Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-01-02
HECTOR
"
A Story In Which d Dog Plays the
Principal Part.
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III aiblt " lIiAIhs any O4lt W ~ NaAA4 NA--
tertain such an idea deserves TO live in
"a chill condition Of dcglessness' TO the
end of his days viii 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
( ly whirling 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. l was to be
a person of affairs, and what was
business woman TO do with so costly,
not to say inconvenient, an appendage
as q 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 pie
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 nice lit
tie house snd garden that sloped
down to the waters edge. There, under
the ovcrhanging trees, | used to sit for
hours gazing up at the massive towers
Just on the other side of the castle
tIora n faplfnu nf lonali-
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 go 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 protest as to the general un
usualness of American behavior.
How refreshing it was! What hap
piness TO plunge fearlessly into the
COOL clear water! Not n living soul
|, was to be seen, not n 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 disturJer Of my peace was
so formidable that / 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 l was
wondering how far | 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 a
young lion, as gentle as n kitten.
Presently | 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
DtlOH6S UP at tue HtElOSSs SuC CADi
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 read
in each others eyes. After that Hec-
tor and were inseparable. lie came
every day, and we explored all the sur
rounding country together. | am sure
he thought-yes, thought just as much
as you or / can think-that he saved
my life and consequently ought TO ap-
point himself my guardian. To me he
seemed like n living link to the beautl-
ful old castle. n protector and faithful
friend.
One morning as we were returning
from n long walk | saw advancing that
always novel sight to American eyes, n
woman and dog harnessed together.
dragging n cart. In this instance the
cart was full of vegetables. 1t was evi-
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
knlghthood-he brooled 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 plebelan dog
as he approached presumed TO give n
defiant bark, which settled his fate. In-
stantly Hector gave one spring and,
seizing his boastful adversary, shook
him out of his harness I'm less time than
1t takes TO tell Of It, overturning the cart
and scattering the vegetables in every
direction. was distressed beyond
measure ana called Hector In the most
commanding tones | could assume.
Then | coaxed him, all OF which he en-
tirely 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 arstocracy, TO which she
seemed to think we both belonged, as
highway robbers and assasslns! In my
desperation | picked up stick to com
pei Hector 10 obedience, but she mis-
took my motive and advanced upon me
In a rage. "Silence" We turned quick
ly Just out of the wood came n young
man IN uniform, evidently an officer.
The dogs stood still In OH instant, and
i rushed forward and grasped Hector's
collar.
He did not consent kindly TO being
led off, but the other dog had been
pretty well chastlscd by this time. Hec-
tor felt his knightly powers had been
duly established, ana he quieted down
In dcferential sort of way, as If he
were only cOnsenting to 1t on my ac-
count. Then the market woman began
to wall that her wares were spoiled ana
she might az well go home but when
| gave her some money, and the gentle
man kindly added some too, she har-
messed herself and her dog again and
resumed her journey. Then / turned
to thank my prescrver Hector whose
collar / still held, was res1cssly drag
ging me forward so we walked on to-
gcther.
IL am so sorry" / began, that my
dog should have made such trouble"
lie smiled. Happily" he said, "the
damage was not irrcparable.'
IL am very much obliged TO you for
interfering just now." | went on rather
excitedly. at gave me n chance TO
bring Hector away"
at was courageous OF you TO do II,
no rouIipd "Jo Ia 81 hupp beast for