Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-21
HECTOR
A Story In Which d 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 masfig
Is Hector. rs brave and bold. not to sa Y
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-
terrain such an idea deserves TO live III
"a chill condition of doglessness'' TO the
end of his days. l will tell you about
Hector. and YOU may judge for your
self.
Having been suddenly thrown upon
my own resources. as so often befalls a
girl brought up in luxury in this swift
ly whirling maelstrom of our American
life. ! determined to cultivate the only
decided talent l possessed, that for
painting. Dresden was recommended
TO me as a place both cheap to live in
and offering unusual facilities for art
study. l accordingly went there. With
out chaperon? Certainly. / was 10 be
a person of affairs, and what was a
business woman to do with so costly
not TO say announcement an appendage
as chaperon? All winter l studied
and copied in the gallery. and when
summer came l 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
l finally persuaded an old couple who
lived near 1t to take me to board for
few weeks. They had rather a nice lit
tie 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 a feeling of loneli-
ness swept over me. and my heart
yearned for some of the pleasures OF
my joyous past.
One morning I asked my landlady IL
any of the numerous German laws
would be infringed If l should go in
swimming. At first she declared
would drown Immediately, but when
assured her that l had known how to
swim since a child she finally consent
ed, with a protest as to the general I'm
usualness OF American behavior.
How refreshing it was. What hap
piness to plunge fearlessly into the
cool, clear water! Not "A living soul
was to be seen. not a sound to be
heard. Suddenly great splash star
tied me. 1 felt my bathing dress seiz-
ed between the shoulders and myself
dragged vigorously out of the water
upon the bank. l was thoroughly ter
rifed, but. fortunately. made no re-
sistance. As | looked up an enormous
head appeared. and a large pair of eyes
gazed inquiringly into mine.
l had always loved dogs. but this
monstrous disturber of my peace was
so formidable that I dared not move.
He. too. was motionleSs, and l 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. l perceived a slight vibration in
the tip end Of his tail. Just as l was
wondering how far l dared presume
upon that friendly symptom he Tapped
his rough tongue all over my face
Then l sat up and laughed, and he
jumped and frolicked, as large as q
young lion. as gentle as kitten.
Presently 1 tried to go 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. HE
belongs up at the schloss." she explain
ed. THE young graf IS always travel
ing. and almost all the servants are
afraid Of him."
Poor fellowr' I thought. He has
been lonely too. That is what we read
in each others eyes. After that Hec-