Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-11-28
HECTOR
A Stary In Which q Dog Plays the
Principal Part.
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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-
terrain such an idea deserves TO live in
"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
~ whirling maelstrom of our American
life. l 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. l 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 appendage
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 Elbe.
bowling its smokestack so deferentiallv
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 it to take me to board for
few weeks. They had rather a nice lit
tie house anG 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 a 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 If
any of the numerous German laws
would be infringed If | should 60 in
swimming. At first she declared |
would drown Immediately, but when |
assured her that | had known how to
swim since child she finally consent
ed, with a protest as to the general I'm
VI <AlutIlCdH DcAldN lOI
How refreshing it was! What hap
piness to plunge fearlessly into the
cool, clear water! Not living soul
was to be seen, not a sound to be
heard. Suddenly a great splash star
tied me. | 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
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 motionless, and / read on
his collar the name Hector. At last l
raised my hand very gently and patted
him on the neck, and, to my infinite
relief, l perceived 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
young lion, as gentle as a kitten.
Presently tried to go back into the
water, 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. The young graf is always travel
ing, and almost all the servants are
afraid of him."
Poor fellowr" | 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
as you or l can think-that he saved
my life and consequently ought to APP
point himself my guardian. To me he
seemed like a living link to the beauti-
full old castle, a protector and faithful
friend
One morning as we were returning
from long walk l 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 a market frau taking produce to
town. Now, Hector was a 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 ap-
pear than he challenged him TO combat.
| knew this and trembled, but hoped
for the best
Unluckily. however, that plebeian dog
as he approached presumed to give a
defiant bark, which settled his fate. IN
stantly Hector gave one spring and.
seizing his boastful adversary, shook
him out of his harness in less time than
it takes to tell of it. Overturning the cart
and scattering the vegetables in every
direction. | was distressed beyond
measure and called Hector in the most
,.oy,,D,oudfno tones I pouid assume.