The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-12-10

dusty, threadbare peddler
thus addressed was speedily con-
verified into a majestic pride upon
learning that he, John Durbeyfield
Of Marriott was actually a lineaI 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 iIlustrious
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
D'Urberville. After a while back to
Marriott came the disillusfoned girl.
where she lived in a gray seclusion I'M
til her weakened 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 a young man. the
youngest son of q stern and Jealous
divine Of the old school. Angel Clare
had sadly disappointed his father.
first by non-conformist 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, idealistic,
sympathetic, he seemed to Tess a demi-
god, and though she had sworn her
self to celibacy, the enforced propin-
guilty ripened into intimacy and drifted
into love. Together they went afield 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 and
the whole verdant valley teem!ng with
richness and incense, gave up its odor-
Gus vapors.
Tess specter doomed but vaguely
now, until loves honest declaration
brought her to poignant realization of
her situation in this man-made world.
But all Withdrawals were overcome by
Clare's gentle insistence; all attempts
at revelation were lightly thwarted.
Finally, within week of the wedding
day which she had reluctantly set, her
resolution took shape In writing-a
four-page confession is breathlessly
thrust under his door. Ironically con-
cealed under the carpet it lies until
Tess, with a sudden late intuition on
her wedding morn discovers its hiding
place and tears it up. In numbering
old relic of coach days (symbolic of an
ancient D'Urbervills legend of crime)
Tess and Angel are carried to church,
and upon their final departure a white
cock crows thrice. "An afternoon
crow" and the dairy folk shake their
heads at the evil omen.
To the old farmhouse-a derelict of |
an ancient D'Urberville mansion-in |
ready range of model mill, Clare,
with sense Of the practical and the |
takes his lovely bride. From |
the panelled wall outside her door, two |
old D'Urberville portraits CLEAN evilly |
and Glare and Tess SILVER as theS |
trace a subtle likeness to her own in |
the malignant yet noble features. Be |
fore the glowing fire the adoring bride
groom, his wife's hand clasped in his,
.ells the story of his one alteration,
If his As hours dissipation with a
Scarlet Woman, and confidently Graves
her pardon, which Tess is only too de-
lighted to grant; and, with the first
'eal CLEAN OF hope, unfolds her own
lad story.
The wanton action of man of ma
deceived innocence of an
gnorant childl And yet, the man