Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-12-09

La
II The bewilderment Of a
dusty, threadbare peddler
thus addressed was speedily con-
verted into a majestic pride upon
learning that he. John Durbeyfeld
of Marriott wss 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 a brlllian. 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 Industrious
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 fol-
her son, dissolute wretch, young Alec
D'Urberville. After while back to
Marriott came the disillusioned girl
where she lived In gray srcIuSion un
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, a 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-cOn2ormist 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, ideal.stic,
sympathetic, he seemed to Tess deml-
god. and though she had sworn her
self to celibacy, the enforced propin-
guilty ripened into intimacy and drifted
into love. Together they went af1eld 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 inslstence; 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 1t lies until
Tess, with a sudden late intuition on
her wedding morn discovers it hiding
place and tears it up. In a numbering
old relic of coach days (symbol.c Of an
ancient D'Urbervllle legend of crime)
Tess and Angel are carried to church.
and upon their final departure a white
cock crows thrice IAN afternoon
crow" and the dairy folk shake their
heads at the evil omen.
To the old farmhouse derelict OF
an ancient D'Urberville mansion-in
ready range of a model mill, Clare
with sense of the practical and the
romantic, takes his lovely bride. From
the panelled wall outside her door, two
old D'UrberviIle portraits CLEAN evilly
and Clare and Tess SILVER as they
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,
tells the story Of his one alteration,
of his 48 hours dissipation with a
Scarlet Woman, and confidently Graves
her pardon, which Tess is only too de-
lighted to grant; and, with the first
real CLEAN of hope, unfolds her own
sad story. 49,. N
The .wanton action Of a man Of ma
tursty--,the deceived innocence Of an
ignorant chlldl And yet, the man