | was thoroughly ter
ritied, but. fortunately. made no re-
slstance. As looked up an enormous
head appeared, and a large pair OF eyes
gazed inquiringly into mine.
| had always loved dogs. but this
monstrous disturber of my peace was
so formidable that | dared not move.
He too, WAS motioness, and | read on
his collar the name Hector. At last |
raised my hand very gently and putted
him on the neck. and, TO my infinite
relief, | perceived Il slight vibration in
the tip end of his tail Just as W&S
wondering how far dared presume
upon that friendly symptom he Tapped
his rough tongue all over my facr.
Then | sat up and laughed, and he
! jumped and frolicked, as large ms a
young lion, rs gentle as a kitten.
Presently tried to go back into IL"
water, but to this he forcibly objected.
ard | was obliged 10 submit When |
| returned to the house, he accompanied
me. to the terror Of my hostess He
l..,1.. La. 4. l., 2.
| ed. The young graf is always travel.
ing, and almost all the servants are
afraid of him
Poor fellow" | thought He has
been lonely too. That is what we r'@d
in each others eyes. After that liec
every day. and we explored all thu sur
rounding country together am sure
he thought-ycs, thought. just as much
as you or | can think-that he saved
my life and consequently ought 10 APP
point himself my guardian. To me he
seemed like living link TO the beauU
full old castle IA protector and failhlul
friend
one morning as we were returning
| from long walk | saw adyanciu. that
always novel S"ht 10 American eyes. a
woman and II dog harnessed together.
| dragging a cart In this instance the
cart was full OF vegetables. 1t WAS eri.
| IDENTITY market frau taking produce 10
town. Now, Hector was a true knight.
valiant, loyal and gentle but he pos
sessed also that other characteristic of
knighthOod lie hrooked no iutruapr~.
and no sooner did one of his kind ap.
pear than he challenged him to combat.
knew this and trembled. but hoped
for the best
UnluckilY, however, that plpbeiau dog
as he approached presumed to give u
defiant bark, which settled his fate. lu-
stantlY Hector gave one spring AID,
Selling his boastful adversary. shook
| him out of his harness in less time than
! It takes TO tell Of 1t. oyerturning the cart
and scattering the vegetables in every
direction. | was distressed heyoLd
measure and called Hector in the most
commanding tones could assume.
Then | coaXed him. all of which he ,u-
tirely ignored. Meanwhile the othcl
one of the span was by no means quiet
She was indeed perfectly furious.
She abused Hector. she abused me, size
abused the arstocracy. In which sHc
seemed to think we both belonged. as
highway robbers and aSsassins. In my
desperation picked up stick to com
pei Hector to obedience but she mis-