Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-01-08
kk0OOD morning, Sir John"
r The bewilderment of a
dusty. threadhare neddler

thus addressed was speedily con-
verted into a majestic pride upon
learning that he, John Durbeyfeld
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 a brilliant and fitting alliance for
her beautiful young daughter. To
which end Tess was artfully prevailed
dpOn to seek work in a wealthy up
start family Of the same illustrious
lame.
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 while back to
Marriott came the disillusioned girl,
where she lived in gray seclusion 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, 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-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 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 .loomed but vaguely
now, until Iove's 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, her
resolution took shape in writingVa
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 hidlne
place and tears it up. In numbering
old relic of coach days (symboEc OF an
ancient D'Urberville legend Of crime)
Tess and Angel are carried 10 church.
and upon their final departure white
cock crows thrice. IAN afternoon
crow" and the dairy folk shake thelf
heads at the evil omen.
To the old farmhouse-a derelict OF
an ancient D'Urberville mansion-in
ready range of a model mill, care
with a sense of the practical and the
romantic, takes his lovely bride. From
the panelled wall outside her door, TWO
old D'Urberville portraits CLEAN eViIiy
and Glare and Tess shiver as theV
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 MS
tells the story of his one aberratlon'
of his 4S hours dissipation with a
Scarlet Woman, and confidently Graves
her pardon, which Tess is only too, de-
lighted to grant; and, with the nrs'
real CLEAN of hope, unfolds her own
sad story.
The wanton action Of a man OF ma
rurity--the deceived innocence or an
ignorant childl And yet the nan