The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-23
THE EVENING STORY
The Silent Ben.
(By Amelia Delaney. }

had named her in childhood, was that
anomaly, a woman of few words. Her
name was Belle, and the nickname
had chung to her ever after her broth
er gave it to her, SO that she was
known by young and old as BELL
Edwards. She did not lack spirit nor
temper, but seldom did she deem it
necessary to set forth either joys or
woes at any length in words.
The more surprised was Allerton,
on the occasion of his great quarrel
with the Silent Bell when she stated
fully and huently her reasons for
total of her conversation in all their
years of association did not begin to
equal in length her speech at this
time.
where they differed and she even di-
lated on details which he had not con-
sidered of the least Importance; for
instance, that of late years he had not
seemed to care enough for her to pre-
sent her with good picture of him
self.
She enlarged upon this bit of negli-
gence until she had impressed AEer-
ton with its due monstrosity. That
she had not been presented periodi-
cally with photograph of her lover
was nothing short of a gross insult.
As her extraordinary burst of anger
reached climax on this one of his
many flaws, Allerton began to grasp
ln0 lQ6d IDdC Sn0 naQ really WaHLSQ
his picture and that he had been gull
ty of most grave misdemeanor in
not sending it to her. But it was too
late now, and the honest but clumsy
fellow of course made matters worse
by saying so. They parted. each be-
heving the other to be most unreaS-
enable creature.
Soon after Allerton, very despon-
dent and bitterly disappointed, went
into business in a distant state. He
lent Bells father died insolvent, and
she went to her brother Robert, who
lived in another town. There Belle,
wishing to be independent, procured a
position In school Her brother, by
virtue of being town clerk, was also
clerk of the board of education.
At the holiday vacation the prin-
cipal of the school resigned. So great
a confidence had Bellies work won
for her that the board of education
asked her to suggest some one for the
place. She named man of whose
years and experience she could assure
them, and, at their request, she wrote
him, asking him to correspond with
the school board and to send his
Her brother Robert took the mail
from their box a few days afterward
and hurried to the board meeting.
There was no letter from Bellies can
didate, but there was a photo ad-
dressed to her. Robert hastily gave
the photograph to the chairman of
the board without even opening the
wrapper, and hurried away again to
keep an appointment with the mayor.
Bellies recommendation and the fine
looking face shown by the picture
satisfied the members. Being anxious
ITO act on the principalsship that even
ing they looked at the name and ad-
dress on the back of the picture and
dispatched a letter at once.
q
perplexed as well as slightly amused,
gentleman who sat at his desk in his
elegant Office a few days later and
read a letter appointing him to
an annual salary almost but not quite
equal to the monthly income that was
earned for him by his business.
He called to his stenographer and
dictated letter to the school board
explaining to them that they must
have made a mistake Suddenly he
looked again at the name of the town.
Then he lit cigar and thought. Then
he laughed.
''why not?" said he. "I can spare
a month to see."
With this delphic utterance he tore
up the answer that his stenographer
had brought to him, shut down his
desk and told his manager that he had
been called out of town and would be
away for some time.
When the Silent Bell entered her
schoolroom on the first morning af-
ter the holidays she found on her desk
a typewriter request to report at the
principals office at once She ran
of the Office and found herself face to
face with Allerton.
"Good morning, Miss Edwards" said
Allerton blandly. 81 would like to
consult with you about some of the
details of this school system. I trust
CO-ODeTaIlOn
during my principalship here.
John Henry Allerton," said Bell
"what are you doing here? 2"
"My good looks" answered he
appear to have procured me
this position. am here" Cthis with
great dignity ''to fill my position"
'Good looks2" Queried Bell.
"As represented by the photograph /
sent you during the holidays" explain
ed Allerton.
The light of comprehension began tol
dawn upon Belle. Being a woman, her
intuition helped her to a solution of
the problem and she realized that this
was really not a joke of John Allerton's,
ton, for your extreme kindness in rec
me-. hope you do not al
ready regret 1t.
slfng between belief that she ought to
ell Allerton that she had not taken
his method to let him know she for
gave him, and wish to let him know
she still cared.
Belle" said Allerton. becoming ear
nest. IT found out from your brother
what had happened. AS soon as 1 ar
liver here hurried to him and discov
cred the mistake he had made. I got
him to keep my secret. We suppress
I'd my competitors photograph in a
sort of criminal conspiracy but shall
not keep him out of his position long
that is, If some one will go back with
me to where I belong. I can find out
about that If some one viii tell me how
she likes the original of the photograph
that she didn't get"
Belle blushed, but said nothing.
sfPehaps," said Allerton, smiling, but
very, very anxious. you would prefer to
,