Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-28
CHAPTER III.

Never were brother and sister more un
like, morally and physically, than Lii
ian and Charles Karney. Left orphans
with equal fortunes. Charles KarneJ
had been advised to try indigo planting
and he induced his sister to accompany
him to India, she being desirous tc
originate zenana mission and full Of
true and genuine enthusiasm for the
propagation of Christianity in India. In
truth, Charles had behaved with some
deception toward his sister, who was as
guileless as she was good. He persuaded
her to lend him her portion, and there
by he had been enabled to procure his
plantation, and he for his own part was
resolved to make fortune. To this end
he abandoned all idea of marrying yet
awhile, or of amusing himself in the
style Of most members of his class. He
had taken Ross, a cool, clear headed
young Scotchman, and his little capital
into the concern, in return for some
twelfth of the net profits and vast
amount of special skill that young Ross
had somehow acquired in the prepara-
tion of indigo for markets, the process
being in some respects quite as delicate
and involving as much uninterrupted
attention as brewing.
When Ross took up his residence OH
the plantation, he simply thought at
first that Karney was rather cold,
selfish sort of fellow, who was entirely
absorbed in practicing all kinds of econ
omies, and that his lovely sister was O
visionary, impracticable and somewhat
eccentric sort of young lady. She GER
tainly did press her brother on the SUBJ
ject of saying "graoe before meat" and
would remind him how his Hindoo
neighbors never failed to light up cam
phor in the evening before the pictures
in their houses of Rama or Krishna and
to decorate them with fresh flowers.
"And shall we," she would ask, "let
ourselves be outdone by heathens and
idolaters?" Then there was continual
conflict between brother and sister on
the subject Of money Lillian, her broth
er declared, was always making de-
mands on him on account of her pro-
teges around, and he affirmed that all
the beggars, hypocrites and rascals
male and female, of the locality pre-
tended to listen to her preaching because
they knew that by doing SO they would
be free to her purse.
Everybody who has lived in India in
timately among the people knows what
a curse and scourge debt is to the mass
es The native of India, it has been apt
ly said, is always in debt, and mar
riages and funerals alike are terrible
sources Of pecuniary trouble, and when
it was found that the mem sahib at the
of Sahibs Karney and Ross
was easily persuaded to aid any one who
would listen to her preaching and re-
ceive her tracts it was certain that there
was some truth in Karpey's complaints
as to his sister being often victimized
by impostors.
or late, however, Ross, who was
shrewd enough, had drawn sundry con-
,lusions of his own which were not
much to the glory and praise Of his
partner. He was not at this period him
'elf what could be called religious
nan. In truth, he was Of the type of
he average prudent, moderately clever,
teady, temperate, hardworking young
nan of the day, anxious, like so many
more, to make money, and with very
ague notions as to what he should do
With itwhen made, but although he did
ot always agree with Miss Karney's
rofession and practices he had come
nsensibly under the spell of her infu-
nee, of her gentleness, her sincerity
nd unending sympathies, and he felt
nat were he her brother it would be
ifiicult indeed to refuse her aught she
sked in the name Of charity and Chris
an love