Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-28
THE MARK OF VISHNU.
By PERCY RUSSELL.
Copyright, 1898. by the Autkor.1
NITAnTfT0D

very ancient Dravldian village were ii
Illuminated more or less by earthen yes
sells containing oil and wick Not onl,
did these lights bring out into relic
against the growing darkness the out
lines Of the various buildings, but they
had been placed, with that patient
painstaking and indifference TO individ
nal labor peculiar to Asia, in the cleft!
of trees. They lighted up the great ban
yam troe, the special pride of this Tamil
or Dravidian region, for it was a tree
of more than 900 trunks, sent down
from the enormous branches, covering
acres and forming a sort Of natural syl-
van temple, and they were to be seen
glowing amid the fragrant flowers Of
its tamarinds that shaded tho bungalow
of Sahib Karney, the indigo planter,
and some Of these lamps were even shin
ing out starlike from the distant hill
tops and shedding a fitful light over the
dull blush green and pale red flowers
of his indigo plantation. Far on the
right. too, the lamps brought into strong
relief the stately gopurams, or towers,
at the entrance Of temple, all covered
with strange and grotesque figures, and
presently came q burst of fireworks, fol-
lowed by another and another, which
for an instant brought us the whole
landscape into clear view, showing here
and there natives in their picturesque
white dresses, and then fading abruptly
into gloom, lighted only by tho many
twinkling starlike lamps. In word, it
was the depavali, or feast Of light,
and it had brought many strangers into
Tirunamalli, which, though but an in
significant speck on even the trigono-
metrical survey of India, was in its
own estimation a place Of infinite i'm
portanoe, boasting some of the grandest
and holiest of temples and the most de-
vout worshipers in all southern India.
In the veranda, smoking and reclin-
ing on low cano sofalike chairs, were
two Europeans-Charles Karney and
David Ross, his partner.
''Do you know, Ross" said the for
mer "I'm sorry let my sister go on
this foolish errand. l had no idea this
feast was due or that it would bring in
such swarm Of fanatics. "
The speaker was q man OF about 80,
with a narrow, upright forehead,
straight lined mouth and general as.
pect Of arithmetic and business in every
lineament.
Foolish errand" replied his part
ner. Would you be quite prepared to
say as much to Miss Lillian herself?''
Ross was a great contrast to his COM
panion, with his broad, open, genial
countenance, warm, expressive eyes,
and good tempered mouth and chin.
II don't know" rejoined Karney,
smiling coldly, "but it's foolish all tho
same. Hero am I toiling in this beastly
to say nothing Of the visitation
to the boiler house, where we beat up
the indigo, while she dispenses the
product among some of the biggest ras-
Gals and greatest wretches in the uni
verse"
Some Of the products" corrected
the other. "Don't exaggerate, whatever
you do"
''Too much, anyhow" was the reply.
And Karney went on: II can't divine
how all this folly began. Why should
not Lillian be like other young ladies in
his place? What are the people to her
II she to them?"
Ross smoked on without replying. He
ooked rather fixedly at his friend and
'artneri but said nothing. After awhile,
lowever, he asked, "Of course, she did
lot 60 alone?"
'Oh, no. Nasiban went with hers
Ross struck the table at his elbow
nd made tho glasses on it rattle, and
hen in an ordinary tone asked, "And
Vhere IS 1T, pray, and for how long?"
'Oh, it's only to that horrible bud hi
eyond the hill--there, where you see
hose three confounded heather lights.
he's been making a fuss about want.
1g to see her ustardin's faee--4her
sacher, you know-and sent a message
nat she could not die happy unless the
lem sahlb went up. Why, my dear fell
wv, what's the matter with you to.
light! There's nothing to make BOTH
about. When Lillian is here, she does
othlng but fuss about grace and prayer
ad doctrines until I'm sick Of tho very
anne of religion. +"
1t were well if you and I had lit.
. OF her goodness. But haven't you
card the news YETI"
"What news?"
"Why, simply this: Some of the lead
g Hlndoos have held what they call !.
iar in Solar and have been discussing
Nv they can best get rid Of all this .
'noxious teaching. Haven't you heard :
at one had boldly said that no matter
hat happens they must get rid of the
EN- sahib, and that if man was hang
IN such cause--are you listening, ,
larles Karney?-he would be but q
artyr. Do you know that your sister 4,
lieves that one of her converts, Soft !
anadhan, has been poisoned, and yet /:
od God-in the face of alb this you
your sister go up to that old woman -.
the hill with no one to protect her
tier than Nasiban. Charles Karney,
n ashamed of you'll" And Ross sprang
}, knocking down the table, and paced
veranda in state of great excite +,
mt.
Karney seemed to take this very cool .
He started little when the other
SO up SO abruptly, but now be only !
lied softly, showing beautiful set
white teeth, and murmured: my !
ar fellow, don't play the noyal Benz g
| tiger, pray. Don't lash up your no.
, rage and quarrel with Your prosaic G
d practical partner. What can do G
tn such sister? Am I to pauperize 1
vself and rob you Of your share and c
ice myself within the pale Of the crimi. /
/ law because happen to have a 70. /
,ntic, beautiful, fascinating sister,
,o ineicts on casrvino or4, Gterallv the