The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-12-11
ES"OOD morning, Sir John"
" The bewiiderment of a
~ dUStv thraodboro yoddIor.

1T bTNIlUbIultuI OF Il
dusty, threadbare peddler
thus addressed was speedily con-
verted into a majestic pride upon
learning that he. John Durbeyfield
of Marriott was actually a Iineal 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, a dissOlute wretch. young Alec
D'Urberville. After a while back to
Marriott came the disillusioned 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 a 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, iGeal.Stic,
sympathetic, ne seemed to Tess q 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, untl 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 a week Of the wedding
day which she had reluctantly set, hel
resolution took shape in writing
fOur-page confession is breathlessl!
thrust under his door. Ironically con
cealed under the carpet it lies unit
! Tess, with a sudden late intuition OF
her wedding morn discovers its hiding
place and tears It up. In numbering
old relic of coach days (symbOl.c of ar
ancient D'UrberYille legend Of crimel
| Tess and Angel are carried to church
and upon their final departure white
cock crows thrice. can afternoon
| heads at the evil omen.
To the old farmhouse derelict o
an ancient D'Urberville manSiOn-iI
ready range of a model mill, Clare
with a sense Of the practical and tho
romantic takes his lovely bride. From
! the panelled wall outside her door, TIVE
old D'Urberville portraits CLEAN evil!
! and Glare and Tess SILVER as they
| trace a subtle likeness to her own il
the malignant vet noble features. Be
| fore the glowing fire the adoring bride
| groom, his wife's hand clasped in his
| tells the story of his one alteration
Of his 4S hours dissipation with /;
Scarlet Woman, and confidently crave!
her pardon, which Tess is only too de
lighted to grant; and, with the frs
real CLEAN of hope, unfolds her owl
sad story.
The wantOn action Of a man Of ma
turity-the deceived innocence of ~
ignorant child! And yet, the maj