The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-16
YHE MARK or VISHNU.
BY PBRoY RUSSELL.
Icopyrisit, 1861. by tho Author.l
CHApTER ~.


KarneyB had somehow gone into Lillian.
Doubtless-apd Ross knew it we'll
tharesw was a tincture Of madness with
her exaltatioG-at all events, in the
sense that every form of true enthusi-
nsm is q kind OF insanity. Now that
Charles, however, perceived that Ross
began to play, as he rudely termed it,
pthe serious young man." his yexation
became very apparent.
'sIt wal quite bad enough in my Sis
ter,' he broke forth on Ross excusing
himself from dinner OF the plea of at
tending with Lillian u native prayer
meeting, ''but to have you, q grown
ian, meddling and muddling in such
%fomfoolery passes patience. Can't you
leave the natives alone? They're much
better as they were-confounded liars
ut the best, but if they turn Christian
they'll be positively past endurance"
II think, Mr.. Karney." said Ross
coldly, .'that we will not discuss fur
ther o subject on which we cannot
agree. IL moro were like your sister,
there would be few liars in the world.
The fact Is, Christians Of your stamp
cannot bear to see even an approach Of
the real thing they profess"
ooh, preaching be hangedl' was the
profane and rude reply. "Brt one thing,
young man, let me warn you that this
is q dangerous place to go and try
proselyting. I wouldn't, I can assure
you"
IT am quite sure you wouldn't" said
Ross, who could not help laughing at
the bare idea.
Meanwhile Lillian, aided much by
Ross, pursued her mission with more
success than ever among some of the
natives employed by her brother, and
after o time the threat Of Prohrada the
Brahman and his sinister boasts were
entirely forgotten.
For some time matters at the bunga-
low had gone Oh more tremendously.
Even Charles Karney, immersed rs he
was in his manufacture and business,
began to feel a certain respect for the
zeal and exertions of his missionary
sister and his missionary partner" as
/. he called them, and, what Is more, he
contributed, to the amazement Of both,
sundry small sums Of his own 'for the
good Of the cause"
contributions from you" cried Lii
ian, "are welcome. I'm sure we can
overcome everything, including the
Brahmans themselves-our old enemies
when we have your support"
-, Her brother redeemed and turned
away his face. Truth to tell, he was be-
ginning to feel q little ashamed Of him
self and to think that if his sister
should chance to prove right, then, in
deed, he would be found terribly wrong,
and he was ready now to admit that
her converts wrought much more effect
ively>in the fields than the followers Of
Vishnu.
1t was night, and all had retired to
rest in the bungalow. Ross had been
very fatigued during the day Waiting
and boiling indigo, and he had retired
to his charpo Ga low bedstead) before
the rest.
He slept at once, but slept only to
dream. 1t happened that that day Lii
ian had been telling him of some Of the
many i%ncarnations Of Vishnu, especial
~ his appearance in the form of a man
lion, out of a pillar Of q palace, which
Hiranyakasipu, a profane monarch,
struck, sneeringly asking why, if Wish.
nu indeed were everywhere, he was not
present at that particular pillar too.
This dream or nightmare was a prelude
to Others, and Ross suddenly found him.
self awake out Of a medley of dreams,
avatars and supernatural conflicts with
the echo of q cry in his ears. Q could
not tell whether he had heard 1T Sleep
Ing or waking, but the more he reflected
the more he fancied that it must be the
latter.
He rose and reused the native lying
across his doorway, who had heard
nothing; but, impelled by an unoon.
trollable feeling Of apprehension, Ross
stole out OH the passage and listened.
Then he passed on to the door Of Lillian.
1t stood wide open, and looking in he
saw the apartment in evident confusion.
The bed was in disorder, and evidently
the occupant had left the room sudden
ly. As no looked the threat of the Brah-
aan flashed into his memory, and q
Aold sweat stood on his forehead. He
felt the bed. 1t was warm. There was
not a moment to lose. He could not
stay to explain to Karpey, for he hoped
by following at onco to overtake the
unhappy girl, who had in some way
been drawn forth to what no knew not.
Slipping back to his room, he thrust in
to his bosom a very long bladed knife
he carried on occasions of danger, and,
scarcely thinking, but feeling only that
a crisis had como, he went out into the
night and peered into the darkness. The
bungalow stood on an emineuce quite
isolated, and thence only one beaten
path led to the village and temple. If,
IS he feared, Lillian was being drawn by
some strange influence thither, he must
be close behind her, although the dark
ness was too thick for him to see aught
ahead, and he hurried down the slope
with torturing thoughts in his brain.
he had heard, as all residents in India
among the natives must hear, of the ex-
t~raordinary occult powers possessed and
exercised by some Of the illuminated
priests, and he thrilled to think that if
Lillian were being called forth by some
occult power, then, too. his presence
might be known also. But as he hry.
ricd on ho grew moro cool and sudd Il.
ly remembered what he had quite fcr-
gotten-that Lillian q day or two before
had remarked to him: "Do you know,
David, lately l have had such q strange
feeling. ] have actually wanted to visit
the temple and see these foolish oere.
monies again. Is it not silIy2 But I feel
as If I could pot keep out. 1 Of all PEG.
pie.o And she laughed in a way so nat.
ural that at the time he had thought
nothing Of the matter.
ANA ~. -