Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-02-04
THE MARK OF VSHNU.
By PERCY RUSSELL
fooprrirht, lspe. By the Au,Aer.l
CHAPTER ".

Is found in tho superfuous charging Of
another. The profano said all the reli
gion Of the whole generation Of the
Karneys had somehow gone into Lillian.
Doubtless-and Ross knew it we'll
there was a tincture Of madness with
her exaltation--at all events, in the
sense that evory form of true enthusi.
asm is kind Of insanity. Now that
Charles, however, perceived that Ross
began to play, as he rudely termed it,
''tho serious young man," his vexation
became very apparent.
sit was quito bad enough in my sis.
ter" no broke forth on Ross excusing
himself from dinner ON the plea Of ut.
tending with Lillian native prayer
meeting, "but to have you, grown
man, meddling and muddling in such
tomfoolery passes patience. Can't you
leave the natives alone? They're much
better rs they were-oonfounded liars
at the best. but if they turn Christian
they'll be positively past endurance.
'I think, Mr.. Karney," said Ross
coldly, "thst we will not discuss fur
ther o subject on which we cannot
agree, If more 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. !"
"Oh, preaching be hangedl" was the
profane and rude reply. 'Brt one thing,
young man, let me warn you that this
is dangerous place to go and try
proselyting. / wouldn't, can assure
you.
'I 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 time the threat of Prohrada the
Brahman and his sinister boasts were
entirely forgotten.
For some time matters at the bunga-
low had gons on more harmoniously.
Even Charles Karney, immersed as he
was in his manufacture and business,
began to feel 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. T"
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 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
lively in the fields than the followers Of
Vishnu.
Tt was night, and all had retired to
sest in the bungalow. Ross had been
very fatigued during the day Waiting
and boiling indigo, and he had retired
to his charpo Ia low bedstead) before
the rest.
He slept at once, but slept only to
dream. It happened that that day Lii
ian had been telling him of some of the
many incarnations Of Vishnu, especial
ly his appearance in the form of man
lion, out of pillar Of palace, which
Hiranyakasipu, 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 prelude
to others, and Ross suddenly found him
self awake out Of medley Of dreams,
avatars and supernatural conflicts with
the echo of cry in his ears. He could
not tell whether he had heard it 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 uncon-
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 apartmentin evident confusion.
The bed was in disorder, and evidently
the occupant had left the room sudden
ly. As he looked the threat of the Brah-
man flashed into his memory, and
cold sweat stood on his forehead he
felt the bed Tt was warm. There was
not moment to lose. He could not
stay to explain to Karney, for no hoped
by following at onco to overtake the
unhappy girl, who had in some way
been drawn forth to what he knew not
Slipping back to his room, he thrust in
to his bosom very long bladed knife
he carried on occasions of danger, and,
scarcely thinking, but feeling only that
crisis had come, be went out into the
night and peered into the darkness. The
bungalow stood on an eminence quite
isolated, and thence only one beaten
path led to the village and temple. If.
as 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-
traordinary occult powers possessed and
exercised by some Of the illuminated
priests, and he thrilled to think that if
Lillian were being called forth by somo
occult power, then, too. his presence
might be known also. But as he hur-
ried on he grew more cool and sudden
ly remem bered what he had quite for
gotten---t that Lillian day or two before
had remarked to him: "Do you know,
David, lately / have had such strange
feeling. ! have actually wanted to visit
the temple and see these foolish cere-
t.. 4 - I~v1 D..kT g.