The north Mississippi herald., 1920-12-10
xS(NOOD morning, Sir John"
Y " The bewlderment Of a

buStSS III DpuuleT
thus addressed was speedily con-
verted into majestic pride upon
learning that he. John Durbeyfield
of Marriott was actually a lineal de-
scendant of the noble family of Dur
berville.
And no sooner had Joan, his hand
some, shallow minded wife. the easy
going mother of his many children,
heard of her exalted estate, than her
romantic soul began secretly to de-
wise brilliant and fitting alliance for
her beautiful young daughter To
which end Tess was artfully prevailed
upon to seek work in a wealthy up
start family of the same illuStrious
name.
And so the innocent child whose
Single-minded desire was to mend the
broken fortunes of her family, became
poultry keeper for the blind woman Of
spurious title and ultimate prey for
her son, dissolute wretch, young Alec
DUrberville. After q while back to
Marriott came the disillusioned girl,
'ses3sbsR e sfle TfyeG~ap Gay fet-essre'oia-'i
til her weazened little baby's death.
But after several bitter years of
heart searching, Tess determined to
leave home again-this time to be
dairymaid at Talbothays, large, fertile
farm in the valley of the Great Diaries.
And here, too, was young man, the
youngest son of stern and Jealous
divine of the old school. Angel Clare
had sadly disappointed his father,
first by non-corformist views and then
by sincere scruples against taking or
ders. So now, in process of becoming
gentleman farmer, he was specializing
at various farms. Cultured, ideaEstic'
sympathetic he seemed to Tess a deInl-
god. and though she had sworn her
self to celihacy, the enforced propin-
uuity ripened into intimacy and dritted
into love. Together they went atleld in
the wondrOus dewy daWns and the
warm summer afternoons found them
making butter and cheese in the cool,
white dairy house. The birds sang FOR
them and for them the stars Shone ana
the whole verdant valley teem1ng with
richness and incense, gave up its odor-
Gus vapOrS.
Tess specter loomed but vaguely
now, until loves honest declaratior
brought her to poignant realization OF
her situation in this man-made world
But all Withdrawals were overcome pS
Clare's gentle insistence; all attempts
at revelation were lightly thWarted
FINALLY. within week of the wedding
dav which she had reluctantly set, hel
resolution took shape in Wrltlng-i
four-page confession is breathlessi9
thrust under his door. Ironically con
cealed under the carpet it lies untl
Tess, with a sudden late intuition OF
her wedding morn discovers its hidln'
nlace and tears it up. In lumberln!
old relic of coach days (Symbolic OF al
ancient D'Urberville legend of crime
Tess and Angel are carried to church
and upon their final departure whit
cock crows thrice "An Afternoon
crow" and the dairy folk shake thel
heads at the evil omen.
To the old farmhouSe-a derellct o
nm ancient D'Urberville mansion
ready range of a model mill, Clare
with a sense of the practical and tn
romantic. takes his lovely bride. Fror
the panelled wall outside her door, wv
old D'Urberville portraits gleam evil
and Clare and Tess shiver as the
trace a subtle likeness to her own /
the malignant yet noble features, be
fore the glowing fire the adoring bride
groom, his wife's hand clasped in hi
tells the story of his one aberratioI
of his 4S hours dissipation with
Scarlet Woman, and confidently crave
her pardon, which Tess is only too az
lighted to grant; and, with the hrs
real CLEAN of hope unfolds her ow
sad story.
The wanton action of man Of m'
tur;ty--the deceived innocence or a
ignorant child! And yet, the ma