The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-09
S"ADAM BEDE"

BY GEORGE ELIOT

BY GEOR
Condensation by Mr.. EIery Sedsw
That last year of the eighteenth
century Hayslope was pleasant
neighborhood to live in. 1t was far
enough away from the noise Of
"Boney's' battles to sleep in peace.
Men chatted Of crops and rents, and
listened to the gossip of women folk
regarding Dinah Morris of Snowfeld,
Mrs. Poyser's own niece, who had
turned "Methody' preacher and would
stand right up before men on the vii
lage green, talking to them of the
comfort they could find in their
friend, Jesus Christ
And, worse still, Dinah was so at
tractive and SO gravely loving that
the men, and women, too, gladly lis
tened to her. Big Adam Bede, the
carpenter, would have liked to see
more Of her, had he eyes for any one
except old Poyser's niece, Hetty Sor-
rel. AS for Hetty, she had no thought
for Adam; Captain Arthur Donni-
thorne, heir of the estate, had wills.
pered too many things in her pretty
ear.
her aunt's white dairy, rounding her
dimpled arm to lift a pound of butter
out of the scale, Hetty had the beauty
of fluffy kitten. Her large dark
eyes had soft ROBUSTNESS, and her
curly hair pushed away under her cap,
stole back in delicate rings on her
forehead. OF course, the dashing cap
tain had no foolish ideas about mar
riage, but then, as he bent over her
shoulder, he was soldier enough to feel
his head turn very fast. He had no
wish to harm her, you may be sure of
that, for he had great pride in the
Donnithorne estate, and it is pleasant
for a rich young man to be liked and
admided.
One August evening Adam walked
home through grove of grand
beeches, the glory of the estate. AS
carpenter and woodsman, he delighted
in fine trees, and paused to look at a
huge beech which stood at the turning
before the grove ended in an archway
of boughs.
All his life he remembered that
moment, for there, not twenty yards
away, stood two figures, close, with
clasped hands. They started. The
y,
nithorne walked slowly forward He
sured himself by remembering that
to babble That the big sober carpen
ter loved Hetty, Arthur had no idea
well, Adam" said Arthur care
lessly. you've been looking at the
| fine old beeches, Ell? l overlook
pretty Hetty Sorrel as I was going ia
my old lodge in the woods; SO l took
her to the gate, and asked for a kiss
for my pains. Good night
Adam dared not move lest he spring
on Arthur like tiger
Stop a bit he said in hard, per
emptory voice.
What do you mean?" Arthur felt
his temper rising.
Il mean that. instead Of the honor
able man we've all believed you
you're a selfish scoundrel."
| Arthur found it hard to control him
self.
We'll, Adam, perhaps l have gone
too far in taking notice of the pretty
little thing, and sealing a few kisses
You're such a grave fellow you dom
understand temptations. Let's say nc
more. The whole thing will soon b.
forgotten"
mo. by God" said Adam, it'll no
be soon forgot as you've come in be
tween her and me when she nigh
have loved me. It'll not be soon for
got, as you've robbed me of happines:
when / thought you my best friend
You're a coward and a scoundrel, anG
l despise you"
The color rushed back to Arthur
face. He dealt lightning blow which
sent Adam staggering back, but thu
delicate-handed gentleman was NJ
match for the workman's grea
strength After a fierce struggle
Arthur fell motionless, while Adam, /,
sudden revulsion Of feeling, knelt owe
him like an image Of despair gazing
on death.
To his intense relief, Arthur gradu
ally revived. Adam got him to hi
feet, supported him to the little cabin
and laid him on couch. Then b,
spoke out:
Il don't forget what's owing you a.
a gentleman. but in this thing we ar
man to man. Either tell me~she Cal
never be my wife-tell me you're ly
ing when you say you haven't harmed
her-or else write her letter. telling
her the truth that you won't see he
again"
Arthur struggled. suffered, prom
Used, and Adam half comforted, left
not knowing that there, in the vast
basket, hastily stuffed under the pa
pers, lay a woman's silk kerchief.
When Hetty read Arthur's letter
she gave way to despair. Then, b,
one of those conclusive motiveles
actions by which the wretched lea