The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-03-06
KIDNAPPED.

We are high caste and enlightened
race, and infant marriage is very shock
ing and the consequences are sometimes
peculiar, but, nevertheless, the Hindoo
notion-which is the continental notion,
which is the aboriginal notion-of ar
ranging marriages irrespective of the
personal inclinations of the married is
sound. Think for minute, and you
will see that it must be so; unless, OF
course, you believe in "afinities in
which case you had better not read this
tale How can man who has never
married; who cannot be trusted to pick
up at sight moderately sound horse; !;
whose head is hot and upset with visions
of domestic felicity, go about the choos-
ing of wife? He cannot see straight or
think straight if he tries, and the same
disadvantages exist in the case of girls
fancies. But when mature, married and
discreet people arrange match between
a boy aid a girl, they do it sensibly,
with a view to the future.
Properly speaking, government should
establish a matrimonial department.,
efficiently differed, with jury of ma
irons, judge of the chief court, senior
chaplain and an awful warning in the
shape of love match that has gone
wrong chained to the trees in the court
yard. All marriages should be made
through the department, which might
be subordinate to the educational de-
partment, under the same penalty as
that attaching to the transfer of land
without a stamped document. But gov
ernment won t take suggestions. It pre-
tends that it is too busy. However,
will put my notion on record, and ex-
plain the example that illustrates the
theory.
Once upon a time there was good
young mana first class officer in his
own departmental man with career
before him and, possibly. a K. G. /. E.
at the end of it. All his superiors spoke
we'll of him, because he knew how to
hold his tongue and his pen at the proper
times. There are today only l l men in
India who possess this secret, and they
have all, with one exception, attained
great honor and enormous incomes.
This good young man was quiet and
self contained, too old for his years by
far-whicia s,lfyays carries it's own pun
ishment. Had sabalterp, or a tea
planters assistant, or anybody who en-
joys life and has no care for tomorrow
done what he tried to do not soul
would have cared But when Peythroppe
the estimablo, virtuous, economical,
quiet, hard working, young Peythroppe
fell, there was futter through five
departments.
The manner Of his fall was in this
way: He met Miss Castries-D Cas-
tries it was originally, but the family
dropped the D. for administrative rea-
sons-and he fell in love with her even
more energetically than he worked. Un-
derstand clearly that there was not a
breath Of a word to be said against Miss
Castries-not q shadow of Q breath. She
was good and very loyely-possessed
what innocent people at home call a
Spanish complexion, with thick blue
black hair growing low down on the
forehead into "widow's peak" and
big violet eyes under eyebrows as black
and az straight as the borders of ''ga-
zette extraordinary" when big man
dies. But-but-but--- Well, she was q
very sweet girl and very pious, but for
many reasons she was impossible. !"
Quite so. All good mammas know what
impossible" means. 1t was obviously
absurd that Peythroppe should marry
her. The little opal tinted Onyx at the
base of her finger nails said this as plain
" as print. Further, marriage with
Miss Castries meant marriage with sew
eral other Gastries-Honorary Lieuten-
ant Castries, her'papa, Mrs. Eplalie Cas-
tries, her mamma, and all the ramifica-
tions of the Castries family, on incomes
ranging from 175 to 470 rupees a month,
and their wives and connections again.
1t would have been cheaper for Pey-
throppe to have assaulted commissioh-
er with q dog whip, or to have burned
tho records of deputy commissioner
Office, than 70 have contracted an alli-
ance with the Castries, It would have
weighted his after career less=-eyep un-
der a government which never forgets
and never forgives. Everybody saw this
but Peythroppe. He was going to marry
Miss Castries, he was-being of age and
drawing a good income-and woe be-
tide the house that would not afterward
receive Mrs. Virginie Saulez Peythroppe
with the Difference due to her husbands
rank. That was Peythroppe's ultima
tum, and any remonstranoe drove him
frantic.
These sudden madnesses most afflict
the sanest men. There was a case once
but will tell you of that later on. You
cannot account for the mania except un-
der a theory directly contradicting the
one abont the place wherein marriages
are made. Peythroppe was burningly
anxious to put milestone round his
neck at the outset of his career, and ar
gument had not the Least effect on him.
He was going to marry Miss Castries,
and the business was his own business.
He would thank you to keep your adj
vice to yourself. Witha man in this con-
dition, mere words only fix him In his
purpose. OF course he cannot see that
marriage out here does not concern the
individual, but the government the serves.
Do you remember Mrs. Hauksbee,
the most wonderful woman in Indiaf
She saved Pluffies from Mrs. ReiVer,
won Tarrion his appointment in the for