Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-12-24
HECTOR
A Story In which q Dcz Plays tho
Principal Part


Not that son OF Priam. the beloved OF
Andromache. but still real prince ~
his race and greatly beloved by one
small woman. A magnificent inaEtln
/ Is Hector. as brave and bold. not 10 say
as gallant and noble. as many a hero
with two legs less. As for dogs not be
Ing able 10 think. any one who can en-
terrain such an idea deserves 20 live In
"A chill condition Of dogiessness" 20 tli,
end OF his days. I viii tell you about
Hector. and you may Judge for your
self.
Having been suddenly thrown upon
my own resources. as so often befaiis a
girl brought up In luxury In this swift
~ whirling maelstrom Of our American
life. | determined 20 cultivate the only
decided talent | possessed. that for
painting. Dresden was recommended
10 me as a place both cheap 10 live In
and Offering unusLal facilities for art
study. l accordingly went there. With
out a chaperOnf Certa My. was 10 be
a person Of Affairs. and what was q
business woman 20 do with 30 costly.
not 70 say inconvenlent. an appendage
as a chaperonf All winter I studied
and copied in the gallery. and when
summer came took the little steam
boat which runs up and down the Eibe,
bowling its smokestack so deferentlally
20 all the bridges, and hunted up pie
/ turesque castles 20 sketch.
"Lieben-felsen" was the beautiful old
schloss fell specially In love with. 80
I finally persuaded an old couple who
lived near II 70 take me 10 board for n
few weeks. They had rather a nice NJ
tie house and a garden that sloped
down 20 the waters edge. There. under
the overhanging trees. used 10 sit for
hours gazing up at the massive towers
Just on the other side OF the castle
wall. Now and then a feeling Of loneil-
ness swept over me. and my heart
yearned for some OF the pleasures Of
my joyous past.
One morning I asked my landlady II
any OF the numerous German laws
would be infringed II should 90 In
swimming. At first she declared
would drown Immediately. but when I
assured her that bad known how 20
swim since a child she finally consent
ed. with q protest as 10 the general I'm
usualness Of American behavior.
How refreshing Il was, What hap
piness 10 plunge fearlessly into the
cool. clear water. Not a living soul
was 10 be seen. not n sound 10 be
heard. Suddenly a great splash star
tied me. felt my bathing dress selz-
ed between the shoulders and myself
dragged vigorously out OF the water
upon the bank. ! was thoroughly ter.
rihed. but. fortunately. made no re-
sistancc. As looked up an enormous
head appeared. and large pair Of eyes
gazet iBqulrlngly Into mine.
! had always loved dogs. but this
mOnstrous disturber OF my peace was
40 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 neck, and, TO my infinite
relief. I perceived n slight vibration In
the tip end OF his tail Just as was
wondering how far dared presume
upon that friendly symptom he Tapped
his rough tongue all over my face.
Then | sat up and laughed. and he
jumped and frollcked. as large as a
young lion, as gentle as a kitten.
Presently ! tried 10 90 back into the
water. but 10 this be forcibly objected.
and was obliged 90 submit. When I
returned 20 the house. be accompanied
me, 20 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 fellOwF' I 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
be thought-yes, thought, just as much
as you or | can thlnk-that be saved
my life and consequently ought to ap-
point himself my guardian. To me he
seemed like a living link to the bcauti-
ful old castle a protector and faithful
friend.
one morning as we were returning
from long walk saw advancing that
always novel sight TO American eyes.