Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-07-07
HIS CHANCE IN LIFE.

HID C11ANCE IN LIT IL.
Miss vezzis came from across the
border line To look after some children
who belonged to lady until regular.
ly ordained nurse could come out. The
lady said Miss Vezzis was "A bad, dirty
nurse and inattentive. Ii never struck
| her that Miss Vezzis had her own life
to lead and her own affairs 20 worry
over, and that these affairs were the
most important things in the world TO
Miss Vezzis Very few mistresses admit
this sort Of reasoning. Miss Vezzis was
as black rs a boot, and Ia our standard
Of taste hideously ugly. She Wore cotton
print gowns and bulged shoes, and
when she lost her temper with the chill
dren she abused them in the language
Of the border line-which is part Eng
lish, part Portuguese and part native.
| She was not attractive, but she had her
pride, and she preferred being called
Miss Vezzis "
Every Sunday she dressed herself
wonderfully and went To See her mann
ma. who lived for the most part on an
old cane chair in greasy tussnr silk
dressing gown and a big rabbit warren
Of house full Of Vezzisses, Pereiras,
Ribicras. Lisboas and Gonsalveses, and
a floating population Of loafers. besides
fragments Of the days bazaar, garlic,
stale incense, clothes thrown on the
floor, patticoats hung on strings foI
screens, old bottles, pewter crucifixes,
dried immortelles. pariah puppies, plas-
ter images of the Virgin, and hats with
out crowns. Miss Vezzis drew 20 rupees
a month for acting as nurse, and she
squabbled weekly with her mamma a.
10 the percentage 10 b. given toward
housekeeping.
When the quarrel was over, Michele
d'Cruze used 10 shamble across the low
mud wall Of the compound and MAKE
love 10 Miss Vezzis after the fashion Of
the border line, which is hedged about
with much ceremony. Michele was II
poor, sickly weed and very black, but
he had his pride. He would not b. seen
smoking huqa for anything. and he
looked down on natives as only man
with seven -cigh,hs native blood in his
veins can. The Vezzis family had their
pride too. They traced their descent
from a mythical plate layer who had
worked on the Some bridge when rail
ways were new III India, and they val
ned their English origin. Michele was a
telegraph signalcr on 30 rupees month
The fact that he was III government
employ made Mr. VeZZis lcnient % the
shortcomings Uf his ancestors.
There was compromising legend
Dom Anna. the tailor, brought it from
Poonani-that a black jew of Cochin
had once married into the ID Cruze fam
ily. while it was an open secret that an
uncle If Mrs. d'Cruze was at that very
time doing menial work connected with
cooking for club in southern India
He sent Mrs d'Cruze rupees $ annas
month. but she felt the disgrace % the
family very keenly all the same.
However, III the course Of few Sun
DAYS Mrs. Vezzis brought herself Il
overlook these blemishes and gave hel
consent To the marriage Of her daughter
with Michele, on condition that Michele
should have at least so rupees a month
to start married life upon. This Won
derful prudence must have been lin
gering touch Of the mythical plate lay
er's Yorkshire blood, for across the bor'
der line people take pride III marrying
when they please-not when they can.
Having regard to his departmental
prospects, Miss VeZzis might as wei
have asked Michele 10 60 away and
come back with the moon Ill his pocket.
But Michele was deeply III love with
Miss Vezzis, and that helped him TO en-.
dure. He accompanied Miss Vezzis &C
mass one Sunday, and after mass, walk
ing home through the hot stale dust
with her hand III his, he swore by sew
eral saints-whose names would not III.
terest you-never 10 forget Miss Vezzis,
and she swore by her honor and the
saints-the oath runs rather curiously,
"In nomine sanctissim9 whatever
the name Of the she saint is) and sc
forth, ending with kiss on the fore.
head kiss on the left cheek, and
kiss on the mouth-never to forget Nj
chele.
Next week Michele was transferred,
and Miss Vezzis dropped tears upon the
window sash Of the intermediate
compartment as he left the station.
II you look at the telegraph map OF
India, you will see long line skirtin2
the coast from Backergunge 10 Madras.
Michele was ordered 20 Tibasu, a little
subof flee one-third down this line, TO
send messages on from Berhampur TO
Chicacola, and 10 think Of Miss Vezzis
and his chances Of getting 80 rupees a
month out If Office hours. He had the
noise Of the bay Of Bengal and Ben
gall baboo for company-nothing more.
He sent foolish letters, with crosses
tucked inside the flaps Of the envelopes,
to Miss Vezzis.
When he had been at Tibasu for
nearly three weeks, his chance came.
Never forget that unless the outward
and visible signs Of our authority are
always before native he is as incapa-
bic as a child Of understanding what
authority means or where is the danger
Of disobeying it. Tibasu was forgotten
little place with few Orissa Moham-
medans in il. These, hearing nothing
of the collector sahib for some time and
heartily despising the Hindoo subjudge
arranged to start little Mohurrum riot
of their own. But the Hindoos turned
out and broke their heads. When, find
ing lawlessness pleasant, Hindoos and
Mohammedans together raised an aim
less sort Of Donny brook just to see how
far they could 60. They looted each
others shops, and paid of private
grudges in the regular way. 1t was
nasty little riot, but not worth putting
in the newspapers.
Michele was working in his Office
when he heard the sound that a man
never forgets all his life-the "ah yah"