Connecticut western news., 1920-12-02
ES~oOD morning, Sir John" The bewflderment of
 - dustv fhraadha~o noddIar

uuotyB lIEcduDdft pcuuIeT thus addressed was speedily con- verted into a majestic pride upon learning that he, John Durbeyfield of Marriott was actually a lineal de- scendant of the noble family of D'Ur- 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 artfulIy 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 un- til her weazened little bahy'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 Dairies. And here, too, was a young man. the youngest son of a stern and zealous divine of the old school. Angel Clare had sadly disappointed his father, first by non-conformfst 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 demi- god, and though she had sworn her self to celibacy, the enforced propin- quity 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- ouS vapors.
 Tess specter loomed 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 fnsistence; all attempts at revelation were lightly thwarted. Finally, within q 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 a numbering old relic of. coach days Symbolic of an ancient D'Urberville legend of crime) Tess and Angel are carried to church, and upon their final departure 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 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'Urberville portraits gieam evilly and Clare and Tess shiver 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 AS hours dissipation with a Scarlet Woman, and confidently craves her pardon, which Tess is only too de- lighted to grant; and, with the first real gleam of hope, unfolds her own sad story. -.
 The wanton action of a man of ma turity-the deceived innocence of an ignorant childi And yet, the man |