The Morris County chronicle., 1901-11-29
HECTOR
A Story In Which q Dog Plays the
Principal Part.

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 mastin
IS Hector, as brave and bold, not to say
as gallant and noble, as many hero
with two legs less. AS for dogs not be.
ing able to think, any one who can en-
tertnin such an idea deserves to live In
"A chill condition Of doglessness'' to the
end Of his days. win tell you about
Hector. and you may Judge for your
self.
Having been suddenly thrown upon
my own resources, as so often befalls q
girl brought up in luxury in this swift
" whirling maelstrom Of our American
nfe, determined to cultivate the only
decided talent possessed, that for
painting. Dresden was recommended
to me as place both cheap to live in
and offering unusual facilities for art
study. accordingly went there. With
out chaperon? Certainly. was to be
person Of affairs, and what was a
business woman to do with so costly,
not to say inconvenient, an appendage
as chaperon? All winter / studied
and copied In the gallery, and when
summer came took the little steam
boat which runs up and down the Elbe.
bowling its smokestack so deferentially
TO all the bridges, and hunted up pic
turesque castles to sketch.
"Lieben-felsen'' was the beautiful old
schloss / fell specially In love with, so
finally persuaded an old couple who
lived near 1t to take me to board for a
few weeks. They had rather nice lit
tie house and a garden that sloped
down to the waters edge. There, under
the overhanging 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 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 IL should go In
swimming. At first she declared l
would drown Immediately, but when
assured her that had known how to
awim since child she finally consent
ed, with protest as to the general un
usualness Of American behavior.
How refreshing it wasl What hap
piness to plunge fearlessly into the
COOL clear water! Not living soul
was to be seen, not sound to be
heard. Suddenly great splash star
tied me. l felt my bathing dress seiz-
ed between the shoulders and myself
dragged vigorously out Of the water
upon the bank. was thoroughly ter
rified. but, fortunately, made no re-
sistance. AS looked up an enormous
head appeared. and large pair of eyes
gnzed inQuiringly into mine.
had always loved dogs, but this
monstrous disturber of my peace was
90 formidable that l dared not move.
He. too. was motionless. 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. perceived slight vibration in
the tip end of his tail. Just as I was
wondering how far dared presume
upon that friendly symptom he Tapped
bis rough tongue all over my face.
Then sat up and laughed. and he
Jumped and frolicked, as large as a
young lion. as gentle as kitten.
Presently l tried to go back into the
wHter. but to this he forcibly objected,
and was obliged to submit. When l
returned to the house. he accompanied
me. to the terror of my hostess. "He
belongs up at the schloss," she explain
ed t-The young graf is always travel
ing. and almost all the servants are
afraid of him."
"Poor fellowr' l thought. he has
been lonely too. That is what we read
In each others eyes. After that Hec-
tor and were inseparable. He came
every day, and we explored all the sur
rounding country together. am sure
he thought-yes, thought. just as much
ms you or l can think-that he saved
my life and consequently ought to ap-
point himself my guardian. To me he
seemed like living link to the beauti-
fnl old castle. protector and faithful
friend.
One morning as we were returning
from q long walk saw advancing that
always novel sight to American eyes.
woman and a dog harnessed together,
dragging a cart. In this instance the
cart was full of vegetables. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY market frau taking produce to
town. Now, Hector was true knight,
valiant, loyal and gentle, but he pos
sessed also that other characteristic of
knighthood-he brooked no intruders,
and no sooner did one of his kind APP
pear than he challenged him to combat
I knew this and trembled. but hoped
for the best.
Unluckily, however, that tplebefan dog
as he approached presumed to give a
defiant bark, which settled his fate En-
stantly Hector gave one spring and,
selxing his boastful adversary, shook
him out of his harness in less time, than
n takes to tell Of 1t, overturning the cart
and scattering the vegetables in every
direction. l was distressed beyond
measure and called Hector in the most
commanding tones l could assume.
Then coaxed him, all Of which he en-
tireIy ignored. Meanwhile the other
one Of the span was by no means quiet
She was indeed perfectly furious.
She abused Hector, she abused me, she
abused the aristocracy, to which she
seemed to think we both belonged, as